As President of the Southern Baptist Convention, one of my major tasks is to appoint the 2016 Committee on Resolutions. From now through Tuesday, June 14, this committee will work diligently.

This is not an easy assignment for these ten Southern Baptists. They will arrive the Wednesday before our convention and begin their detailed responsibilities together on Thursday morning. Before this time, they will work via conference calls and email exchanges.

A Challenging Process

There are by-law requirements that must be adhered to in making these appointments. Additionally, with the plethora of Southern Baptists to choose from to serve on this committee, it is like putting together a complicated puzzle. It is a challenging process.

Introducing The Chairman and Vice-Chairman

Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla., will serve as the Chairman. Rummage is a recognized leader in ministry, academics, and Baptist denominational life. He previously was professor of preaching and director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in Wake Forest, N.C., and continues to teach on a visiting basis at several institutions. Rummage earned his master of divinity degree from SEBTS and his doctor of philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a committed pastor who prioritizes evangelism in his church.

Jason Duesing, provost and associate professor of Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., will serve as our vice-chairman. He earned his master of divinity from SEBTS and his doctor of philosophy from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Duesing is highly recognized as an outstanding theologian in our convention. Duesing is a member of Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Gladstone, Mo.

Both of these men served on our Committee of Resolutions last year. I appointed them then due to my personal respect and admiration for their strong commitment to the Word of God and the work of Southern Baptists. They will serve our convention in this capacity in an excellent manner.

The Additional Eight Members on Our Resolutions Committee

Assisting Rummage and Duesing in their assignment will be eight additional members. As a team of ten persons, these gifted, unique individuals from all of Baptist life will work together to bring resolutions to our convention for approval.

Kelvin Cochran – Kelvin is the chief strategic officer at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga. He is an author, public speaker, former administrator of the United States Fire Administration, and the former fire chief of Atlanta Fire Department. He is a champion for biblical marriage and religious liberty.

Linda Cooper – Linda is the national president of the Woman’s Missionary Union. She has had the important task of naming the search committee who will identify the next executive director for this key missions organization. Linda is committed to serving others and sharing the gospel across her community, America and the world. She currently serves on the Executive Committee (EC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and is a member of Forest Park Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Ky.

Mark Harris – Harris is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Charlotte, N.C. He was a founding member of “Vote for Marriage NC,” which helped pass the North Carolina Marriage Protection Amendment in 2012. He has held positions of leadership in the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the SBC. Harris was a 2014 candidate for the United States Senate from the state of North Carolina.

Brad Jurkovich – Jurkovich is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church Bossier City in Shreveport, La. He has served in churches in Arkansas and Texas. Jurkovich is a gifted communicator of God’s Truth, compelled by a vision to reach the world for Christ.

Shannon Royce – Shannon Royce is the chief of staff and chief operating officer at the Family Research Council in Washington D.C. She has served in various pro-family organizations as a public policy advocate and has served two U.S. Senators as a policy advisor and counsel. From 1999-2003, Shannon also served as director of government relations and legislative counsel for the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. In 2013, she was a pivotal leader and contributor to the SBC Consultation on Mental Health Issues. She earned her juris doctorate from George Washington University and is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is a member of Colombia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va.

Rolland Slade – Slade is the senior pastor of Meridian Southern Baptist Church in El Cajon, Calif. He currently serves on the EC. This is Slade’s second year on the Committee on Resolutions.

Jim Smith – Jim is the vice president of Communications for the National Religious Broadcasters in Washington D.C. Prior to his role at the NRB, he served as the executive editor and chief spokesman of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. From 1989-1995, he was director of government relations for the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee, and was the primary ERLC staff member who related to the Resolutions Committee. Jim also served as a member of the SBC Resolutions Committee in 1996. Finally, from 2001-2013, Jim was executive editor of Florida Baptist Witness. He is a member of Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.

Mat Staver – Mat is the founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, an international nonprofit litigation, education and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the family. He is chairman of Liberty Counsel Action, Salt & Light Council, Freedom Federation, President of Covenant Journey, Christians in Defense of Israel, and Liberty Relief International, a humanitarian ministry to persecuted Christians. He serves on the boards of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference-CONEL, the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition and The Timothy Plan, a family of Mutual Funds listed on the New York and Tel Aviv Stock Exchanges. He is the former vice president of Liberty University and dean and professor of Law at Liberty University School of Law. He has argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court; over 230 legal opinions; author of eight scholarly law review publications, 10 books and hundreds of articles. Mat is a member of the First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla.

I am thankful for these ten persons who will serve our Lord and all Southern Baptists in this significant task. We have worked diligently to put together this gifted committee that will represent our convention in the highest manner.

The Process for Submitting Resolutions

The procedure for submitting resolutions is as follows according to Bylaw 20:

• Proposed resolutions may be submitted as early as April 15 but no later than 15 days prior to the SBC annual meeting, giving the Committee on Resolutions a two-week period in which to consider submissions. This year’s cut-off date is June 1. Resolutions may not be submitted during the annual meeting.

• Proposed resolutions should preferably be submitted by e-mail through the resolutions submission page at sbc.net/resolutions/submit or mailed to the Committee on Resolutions in care of the SBC Executive Committee, 901 Commerce St., Nashville, TN 37203. Proposed resolutions must be typewritten, titled, dated, and include complete contact information for the person and his or her church. The submission form on the web page will be available beginning April 15.

• Proposed resolutions must be accompanied by a Credentials for Resolutions Submittal form (downloadable at sbc.net/resolutions/submit), or by a letter on church letterhead, either of which must be signed by the pastor or other church officer from a church qualified to send a messenger to the SBC annual meeting, certifying that the individual submitting the resolution is a member in good standing.

• No person will be allowed to submit more than three resolutions per year.

• The Committee on Resolutions submits to the Convention only those resolutions the committee recommends for adoption. Such resolutions may be based upon proposals received by the committee or may originate with the committee.

• If a properly submitted resolution is not presented by the Committee on Resolutions to the messengers at the SBC annual meeting, a two-thirds vote is required to bring the proposed resolution to the convention floor for consideration.

Join Me in Praying for These Leaders and for Our 2016 Convention Experience

Please pray for these ten persons who will be serving our convention in this important purpose. Additionally, pray daily for our upcoming meeting in St. Louis.

Registration is now open for our convention meeting. Your church can register its messengers at sbcannualmeeting.net/sbc16/PreRegistration.asp. All Southern Baptists can attend this meeting; however, only registered messengers have voting privileges. If your church’s slate of messengers is complete, don’t let that keep you from attending. It is our desire to have as many of our Southern Baptist family present as possible.