JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) Executive Board appointed a subcommittee Jan. 14 to recommend members of an executive director search committee to be elected when the MBC Executive Board meets April 12.
The Board also unanimously voted Associate Executive Director Jay Hughes as interim executive director until the search committee recommends – and the Board approves – a permanent executive director.
The actions were taken in the closed-door session at the Baptist Building in response to David Tolliver’s resignation Jan. 6, which the Board formally accepted. The Board also discussed a process for ministering to the Tolliver family.
Four of those named to the subcommittee are members of the Executive Board’s administrative committee. They are Monte Dunn, pastor, Pleasant View Baptist Church, Highlandville; John Marshall, MBC President and pastor, Second Baptist Convention, Springfield; Jim Wells, director of missions, Tri-County Baptist Association, Nixa; and Jody Shelenhamer, a Bolivar businessman and member of Wellspring Baptist Fellowship in Bolivar. The fifth member is Denny Marr, associate minister, Calvary Baptist Church, Republic.
Hughes, 40, has served as controller for the MBC since July 2003, was named MBC associate executive director April 2009 and was named acting interim executive director Jan. 6. The Monroe, La. native earned a bachelor’s of science degree in accounting in 1992 and a masters of business administration degree in 1993 from Louisiana Tech University. He is a certified public accountant and a former accounting firm partner in Monroe. He and his wife, Niki, and their two girls are members of Memorial Baptist Church here where Hughes serves as a deacon.
“I humbly accept this appointment by the Executive Board,” Hughes said after the meeting. “Please pray for me and the MBC staff as we move forward together. I am grateful for the great team at the MBC.”
By Don Hinkle / editor