BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama pastor Jared Cornutt has announced his intention to nominate Craig Carlisle for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in June when the convention meets in Dallas.
Carlisle, director of missions for Etowah Baptist Association in North Alabama, is currently serving his second one-year term as Alabama Baptist State Convention president. He is a member of First Baptist Church (FBC) Gadsden, Ala.
“Dr. Carlisle has been many things in my life: my pastor, my mentor, and one of my closest friends,” said Cornutt, pastor of North Shelby Baptist Church in Birmingham.
Cornutt said when he was in college and sensed a call to vocational ministry, he drove to Gadsden from Tuscaloosa to meet with Carlisle.
“He was the first person I told and the first person I sought wisdom from,” Cornutt said. “That day in February of 2011, Craig made me a promise: he would be my biggest supporter and help me however he could.”
Fourteen years later, Carlisle is still doing that, Cornutt said.
“But what’s remarkable is this — my story is not unique,” he said. “There are countless pastors across Alabama and beyond who could say the same. Craig Carlisle is a pastor to pastors. Every month, he faithfully prays for hundreds of ministers by name. He answers the late-night calls. He gives generously of his time and wisdom. He walks with pastors through their highest joys and their lowest valleys.”
Carlisle has also revitalized the historic School of the Prophets conference and has gone out of his way to make bivocational ministry a priority in his association and the state, Cornutt said.
“Also under his leadership, many churches have increased their support of the association or have begun to support the association when they previously were not,” he said.
Carlisle also chaired the state convention’s Sexual Abuse Task Force and was instrumental in founding the Alabama Young Pastors Network. Currently he is a trustee for the SBC Executive Committee.
“Craig Carlisle is humble, gracious, kind, generous, concerned and loving,” Cornutt said. “He believes in the Southern Baptist Convention and in the mission of our churches. Not only that, he also believes in the pastors who lead those churches.”
Carlisle said he is honored to be nominated for this role.
“I love Southern Baptists. I’m grateful for what God is doing through us in these days,” he said. “I’m humbled that some would consider me a candidate for this position. It would be an honor to serve our convention.”
During the 2024 Annual Church Profile (ACP) year, FBC Gadsden received $1,538,073 in total undesignated receipts and gave $131,232 (9.84%) through the Cooperative Program. The church gave $15,467 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, $35,189 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and reported 285 in average worship attendance and five baptisms, according to the ACP information provided by the church.
So far, one other nominee for second vice president has been announced — Tommy Mann, pastor of Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville, Texas, who will be nominated by Jim Gatliff, associational missionary for Hunt Baptist Association.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — This article originally appeared in The Alabama Baptist. Baptist Press contributed to this report.)
