Related Topics
KBC President Appoints Executive Director Search Committee
10/12/2010
LOUISVILLE – A 15-member search committee has been appointed to find a new executive director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention to replace outgoing Executive Director Bill Mackey who has announced plans to retire at the end of May next year.
Paul Badgett, pastor of First Baptist Church of Pikeville, will chair the panel announced by KBC President Don Mathis following consultation with the Administrative Committee of the Kentucky Baptist Mission Board.
Also, on the committee are: Charles Barnes, a member of Hurstbourne Baptist Church in Louisville; Paul Chitwood, pastor of First Baptist Church of Mt. Washington; Debbie Cook, children’s associate at Central Baptist Church in Corbin; Alan Dodson, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lexington; and Richard Gaines, pastor of Consolidated Baptist Church in Lexington.
Also serving will be: Linda Polley, administrator at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown; Ronny Raines, pastor of First Baptist Church of Cold Springs; Pat Reaves, a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Louisville; Steve Rice, pastor of First Baptist Church of Shelbyville; Nick Sandefur, pastor of Edgewood Baptist Church in Hopkinsville; Ben Stratton, pastor of Farmington Baptist Church; Jerry Tooley, director of missions for Daviess-McLean Baptist Association and member of First Baptist Church of Owensboro; and Ray Woodie, pastor of Coral Hill Baptist Church in Glasgow.
Mathis, a vocational evangelist and member at Eastwood Baptist Church in Bowling Green, will also serve on the committee.
Governing documents for the Convention require that the search committee be composed of a pastor from each of the KBC’s eight geographic regions as well as seven other persons who can give "representation to various areas and interests of Kentucky Baptist life, be knowledgeable of the work of the Mission Board, and deeply involved in Kentucky Baptist life."
The committee will make its recommendation to the Kentucky Baptist Mission Board, which will be responsible for approving the candidate.
In a statement released with the list of search committee members, Mathis praised Mackey’s leadership.
"At the time of his election, I was convinced that he was God’s man to lead us. From then until now, I have year by year become more and more convinced of that fact. What a great and godly man." Mathis said. "At this time, I join with all Kentucky Baptists at being saddened by his retirement announcement."
Mathis added that he feels the next executive director will be able to build on the legacy of Mackey and his predecessors.
"So it is with a mixture of regret, at the retirement of Southern Baptists’ best executive director, and a sense of excitement that I look forward to seeing what God has in store next as we begin the search process," he said.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Release prepared by: Robert Reeves, director, KBC Communications
