September 10, 2001
Campbell to be nominated for president
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___SUGAR LAND--Bob Campbell, a Houston pastor and veteran denominational leader, will be nominated as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas when it meets in Dallas Oct. 29-30.
___Phil Lineberger, pastor of Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugar Land and a formerBGCT president, announced Campbell's nomination last week.
BOB CAMPBELL
___"Bob Campbell has been a proven leader in Texas Baptist life," Lineberger said. "He's a longtime pastor, teacher and denominational leader."
___Campbell has been pastor of Westbury Baptist Church in Houston since 1991. He was chairman of the BGCT Executive Board in 1996 and 1997. Most recently, he was chairman of the BGCT Seminary Study Committee in 2000.
___"He is a statesman and proven leader," Lineberger said. "At this time in Texas Baptist life, we need a strong leader--one who is committed to the Baptist General Convention of Texas without any reservations.
___"We need a person who not only knows the institutions that have been birthed in Texas, but who also has been involved in leadership and support of those institutions."
___The Westbury church has provided leadership in local, state and international missions, Lineberger noted. Under Campbell's guidance, the congregation has been active in ministry to people in need. It has sponsored several ethnic missions, ministry with African-Americans, and interfaith, apartment and student ministries.
___Campbell feels honored "to even be considered for such an office," he said. "We've had such great leaders--for a long time. To think you might be included in that group is an honor. I would look forward to trying to keep up that track record."
___Noting he would enjoy the opportunity to serve as president, Campbell said: "I think I could bring some skills and ideas and thinking that would help churches in Texas.
___"We need to keep focused on missions. The new church starts are so very important. Our work with Hispanics is vital, since that represents such a growing part of our state.
___"I still have a deep interest in theological education for our Texas students--not just at the seminaries and Hispanic Baptist Theological School. But the graduate schools at some of our universities certainly also need to be held up."
___Campbell's experience as Executive Board chairman would be helpful if he were elected president, he said. "It gave me an opportunity to see the wide variety of ministries through the BGCT and our institutions," he explained. "Being able to help facilitate that kind of ministry is exciting.
___"I very much am interested in Partnership Missions. I always thought that was an exciting part of Texas Baptist work--partnering with other state conventions, national conventions in other countries, with whoever shares our common goal to reach the world for Christ.
___"Texas Baptists should not only be interested in ourselves, but we should have a strong base to reach out beyond our borders."
___Campbell also would look forward to working with BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade, he added.
___"My friendship with Charles Wade began in seminary," Campbell recalled. "He has preached in every church where I have been pastor. I would look forward to a strong relationship with Charles and supporting our Executive Board staff, who do wonderful work."
___Before becoming pastor at Westbury, Campbell was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Garland; Northwest Baptist Church in Ardmore, Okla.; Salt Creek Baptist Church in Brownwood; Plum Grove Baptist Church in Markley; and Calvary Baptist Church in Forest Hill, La.
___He also was assistant professor of Bible and Greek and director of religious activities at Howard Payne Baptist University in Brownwood. He has been an adjunct professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
___Campbell is a graduate of Louisiana College in Pineville and Southwestern Seminary, where he earned a doctorate in New Testament.
___In addition to his BGCT positions, he has been a member of the Oklahoma Baptist Student Union Advisory Board and the Southern Baptist Convention committee on boards and national student work committee. He has served in various associational, community and civic capacities.
___He and his wife, Judith Ann, have two adult children, Michael Andrew Campbell and Michelle Andrea Zimmerman.
___Westbury Baptist Church has 1,374 resident members and averaged 504 in Sunday School attendance last year, when it baptized 35 new Christians, according to the 2000 BGCT Annual. The church contributed $40,452 to the Cooperative Program unified budget, which was 5 percent of budget receipts.
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