LAKE CHARLES, La. (BP)—Louisiana Pastor Steven James announced Feb. 13 his intent to nominate Farmersville pastor Bart Barber for reelection as Southern Baptist Convention president at the 2023 SBC annual meeting in New Orleans this June.
Barber was elected to the position for the first time at last summer’s gathering in Anaheim, Calif.
James and Barber know one another well due to their time together on the board of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“During our time together, I watched first-hand his genuine understanding of his role in that capacity,” James, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, La., wrote in an email to Baptist Press.
“I found him to be biblical in his approach to the responsibilities that were assigned to him, prayerful in the matters that were presented to him and forthright with the subjects that concerned him.”
Referring to Barber’s multiple media interviews including the one with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, James said Barber has been a “true statesman in his evaluation of the condition of our convention.”
“When asked some very pointed questions, he never compromised the word of God or downplayed the problems that are confronting us as a convention or a nation. At the same time, he expressed a very positive outlook about the future of the SBC,” James said.
“Having listened to Bart preach, I know that he is conservative in his beliefs. Coupled with that, he is consistent in his walk with the Lord. In addition to everything else over the past year, he has diligently and devotedly served us well as our president.”
In addition to chairing the committee on resolutions at the 2022 annual meeting, Barber served on the committee in 2021, preached at the SBC Pastors’ Conference in 2017, and served as first vice president of the SBC from 2013 to 2014.
He served on the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention executive board from 2008 to 2014 (including serving as chairman and vice chairman), served as a trustee for Southwestern Seminary from 2009 to 2019, and served on the SBC committee on committees in 2008. He also previously taught as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Seminary from 2006 to 2009.
According to Annual Church Profile information, First Baptist Farmersville reported 14 baptisms in 2022 and averaged 320 in weekly worship. The church collected $1,014,990 total undesignated receipts, with $108,276 (10.67 percent) given through the Cooperative Program. The church also gave $64,713 to the 2022 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and a total of $191,952 to Great Commission causes.
Barber is a graduate of Baylor University and earned both a Master of Divinity degree and Ph.D. from Southwestern. He and his wife, Tracy, have two teenage children.
He is the only announced candidate at this time.
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