OKLAHOMA CITY (BP)—Hance Dilbeck was elected as the next executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma in a unanimous vote by the convention’s board of directors Dec. 11 in Oklahoma City.
Dilbeck, senior pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City since 2003, will become the ninth executive director in the convention’s 101-year history. Dilbeck will succeed current Oklahoma Baptist Executive Director-Treasurer Anthony Jordan, who has led the convention since April 1996.
Members of the executive search committee, who began their search last September, spoke enthusiastically about Dilbeck during the Dec. 11 meeting, voicing how they believe God guided the decision process.
“We all looked to Jesus to guide us to find the man to lead us as our next executive director-treasurer. Because of his working in us, there was a clear unity in our decisions, and we believe God led us to Dr. Dilbeck, and we know he will continue the great work here in Oklahoma that God has brought about,” said Committee Chair Nick Garland, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Okla.
BGCO President Joe Ligon, pastor of First Baptist Church in Marlow, an ex officio search committee member, spoke heartily in favor of Dilbeck, saying he has been “raised up to lead for such a time as this,” while Jordan said he believes God has “uniquely prepared Hance Dilbeck to serve, from your first days of ministry up to now.”
Dilbeck, 52, officially begins his service as executive director-treasurer-elect Jan. 15. The board also voted to approve a transition period between Jan. 15 and Feb. 28 for Jordan, 68, and Dilbeck. Following the time of transition, Dilbeck will assume all administrative leadership of the convention March 1, with Jordan’s retirement to become official on April 15.
Dilbeck is a past president of the Oklahoma Baptist convention and served terms of service as chairman of the board for various Southern Baptist Convention and BGCO-affiliated entities.
Under Dilbeck’s leadership, Quail Springs has tripled in size since 2003, led the SBC in Cooperative Program giving and played an active part in 29 church planting efforts and one church revitalization effort.
He has been a pastor in Oklahoma more than 27 years, including First Baptist Church in Snyder; First Baptist Church in Noble; and First Baptist Church in Ponca City. He served at Little City Baptist Church in Madill while he was in seminary.
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Dilbeck earned his undergraduate degree in religion from Oklahoma Baptist University, and he is a two-time graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a master of divinity degree in 1992 and a doctor of ministry degree in 2002. In addition to the pastorate, he also has served as adjunct professor of preaching at both Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Seminary.
He has served in numerous other areas of denominational work, having been the featured preacher for Falls Creek Youth Camp, chairman of the board of trustees at Oklahoma Baptist University, chairman of the board of trustees at Southwestern Seminary, second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, BGCO president and, most recently, chairman of the board of trustees for the International Mission Board.
Dilbeck and his wife Julie have been married 32 years and have three grown sons, D.H., Dax and Leighton, and three grandchildren.
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