Compiled by B&R staff
Ronnie Floyd has served as pastor of Cross Church in Arkansas for 33 years and was the SBC president from 2014-2016. — File photo/BP
DALLAS — Ronnie Floyd was elected as the new president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee by ballot vote in a called meeting on Tuesday (April 2) in Dallas.
Floyd received 68 of 69 votes cast, the EC said, electing Floyd in an executive session of nearly four hours.
A former SBC president, Floyd will resign April 7 from the longtime pastorate of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas and begin his EC leadership immediately, he said in acceptance remarks.
“We’re going to come and we’re going to reach the world with all we have and call this convention up to a level that we all need to go to,” Floyd told the EC. “Please pray for us.”
The strong vote in Floyd’s favor, he said, followed his prayer that the Lord would clearly declare His call for Floyd to serve in the new post.
Several Tennessee Baptists expressed affirmation of Floyd’s election.
“Dr. Ronnie Floyd is, and always shall be, a pastor,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “He’s the kind of pastor who prays much, preaches the Word passionately and leads from a God-given vision,” Davis observed.
The TBMB leader also described Floyd “as an equipper of leaders, unifier of people and ambassador for Christ. Dr. Floyd understands and deeply appreciates our Southern Baptist ecosystem.
“Only the clear call of God would deploy him to lead the SBC Executive Committee for such a time as this,” he concluded.
David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, and president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, also affirmed the selection of Floyd.
Ronnie Floyd delivering a message at the SBC annual meeting when it was held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. — Photo by By Matt Miller
“Given his overwhelming support by the Executive Committee, his experience in Southern Baptist leadership as president of the SBC, his love for the local church and his dedication to Jesus Christ, Ronnie Floyd is an excellent choice for president of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention,” Green said.
“I will be praying for the Floyd family as they make this transition and continuing to pray for our Southern Baptist family that we would be a body of believers that God will bless and use to reach our world with the gospel like never before,” Green added.
Memphis pastor and former SBC president Steve Gaines noted he has known Floyd for about 25 years. “He is a great man of prayer and a great leader,” Gaines affirmed.
“He understands the need for unity and cooperation and how that can be accomplished.” Gaines said. “His selection signals promising days ahead for our SBC.”
Robby Gallaty, senior pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, noted Floyd, “has poured his life into furthering the Great Commission and raising up leaders within our convention for years.
“Due to his heart for people and his passion for prayer, I believe he will strive to encourage all Southern Baptists to embrace and live out the Great Commission.”
Jordan Easley, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Cleveland, noted Floyd “is a prayer warrior and has led from his knees for decades.”
“As a young Southern Baptist pastor I am encouraged by his nomination (and election) and look forward to seeing how God uses Ronnie Floyd and blesses our convention of churches in the days ahead.”
SBC President J.D. Greear affirmed Floyd’s election in comments to Baptist Press on April 2.
“This is a crucial moment for Southern Baptists, and I am excited to work alongside Ronnie Floyd as he leads the Executive Committee forward,” Greear told BP.
“He is a man of prayer and a man of action; a man of prudence and man of boldness,” said Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area. “He is a gifted leader who I believe will keep the gospel above all.”
Floyd is in his 33rd year as the pastor of Cross Church, which celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2020. Under Floyd’s leadership, the multisite congregation has planted 148 churches and baptized more than 22,000 people, according to a press kit distributed by the SBC Executive Committee in advance of today’s vote. Cross Church reached $1 million in annual giving to the SBC Cooperative Program in 2015 and has since exceeded that amount annually.
Floyd has been active in various arenas of Southern Baptist life and interdenominational ministry. He has served as president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force since 2017 and is a member of the board of directors of the Family Research Council in Washington.
He was president of the SBC from 2014-2016, chaired the SBC Great Commission Task Force from 2009-2010, and chaired the SBC EC from 1995–1997. — Article includes reporting by Diana Chandler of Baptist Press and B&R editor Lonnie Wilkey.
