EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect the latest reporting from Baptist Press.
DALLAS – Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) trustees declined the nomination of Jared Wellman as the EC’s president/CEO during a special called meeting in Dallas today (May 1).
EC trustees rejected Wellman’s nomination in a 50-31 vote, and a new EC presidential search committee has been named.
Wellman, 39, is the pastor of Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, according to a Baptist Press report announcing his proposed nomination. As news of Wellman’s proposed nomination spread, some Southern Baptist leaders raised questions about the search committee’s procedures. (Read more here.)
“It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life to serve the Southern Baptist Convention through the Executive Committee,” Wellman told the group after the vote total was announced.
He said his “heart is with” the EC as it serves in the days ahead, Baptist Press reported.
Calling it an honor to lead the search committee, Adron Robinson said, “The committee worked hard to serve the Executive Committee by presenting the candidate that we felt was qualified to lead the Executive Committee in these turbulent times.”
“We respect the decision of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we commit to praying for the new search committee as they begin their work,” he told Baptist Press in a written statement.
David Sons, EC chairman and member of the previous president search committee, said, “Obviously, I’m disappointed about the outcome of today but I’m hopeful for the future as the new committee begins their work.”
Sons pledged to do all he could to help ensure the EC can find its new president.
Willie McLaurin, who will continue to serve as EC interim president/CEO, said, “I am incredibly thankful for the eight years that Dr. Wellman served as an SBC EC Trustee.
“It was my joy to serve alongside him as he chaired the Executive Committee this past year. I will be praying for Jared and his family.”
SBC President Bart Barber told Baptist Press, “The sentiment of the Executive Committee was unanimous that Jared Wellman is a godly man, a good Southern Baptist and a strong leader. Whatever the outcome was going to be today, there were going to be some people who celebrated it and some people who mourned it.
“Everyone can see now that the Executive Committee is not a rubber stamp. It is a collection of people who take seriously our polity and who vote their conscience.”
The EC elected a new presidential search committee, according to EC bylaws.
Search committee members are:
- Corey Cain (Tennessee)
- Neal Hughes (Alabama)
- Drew Landry (Virginia)
- Sarah Rogers (South Carolina)
- Nick Sandefur (Kentucky)
- Nancy Spalding (Michigan)
- David Sons (South Carolina), ex-officio
McLaurin called on Southern Baptists to pray for the newly-elected search committee members.
“Now is the time for Southern Baptists to unite around living out the great commandment and fulfilling the Great Commission,” he said.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee is scheduled for Monday, June 12, just before the kickoff of the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
Read the full Baptist Press report here.