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NASHVILLE—Alabama pastor Ed Litton of Redemption Church in Saraland was elected president of the 14-million member Southern Baptist Convention in a June 15 run-off race with Georgia pastor Mike Stone of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear. Litton received 6,834 votes to Stone’s 6,278, winning by a margin of 52 to 48 percent.
Initially, Stone received the most votes in a four-man race, receiving 5,216 of the 14,300 votes cast, amounting to 36.48 percent, followed by Litton with 4,630 votes, amounting to 32.38 percent. Two other candidates, both of whom served in denominational positions, took the remaining votes, including Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler of Louisville, Ky., receiving 3,764 votes at 26.32 percent, and Northwest Baptist Convention Executive Director Randy Adams, receiving 673 votes at 4.71 percent.
Nominated by former SBC President Fred Luter of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Litton was recommended for his faithfulness to the Cooperative Program and Great Commission giving, as well as pursuing racial reconciliation.
Luter characterized him as “a committed soulwinning missions-supporting inerrantist” who brings “a shepherd’s heart” to his position as president in the coming year. “This is our moment to get focused on the Great Commission,” he added, drawing strong applause after he concluded, “Take it from Fred, vote for Ed.”
