The Committee on Nominations is charged with the task of receiving and reviewing the numerous recommendations provided by North Carolina Baptists for service on the board of directors of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC), the committees of the convention and the boards of the related entities (North Carolina Baptist Foundation, the Biblical Recorder, Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina and North Carolina Baptist Hospital).
The committee begins its work with the recommendations sent by North Carolina Baptists and when exhausted, or in the event too few recommendations have been received for a specific place of service, the committee seeks to find candidates who meet the qualifications for service as outlined in the convention bylaws.
The full report from the Committee on Nominations can be found on the BSC’s annual meeting website (ncannualmeeting.org), in the Oct. 3 edition of the Biblical Recorder, on the Biblical Recorder website (BRnow.org) and in the BSC book of reports.
On behalf of the committee members listed below, I want to thank each North Carolina Baptist who completed and submitted a recommendation. It is not too early to begin thinking about those individuals whom you wish to recommend for consideration by the 2021 Committee on Nominations.
The committee would also ask you to consider the issue of gender and ethnic diversity in the recommendations you submit. We would like to see more and more of the wonderful diversity of our Baptist state convention family reflected in those we will be nominating to serve in these key leadership positions in the future.
So please think and pray about the recommendations you will make from large churches, small churches, rural churches, urban churches, new churches, historic churches, men and women, young and old, and potential leaders from across all cultural and ethnic groups.
Please submit your recommendations online at ncbaptist.org/recommend or through the N.C. Baptist app. Your input is essential to the committee’s work and the ongoing effectiveness of the missions and ministries of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Robin Fisher, Chair
2020 Committee on Nominations members
Betsy Bolick, Boone; Joey Canady, Hampstead; Brian Chilton, Westfield; Rusty Davis, Cerro Gordo; Robin Fisher, Rocky Mount, chair; Mark Brady, Moyock; William Hardin, Hendersonville; Amy Harrison, Mebane; Quintell Hill, Monroe; Heath Lloyd, Reidsville; Dustin Mace, Vale; Mark Meeseree, Newton; Matt Miles, Conway; Connie Millsaps, Franklin; Heather Morris, Mint Hill; Josh Pruitt, Rutherfordton; Richard Sheriff, Murphy; and Patrick Warutere, Raleigh.
The Committee on Nominations report follows the BSC’s bylaws directive to “nominate persons for election by the Convention to the committees listed in Article I.C.1 (b) – (d) of these Bylaws, such other committees as may be assigned to it, the chair of such Convention committees, the Board, the members of the boards of trustees and directors to be elected by the Convention of the Related Entities, and such other nominations as may be delegated to the committee by the Convention.”
Among other considerations for nominees, the bylaws state “It is desirable that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of members nominated to all committees of the Convention, the Board, and the boards of trustees and directors of the Related Entities shall come from churches with a membership under four hundred (400).” This is indicated in the committee’s report by (O) for 400 and over and by (U) for under 400 in church membership.
The bylaws further direct that, “The Committee on Nominations shall include in its report at a minimum the name, church, home town, association, occupation, and sex of each nominee, the name of the committee or board on which the nominee is to serve together with such summary information as will make clear to this Convention the diversity and breadth of representation provided by the slates of nominees.”
Board of Directors, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
Region 1 – No vacancies
Region 2 – Edith Robbins, 2021-2024, Cherry Point (O), Newport, Atlantic Association, lay person, female; and Jody Yopp, 2021-2024, Kellum (O), Jacksonville, New River Association, minister, male
Region 3 – Andrew Clark, 2021-2024, Arran Lake (O), Fayetteville, New South River Association, minister, male; Carter McNeese, 2021 unexpired term of Tim Evans, Fairmont First (O), Fairmont, Robeson Association, minister, male; and Allen Murray, 2021-2024, Centerville (U), Kelly, Cape Fear Network of Baptist Churches, minister, male
Region 4 – Matt Brogli, 2021-2024, Eagle Springs (U), Eagle Springs, Sandhills Association, minister, male; Lee Callicutt, 2021-2024, Grace Hill (U), Pittsboro, Sandy Creek Association, minister, male; Zeb Cook, 2021 unexpired term of John Ryman, Apex (O), Apex, Raleigh Association, minister, male; Christina Devlin, 2021-2024, Emmanuel (U), Raleigh, Raleigh Association, lay person, female; Matthew Hirt, 2022 unexpired term of Drew Grumbles, North Henderson (U), Henderson, N.C. Miscellaneous Association, minister, male; Zach Nelson, 2021 unexpired term of Earl Echols, Open Door (O), Wake Forest, Raleigh Association, minister, male; and Denise O’Donoghue, 2021-2024, Imago Dei (O), Raleigh, N.C. Miscellaneous Association, lay person, female
Region 5 – No vacancies
Region 6 – Nancy Focht, 2021-2024, Locust First (O), Charlotte, Stanly-Montgomery Association, lay person, female; Adam Hatley, 2021-2024, West Albemarle (O), Oakboro, Stanly-Montgomery Association, minister, male; and Jennifer Rushing, 2023 unexpired term of Sam Roach, Hopewell (O), Monroe, Union Association, lay person, female
Region 7 – Brian Smith, 2022 unexpired term of Carrie Afanador, Mulvale (U), Lenoir, Caldwell Association, minister, male; Jennifer Thoppil, 2021-2024, Salem (O), Mount Airy, Surry Association, lay person, female; and Burt Wilbur, 2021-2024, Soncrest Outreach (U), Wilkesboro, Brushy Mountain Association, minister, male
Region 8 – Janet Demeny, 2021 unexpired term of Nicholas King, Peninsula (O), Mooresville, South Yadkin Association, lay person, female; Chris Griggs, 2021-2024, Denver (O), Sherrills Ford, South Fork Association, minister, male; Tommy Hullette, 2022 unexpired term of Phil Bailey, Newton First (U), Newton, Catawba Valley Association, minister, male; and William Neira, 2021-2024, Cristo Vive (U), Spindale, Sandy Run Association, minister, male
Region 9 – Alberto Berrio, 2021-2024, Ebenezer (O), Hendersonville, Carolina Association, lay person, male; Jeff Dowdy, 2021-2024, Swannanoa First (O), Asheville, Buncombe Association, minister, male; Angela Honeycutt, 2021-2024, Big Rock Creek (U), Bakersville, Mitchell Association, lay person, female; and Ross Smith, 2023 unexpired term of Ricky Mason, Grace Baptist West Asheville (U), Asheville, Buncombe Association, minister, male
Region 10 – Hayward Tomblin, 2021-2024, Cashiers (U), Cashiers, Tuckaseigee Association, minister, male
Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina
Carl Anderson, 2021-2024, Lea Bethel (U), Leasburg, Beulah Association, lay person, male; Lenuel Chamberlain, 2021-2024, Bethel (U), Yadkinville, Yadkin Association, lay person, male; Jim Dyer, 2021-2024, Christ (O), Wake Forest, N.C. Miscellaneous Association, lay person, male; Matt Glover, 2021-2024, Elam (U), Seaboard, West Chowan Association, lay person, male; Marcia Heckman, 2021-2024, Crosspointe (U), Concord, Cabarrus Association, lay person, female; Ronnie Holman, 2021-2024, Baton (U), Granite Falls, Caldwell Association, lay person, male; Gail King, 2021-2024, Reidsville First (O), Reidsville, Dan Valley Association, lay person, female; Rhonda Martin, 2021-2024, Cary First (O), Raleigh, Raleigh Association, lay person, female; and Steve Shreve, 2021-2024, Pleasant Garden (O), Pleasant Garden, Piedmont Association, lay person, male
Biblical Recorder
Aimee Beard, 2021-2024, Corinth (O), Hertford, Chowan Association, lay person, female; Christopher Clark, 2021-2024, Oakwoods (U), Wilkesboro, Brushy Mountain Association, minister, male; Devin Goins, 2021-2024, Biltmore (O), Arden, Buncombe Association, minister, male; David Herman, 2021-2024, Pleasant Grove (O), Franklinton, Flat River Association, minister, male; and Matthew Jacobs, 2021-2024, Crossnore First (O), Crossnore, Avery Association, minister, male
North Carolina Baptist Foundation
Irma Duke, 2023 unexpired term of Sylvia Stafford, Neill’s Creek (U), Angier, Little River Association, lay person, female; Molly Foy, 2021-2024, Carmel (O), Charlotte, Metrolina Association, lay person, female; Rodney Hicks, 2021-2024, Ridgecrest (O), Durham, Yates Association, minister, male; Coy Jeans, 2021-2024, Friendship Memorial (U), Old Fort, Blue Ridge Association minister, male; Chuck Kennedy Jr., 2021-2024, The Summit Church (O), Durham, Yates Association, lay person, male; and Angie Wolff, 2021-2024, Mission City (U), Charlotte, Metrolina Association, lay person, female
North Carolina Baptist Hospital
No vacancies
Committee on Convention Meetings
Jason Benton, 2021-2023, Soldier Bay (U), Ash, Brunswick Association, minister, male; Gwen Causey, 2021-2023, Prospect (U), Supply, Brunswick Association, lay person, female; Robert Ivey, 2021-2023, Freedom Biker, Fayetteville (O), Fayetteville, New South River Association, minister, male; Eddie Powers, 2021-2023, Sandy Ridge (O), Monroe, Union Association, minister, male; Jennifer Snellings, 2021-2023, Philadelphia (U), Oakboro, Stanly-Montgomery Association, lay person, female; Jason Wise, 2021-2023, Berea (O), Elizabeth City, Chowan Association, minister, male; and Nathaniel Williams, Chair 2021, Cedar Rock First (U), Castalia, Tar River Association, minister, male
Committee on Resolutions and Memorials
Lance Cole, 2021-2023, Ruffin Stacey (U), Reidsville, Dan Valley Association, minister, male; Tim Hodges, 2021-2023, Mount Vernon (O), Vilas, Three Forks Association, lay person, male; Marty Tobin, 2021-2023, Pleasant Garden (O), Greensboro, Piedmont Association, minister, male; and Joel Stephens, Chair 2021, Hopewell (O), Concord, Union Association, minister, male
Historical Committee
Francis Kyle, 2021-2023, Bethlehem (U), Roanoke Rapids, North Roanoke Association, minister, male; Jonathan Lawler, 2021-2023, Faith (O), Youngsville, Tar River Association, lay person, male; Harriet Page, 2021-2023, Green Pines (O), Raleigh, Raleigh Association, lay person, female; Brenda Stephenson, 2021-2023, Sunset Avenue (O), Rocky Mount, North Roanoke Association, lay person, female; and Chivous Bradley, 2021 Chair, Pleasant Hill (U), Rutherfordton, Green River Association, lay person, male