The Baptist Paper
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Of the 61 men who have served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention since its founding in 1845, 41 were senior pastors. That includes current SBC president Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala. (formerly First Baptist Church, North Mobile).
The role comes with a travel and incidentals budget of $46,000 and some basic administrative help from the SBC Executive Committee office, but no official assistant or budget to hire staff specific to this role.
Balancing the existing pastoral responsibilities with the new presidential demands requires some creative maneuvering, and how and when to use the budget depends on other resources available to the person serving as president. If the SBC president is a pastor, then most often that means staff responsibilities are adjusted or a new position is developed on staff.
“I still pastor a church in Alabama and am absolutely doing everything I can to make sure that stays my priority.”
Fred Luter, who was elected in 2012 and reelected in 2013, said he kept the same priority during his years as SBC president. [Read more…]