SBTC elects new officers

CORPUS CHRISTI?Messengers to the sixth Southern Baptists of Texas Convention annual meeting unanimously elected Chris Osborne, pastor of Central Baptist Church in Bryan, to serve as SBTC president.

In making the nomination, Gil Lane, pastor of Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, described Osborne as a man whose “heart was in harmony with the beliefs of this convention before this convention ever existed.” Lane said, “It’s not his credentials that impress me, it’s his character. It’s not his leadership that brought me to this platform, it is his friendship.”

Messengers elected as first vice president for a second consecutive year Dt1:PersonName>avid Galvan, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Garland, one of the largest Hispanic churches in Texas. Rudy Hernandez, former SBTC president, nominated Galvan, praising him as a preacher and a teacher who will continue to do the good work he has already begun.

As with the first two SBTC officers, conference messengers unanimously elected Bill Sutton as second vice president to the convention. “Bill has a passion for reaching Texas and the world for Christ,” said John Brady, pastor of Woodforest Baptist Church in Houston. Sutton is a former chairman of the International Mission Board and still serves as a trustee to that entity in addition to serving on the SBTC executive board. Sutton serves as pastor of First Baptist Church in McAllen.

Brenda Wills of First Baptist Church of Fort Worth was elected recording secretary following nomination by Barbara Smith of MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church in Irving. Wills is the wife of Donald Wills, pastor of First Baptist Church, Fort Worth.

All SBTC officers were elected unopposed.