Kentucky Baptists elect new president

John Mark Toby, pastor of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Somerset, was elected president of Kentucky’s largest denomination during the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s 171st annual meeting.

Messengers affirmed Toby by acclamation during the convention’s afternoon session Nov. 11 at Immanuel Baptist Church. There were no other candidates.

Also elected unopposed were Skip Alexander, pastor of Campbellsville Baptist Church in Campbellsville, as first vice president, and E. Lee James, pastor of Bellview Baptist Church in Paducah, as second vice president.

The convention re-elected Wilma Simmons as secretary and Mike Melloan as assistant secretary.

Messengers at annual meeting last week also approved new members for the Kentucky Baptist Convention Mission Board and the boards of several affiliated institutions and agencies.

Rodney Troutman of Buffalo was appointed to serve on the Mission Board, representing the Severns Valley Association of Baptists, Region 3. His term runs through 2011.

The committee also recommended Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, to preach the 2009 convention sermon. The 2009 Kentucky Baptist Convention is scheduled for Nov. 10 at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown.

The alternate preacher is Chuck Lawless, dean and professor of evangelism and church growth for The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.