Meredith Cook has been named chair of the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Committee on Committees, SBC President J.D. Greear announced March 11.
Greear also announced his appointment of Marty Jacumin, pastor of Bay Leaf Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., as vice chair.
The Committee on Committees will assemble in Orlando, Fla., just prior to the SBC’s June 9-10 annual meeting sessions to nominate members of the Committee on Nominations who, in turn, will nominate trustees for the boards of SBC entities in 2021.
Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area, told Baptist Press (BP), “I have been aware of Meredith Cook’s great leadership for many years.”
Cook lives in Houston with her husband Keelan, who serves on staff with the Union Baptist Association in Houston, Texas. They are members of Neartown Church, a Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) church plant.
“It is a joy to see Meredith Cook appointed chair of the Committee on Committees for the Southern Baptist Convention,” noted Jim Richards, executive director of the SBTC. “… Our prayers and support are extended to her as she takes on her historic assignment.”
Cook holds a Master of Divinity in Missiology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and serves as an editor and writer for multiple missions and ministry organizations.
“I’m honored to serve our convention as chair of the Committee on Committees this year,” Cook said. “It is a task I take seriously, and I prayerfully look forward to working with Dr. Greear, Marty Jacumin, and the rest of the committee. Please pray for us as we prepare for the upcoming convention, that we would honor the Lord and keep the gospel above all as we serve.”
Jacumin has served as pastor of Bay Leaf Baptist Church since 2007. He earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from SEBTS, where he also serves as an adjunct preaching professor.
He previously served in Baptist life as a trustee at SEBTS as well as on the Board of Directors of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. In 2010, Jacumin was president of that convention’s Pastors’ Conference.
Milton Hollifield, executive director of North Carolina Baptists, told BP that Marty Jacumin is a highly respected pastor from a flagship church in the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
“He has served very well not only in many of our state convention boards and committees, but also in national positions within the SBC,” Hollifield said. “I give my full recommendation to Marty serving in this capacity.”
Jacumin said his experience as a seminary trustee helped him to understand the importance of the role of the Committee on Committees.
“I’m honored to serve my Southern Baptist family in this position,” he said.
Greear praised both Committee on Committees leaders for their many years of service to Southern Baptists.
“Since a young age, Meredith Cook has served Southern Baptists faithfully, has strong ties to associational life, and has been a part of different church plants. This, along with Marty Jacumin’s great experience and steadfast commitment to God’s Word and His people, will bring great leadership of the Committee on Committees to keep the gospel above all,” Greear said.
Greear plans to announce the remainder of his appointments to the Committee on Committees in the coming weeks. SBC Bylaw 19 calls for providing notice to Southern Baptists of the appointees at least 45 days in advance of each year’s annual meeting.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Amy Whitfield is associate vice president for communications at the SBC Executive Committee. A previous version of this article stated Keelan Cook works at the Houston Baptist Association. Cook is associate director of Union Baptist Association in Houston, Texas. We regret the error. )
