NORFOLK, Va. (BP) — Eric Thomas, pastor at First Baptist Norfolk, announced Friday that he intends to nominate Louisiana pastor Geven Spinney for the office of Southern Baptist Convention first vice president at next week’s SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Spinney, a former president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, pastors First Baptist in Haughton, La., just east of Shreveport.

“Gevan Spinney is a product of the local Southern Baptist Church he now serves as pastor,” Thomas said in a statement. “He is a leader locally, in the state, and nationally among Southern Baptists.

“Gevan is a leader who demonstrates courage in honoring Christ, fidelity in preaching and living God’s Word, passion in sharing the Gospel, and common-sense in serving Southern Baptists. For this reason, I am honored to nominate Gevan Spinney for the office of first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention.”

Spinney, a graduate of East Texas Baptist University, holds both an M. Div. and D.Min. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has pastored FBC Haughton for more than 21 years, and has served previously as a member of the Committee on Committees and currently serves as a trustee for the North American Mission Board.

According to Annual Church Profile information, First Baptist Haughton reported 77 baptisms in 2022 and averaged 731 in weekly worship. The church collected $2,314,079.13 total undesignated receipts, with $232,058.26 (10.67 percent) given through the Cooperative Program. The church also gave $78,846.83 to the 2022 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and a total of $51,025.83 to Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

Gevan also co-hosts a hunting show on the Pursuit Channel called “The Way It Was” in which he shares the Gospel at the end of each episode. Spinney and his wife, Andrea, have three boys, Jeb, Jake, and Jude.

The only other announced candidate for the office is New Orleans-area pastor Jay Adkins.