Merritt names members of same
church to head key SBC committees
___NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Two of the Southern Baptist Convention's most influential committees will be headed by members of the same Kentucky church this year.
___SBC President James Merritt has named Kevin Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., as chairman of the committee on committees. This committee selects members of the committee on nominations, which in turn nominates individuals to serve as trustees of denominational agencies and institutions.
___Since 1979, ultra-conservatives SBC presidents have used the committee on committee and committee on nominations as a means to control all denominational entities.
___Merritt also named Danny Akin, a member at Ezell's church and academic vice president at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, as chairman of the resolutions committee.
___The resolutions committee proposes resolutions for consideration by messengers at the SBC annual meeting. This committee's work has been in the spotlight in recent years as the SBC has adopted resolutions calling for a boycott of the Walt Disney Co., protesting abortion and homosexuality and chastising former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
___Another prominent member of Highview Baptist Church is Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a frequent apologist for the SBC on national television.
___Although there is no constitutional restriction on members of the same church taking such key committee chairmanships in the same year, the occurrence is rare. Knowledgeable Southern Baptist historians said they could not recall a similar occurrence before.
___Ezell, the new chairman of the committee on committees, also was nominated by this year's committee on nominations to become a trustee of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
___Other members of the resolutions committee, appointed by Merritt to serve with Akin, are Ann Frazier, a layperson from Calvary Baptist Church of Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; Pat Pajak, senior pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur, Ill.; Gary Smith, senior pastor of Fielder Road Baptist Church in Arlington; Robert Anderson, senior pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Md.; Martha Atchison, layperson from First Baptist Church of McAllen; Ed Balducci, team leader in family ministry for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and member of Geyer Springs Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark.; William Blanchard, pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark.; Frank Page, pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C.; and Jerry (Tim) Passmore, pastor of Woodland Baptist Church, Bradenton, Fla.
___Of the two Texas churches represented on the resolutions committee, First Baptist Church of McAllen is dually aligned with the Baptist General Convention and Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Fielder Road is uniquely aligned with the BGCT.
___Two Texans were appointed by Merritt to serve with Ezell. They are Bruce Perkins of Memorial Baptist Church in Grapevine and Marcos Ramos of Second Baptist Church in Jacinto City.
___Memorial is uniquely aligned with the BGCT. Second Baptist of Jacinto City is uniquely aligned with SBTC.
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