The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee (EC) elected Ronnie Floyd as president and CEO of the organization by a vote of 68-1 today (April 2), according to Baptist Press.
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Baptist Press photo by Adam Covington Ronnie Floyd |
The EC met in a special called meeting in Dallas after the search committee announced Floyd as their preferred candidate March 31.
Floyd has served as senior pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas for more than 30 years. Last Sunday he announced to the church he would resign April 7 if elected.
“I’ve been a local church pastor for 42 years,” Floyd said in a press conference following the executive session. “As long as I’m in this position … I will think like a pastor, I’ll champion pastors. I believe in the church, and I will champion the church.
“I will be about presenting the gospel to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.”
Todd Unzicker, a leader at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, tweeted, “Congratulations @ronniefloyd! Looking forward to you leading the @EC_SBC with @whosyour1_ #Go2 and taking next steps with the Sexual Abuse Advisory Group. I'm already encouraged.”
SBC president J.D. Greear said in comments to Baptist Press, “This is a crucial moment for Southern Baptists, and I am excited to work alongside Ronnie Floyd as he leads the Executive Committee forward. Pastor Ronnie has had a lifetime of leading in the kinds of evangelism and sending we are promoting in the Who’s Your One? and Go2 initiatives, both on the local church and national convention levels.
“He is a man of prayer and a man of action; a man of prudence and man of boldness," said Greear, pastor of The Summit Church. “He is a gifted leader who I believe will keep the Gospel above all.”
The EC search committee spent a year seeking a new president after former executive Frank Page’s resignation. D. August “Augie” Boto served as interim president.
“Ronnie Floyd is one of the most gifted and effective leaders I know,” said Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, in a statement of endorsement. “He is tireless, focused, wise, and visionary. He also is a man of impeccable integrity. I believe he is the right man to lead the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention in these challenging days that face our Convention.”
Floyd was named president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force in August 2017. He served a two-year term as SBC president from 2014 to 2016. He previously served as chairman of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force from 2009 to 2010, president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference in 1997 and chairman of the EC from 1995 to 1997.
Floyd and his wife, Jeana, have been married for 42 years. They have two sons and seven grandchildren.
He received a bachelor’s degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and a master’s and doctorate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Floyd is the author of 20 books.