NASHVILLE (BP)—The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee search team said they have resumed conversations with Interim President and CEO Willie McLaurin about his candidacy for the permanent position.
The information was emailed to Executive Committee members July 17 and shared with Baptist Press.
“Considering the many endorsements from pastors, state convention leaders, and national entity heads, and considering an overwhelming sense in our hearts that we are being obedient to the Holy Spirit, your present search team decided that we should continue where the former search team left off by doing our own due diligence and interviews with Dr. Willie McLaurin, Interim President/CEO of the SBC Executive Committee,” Neal Hughes, committee chair wrote in the email.
Hughes said since the group’s meeting in New Orleans during the SBC annual meeting, they have been busy with “face-to-face gatherings, zoom meetings, numerous email discussions, and much research.”
He thanked his fellow Executive Committee members for their encouragement and prayer support.
McLaurin has been the agency’s interim leader since February 2022 following the October 2021 resignation of Ronnie Floyd.
In May, the Executive Committee declined the recommendation of Jared Wellman, pastor of Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington, by the original search team.
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