A missions pastor from an N.C. Baptist church who also serves as president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s board of directors is departing those roles to join the state convention staff as a regional mission catalyst.

Casey Norkett, missions pastor at Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, informed members of the N.C. Baptist board of directors of his decision in an email on Sunday, April 16, after the news was announced to members of the congregation where he serves earlier that morning.

“I want to thank everyone for their service to the board,” Norkett wrote. “It has been a privilege to serve our convention these past three and a half years, and two and a half as vice chairman and chairman. I have grown in my love for what the Lord is doing in and through N.C. Baptists. I am excited to see what God has in store for us as we partner On Mission Together.”

Norkett will begin his new role on Monday, May 8. State convention bylaws do not permit convention employees to serve on the board of directors. Vice President Zeb Cook, pastor of Apex Baptist Church, will become board president effective immediately.

Norkett was first elected president of the N.C. Baptist board of directors in September 2021, and he was re-elected in September 2022. He previously served one term as vice president. Norkett has served as missions pastor at Hickory Grove for eight years. He joined Hickory Grove’s staff in 2015 after previously serving with his family as a missionary with the International Mission Board.

Clint Pressley, senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church, said Norkett’s new role will allow him to have a greater impact on churches across North Carolina.

“When you do a good job people notice, and the state convention of North Carolina has taken notice,” Pressley said in announcing news of Norkett’s departure to the congregation. “The North Carolina Baptist state convention has asked Casey to come on as a Great Commission catalyst. If you know his missions heart, you know that [this new position] is really an appealing thing.”

Pressley said Hickory Grove will hold a special time of commissioning for Norkett during worship services on Sunday, April 30.

N.C. Baptists’ mission catalysts serve and support local churches, pastors and associational leaders in a variety of ways. These regional and affinity based catalysts work with ministry leaders to help identify unreached people groups, develop strategies to impact communities with the gospel, facilitate missions partnerships and more.

Norkett will serve an area along the southern border of North Carolina, stretching from the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the Sandhills in the east.

Norkett said he is looking forward to serving churches and ministry leaders in his new role.

“I couldn’t be more excited to serve N.C. Baptists in my new role,” Norkett said. “Taking part in serving a movement of churches on mission together is what drew me to the work of our state convention. I’m most looking forward to partnering in ministry with Baptist churches, pastors, and associational mission strategists in taking the gospel across the street and around the world.”