Dry Ridge—Mark Payton, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dry Ridge, will be nominated as first vice president Nov. 10 when the Kentucky Baptist Convention meets in Elizabethtown at Severns Valley Baptist Church.

Payton, currently second vice president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, will be nominated by Steve Hill, pastor of New Horizon Baptist Church in Glendale.

Noting that Payton has served faithfully in other areas of Baptist life, Hill said, “Pastor Mark has a heart for our convention and for our Kentucky Baptist Convention to remain rooted in missions and evangelism.

“After speaking with Mark and listening to him express his passion for our state and denomination, I believe he is the right man to be elected to the office of first vice president,” Hill said in nominating Payton for the post.

Payton served as co-pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church at Shively Heights in Louisville from Aug. 2009 to April 2013. Previously, he was pastor of Shively Heights Baptist Church, a predominately white congregation that merged with a mostly African American congregation, St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church, led by Lincoln Bingham, making national headlines as a model of racial reconciliation.

Payton, who has been pastor of two other Kentucky churches—Gethsemane Baptist in Danville and Concord Baptist in Hartford—served on the Committee on Committees of the Southern Baptist Convention in 2013 and as a member of the Kentucky Baptist Mission Board from 2006-2009. He was elected as president of the Kentucky Baptist Pastors Conference in 2006, and served as its vice president in 2000 and 2005.

He also has been a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, serving as vice chairman of its academic affairs committee. And, since 1984, he has traveled to Haiti on 35 mission trips.

Payton earned a theology degree from Trinity Bible College and Seminary. He also attended Cumberland College (now University of the Cumberlands.)

“After serving as second vice president, I was asked by several if they could place my name for first vice president. After praying about it, I said yes,” Payton said.

“I believe the experience of serving as second vice president will help me,” he added. “I understand better the vision of our executive treasurer, Dr. Paul Chitwood. I have been a supporter of his and a friend for many years.”

First Baptist Church of Dry Ridge contributed $24,959 through the Cooperative Program gifts of its $258,390 in undesignated receipts, or 9.7 percent, according to the Annual Church Profile. The congregation reported seven baptisms last year. (WR)