DALLAS (BP) — Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Clint Pressley has named the roster of tellers to count votes at the 2025 SBC annual meeting on June 12-13. Pressley named Hank Garner, executive pastor at First Baptist Church (FBC) Lonoke in Paducah, Ky., as to lead the team.
“We’ll count every ballot, to be sure. And then we’ll check our work to make sure every single vote is counted right. The convention really only exists for the two days we’re gathered so we want to be good stewards of every election, motion, amendment or resolution,” Garner told Baptist Press (BP).
He said he is committed to helping the meeting flow “decently and in order.”
“We don’t want anything about the convention’s business sessions to distract from the good report of the Lord’s work through Southern Baptists around the world,” Garner said.
Messengers vote by ballot throughout the meeting on important leadership decisions and votes that are too close to be called by sight.
“The most helpful things that a messenger can do are to be in the room for all of the business and follow the instructions of Registration Secretary Don Currence,” he said.
Messengers received a personalized book of ballots when they register for the meeting. Registration opens on Sunday, June 10, at 2 p.m. in the exhibit hall.
Tellers are:
- Bob Allen, Salem Avenue Baptist Church, Missouri
- Jemar Bahinting, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Texas
- Delton Beall, First Baptist Yazoo City, Mississippi
- Byron Benson, East End Baptist Church, Mississippi
- Mark Bethea, FBC Montgomery, Alabama
- Brittany Bethea, FBC Montgomery, Alabama
- Trent Broussord, Central Baptist, Arkansas
- James Gardner, McClendon Baptist Church, Louisiana
- Hank Garner, Lone Oak First Baptist, Kentucky
- David Haynes, First Baptist Church Senatobia, Mississippi
- April Haynes, First Baptist Church Senatobia, Mississippi
- Julie Head, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Texas
- Bently Hill, Southside Baptist, Poteau, Oklahoma
- Susan Hill, Southside Baptist, Poteau, Oklahoma
- Tom Hollis, Red Hill Church, Illinois
- Jerry Hollis, Red Hill Church, Illinois
- Jesse Huggins, Parkway Baptist Church, Mississippi
- Connie Hussung, Rich Pond Baptist, Kentucky
- Daniel Ingle, FBC Wetumka, Oklahoma
- Evens Jules, Bethel Evangelical Baptist, Florida
- Laramie LeQuieu, Harvest Baptist Church, Arkansas
- Kathy LeQuieu, Harvest Baptist Church, Arkansas
- Donny Mathis, Cherry Dale Christ Fellowship, South Carolina
- William Maxwell, Brentwood, Tennessee
- Jeff Maynard, First Baptist Church, North Carolina
- Chris McDaniel, Southside Baptist, Atoka, Oklahoma
- Andy McDaniel, Southside Baptist, Atoka, Oklahoma
- Quillian Mercer, Lakeside Baptist, Georgia
- Scott Morie, Immanuel Baptist, Perkins, Oklahoma
- Melissa Morie, FBC Valley Mills, Texas
- Teresa Nicholson, SBTC, Texas
- Ryan Ogle, Union Missionary Baptist Church, Tennessee
- Sarah Ogle, Union Missionary Baptist Church, Tennessee
- Dub Oliver, Englewood Baptist, Tennessee
- Carl Peyton, Transformation Church RVA, Virginia
- Kirsten Peyton, Transformation Church RVA, Virginia
- Carl Peyton, Transformation Church RVA, Virginia
- Russ Ponder, FBC Hamlin, Texas
- Ken Rucker, New Branch Community Church Georgia
- Matt Sachitano, New Hope Gulfport, Mississippi
- Brian Sandifer, Potomac Heights Baptist, Maryland-Delaware
- Juani Shelton, Normandale Baptist, Ft. Worth, Texas
- Kathy Short, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Texas
- Blake Short, Prestonwood Baptist Church, Texas
- Jennifer Spencer, Crosspointe Church Monroe, Michigan
- Zack Thurman, Overland Church, Colorado
- Eric Trout, Restoration Church, Iowa
- Alicia Violante, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Texas
- Krissy Watson, Bethlehem Baptist, North Carolina
- Brandon Watson, Bethlehem Baptist, North Carolina
- Johan Wessels, FBC Winnsboro, Texas
- Heather Wessels, FBC Winnsboro, Texas
- Nathan Whisnant, FBC Owensboro, Kentucky
- Bryan Whitney, First Baptist, Arkansas
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Brandon Porter serves as Vice President for Communications at the SBC Executive Committee.)
