Note: This version of the article has been updated to reflect the latest nominations as of Nov. 4.
FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention messengers will elect the state’s first regional vice presidents when they gather Nov. 10-11 at West Jackson Baptist Church.
The new positions reflect Tennessee Baptists’ push to develop leadership and boost participation in the convention’s work. Previously, the convention did not have regional vice presidents representing Tennessee’s grand regions.
Middle Tennessee VP
Chapman
Jeff Mims will nominate Whit Chapman for the Middle Tennessee position. Chapman has served as senior pastor at Concord Village Baptist Church in Brentwood since August 2018. Before that, he spent 12 years as senior pastor of Frederica Baptist Church on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Chapman, a Nashville native, graduated from the University of Tennessee and earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
“I have known Whit since we were in seminary at Southeastern together, and he’s been long tenured in both of his pastorates,” Mims said. “He loves Tennessee Baptist.”
Jacob Kitchens, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Waynesboro, will nominate Maurice Hollingsworth for the Middle Tennessee position. Hollingsworth has served as senior pastor of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church in Columbia since July 2021.
Hollingsworth
Hollingsworth and his wife, Nancy, are former International Mission Board missionaries to Taiwan, where he also served as a professor at Taiwan Baptist Seminary. He previously pastored churches in Kentucky, New Mexico, and Texas, and served as executive pastor of West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson. He holds a doctorate in New Testament from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Memphis.
“Maurice Hollingsworth is a lifelong Southern Baptist,” Kitchens said. “His experience in service both as a pastor and a missionary with IMB provide our state convention with incredibly qualified leadership and dedication.”
East Tennessee VP
David Haynes will nominate Shane Johnston for the East Tennessee position. Johnston has pastored Notchey Creek Baptist Church in Madisonville since 2022. He previously served four years as superintendent of Jefferson County schools and held administrative roles in Sweetwater City Schools and Rhea County schools.
Johnston
Johnston, a Rhea County native, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“Shane and I have been friends for over two decades, and I’ve seen him pastor churches from all different sizes,” said Haynes, director of missions at the Tennessee Valley Baptist Association. “He’s shown great leadership when leading a whole school and as superintendent of a county school system. He’s also been a great motivator and coach high school girls’ basketball, and so he just has a wide range of experience.”
Convention VP
Larry Robertson, pastor of Hilldale Baptist Church in Clarksville, will nominate David Evans, pastor of Springfield Baptist Church in Springfield, for convention vice president.
Evans, a Robertson County native, has served Springfield Baptist as senior pastor. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Austin Peay State University and holds multiple graduate degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, including a doctorate in Christian education and leadership.
Evans
Evans previously served with the state convention and with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two children.
“David has a clear understanding of how that cooperative effort works in a state convention,” Robertson said. “He has a rare perspective that honors the role the convention plays as well as the local church, and he walks in both of those worlds with confidence and competency.”
West Tennessee VP
Additionally, Ben Cowell will also be nominated by Chris Garner, lead pastor of Holly Grove Baptist Church in Bells, Tenn., for the West Tennessee VP position. Cowell is pastor of Brownsville Baptist Church in Brownsville. B&R
