Patterson

James Merritt, pastor of First Church, Snellville, Ga., and chair of the SBC Executive Committee, said he will nominate Patterson at the SBC annual meeting June 9-11 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

From 1936 to 1942, three seminary presidents were consecutively elected to serve as president of the convention. John R. Sampey, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., served as SBC president from 1936 to 1938.

L.R. Scarborough succeeded Sampey as president while serving as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas, from 1939 to 1940.

W.W. Hamilton, president of Baptist Bible Institute (now called New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary), served as SBC president from 1941-42.

The first seminary president to serve as SBC president was E.Y. Mullins of Southern Seminary. He served as convention president from 1921 to 1923.

Merritt announced Feb. 3 his intention to nominate Patterson, 55, for the SBC presidency during "The 12th Pastors' School and Bible Conference" held at First Church, Jacksonville, Fla. Patterson becomes the only announced candidate to succeed Tom Elliff, an Oklahoma pastor who will conclude two one-year terms as president at the Salt Lake City annual meeting.

Responding to Merritt's announcement, Patterson said: "Should messengers to the churches see fit to choose me to be president of the SBC, my objectives will be twofold. First, I want to give myself to work with our churches and the North American Mission Board to baptize 500,000 people during the year 2000. Second, I want to do all I can to assist the International Mission Board in getting our arms around the globe with a comprehensive program of evangelism and discipleship."

Before allowing Merritt to nominate him for the SBC presidency, however, Patterson said he had to first determine whether his possible election would create any conflicts of interest with his position as a seminary president.

The Convention constitution allows the president of the Southern Baptist Convention during his tenure to be a member of the "several boards and the Executive Committee" of the SBC. Patterson said, however, "If elected SBC president, I would not be casting a vote or speaking to issues in board meetings except at the invitation of the president of that agency and the chairman of its board."

Patterson also noted because of the "wise foresight of the SBC fathers," the Convention president does not have direct input in determining who serves on the agency and institutional boards. Under Convention by-laws, the president of the Convention appoints the Committee on Committees, which in turn recommends to the Convention for approval the Committee on Nominations. The Committee on Nominations then recommends potential appointees to serve on the agency and institutional boards. The Convention elects Southern Baptists to the various boards and trustee positions.

Patterson, although admitting he still has theological concerns, believes SBC has achieved a "rather remarkable theological consensus.

"While theological slumber is never appropriate for believers, we must intensify our efforts in prayer, witnessing and giving to reach our world," Patterson said. "I rejoice in our Convention's theological consensus, but it will mean little if it fails to motivate us to lead men and women to the Savior. The remaining years of my life and ministry, whether I'm president of the Southern Baptist Convention or not, will be devoted to evangelism."

Patterson is regarded as one of the architects of the "conservative resurgence" in the SBC which began in 1979.

Patterson began preaching at age 14. He earned a bachelor of arts degree at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas, in 1965. Patterson earned both a master's and doctorate in theology from New Orleans Seminary.

Throughout his ministry, Patterson has visited more than 60 countries spreading the gospel through revival crusades, missionary assignments and study tours. He has extensive editorial experience and served as the managing editor of The Believer's Study Bible.

Patterson is married to the former Dorothy Jean Kelley of Beaumont, Texas. The Pattersons have two adult children: a son, Armour Paige, and a daughter, Carmen Leigh. The couple has one grandchild, Abigail Leigh.

Before coming to Southeastern, Patterson, a native Texan, served as president of The Criswell College and associate pastor of First Church in Dallas, Texas, for 17 years. Before going to Dallas, Patterson served churches in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. (BP)

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this story was compiled by Herb Hollinger, Art Toalston and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary staff.)