Nominees named for state convention leadership roles

Nominees named for state convention leadership roles

Messengers to the upcoming Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting — set for Nov. 13–14 at First Baptist Church, Trussville — are preparing to vote for a new slate of convention officers.

The Alabama Baptist has learned of some of the nominations messengers plan to make for those roles.

Tim Cox, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, Chelsea, will be nominated for convention president by his father, Henry Cox. Other pastors also have noted that they plan to nominate Buddy Champion, pastor of First, Trussville, for first vice president and Morgan Bailey, pastor of Canaan Baptist Church, Bessemer, for second vice president.

Nominations

Henry Cox, himself a former convention president, said Tim Cox “is without any doubt a saved sinner who is born again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, a God-called preacher of the gospel, a loving pastor and teacher who is a humble servant of Jesus Christ.”

‘Gifted leader’

He also called his son “a gifted leader who continues to serve well, and a man who knows and loves his Heavenly Father and walks in His ways every day.”

Tim Cox has served as pastor of Liberty Baptist since 1998. He is currently convention first vice president and served as second vice president before being elected to that role.

Champion will be nominated for first vice president by Blake Kersey, pastor of First Baptist Church, Decatur. Champion currently serves as second vice president.

Champion has served at First, Trussville, since 2006.

“He is the same man of God on Tuesday in staff meeting or Thursday in his office as he is Sunday in the pulpit,” Kersey said, calling him a genuine and authentic Christian leader. “He walks with such humility before his congregation and displays genuine love to his family, staff and congregation.”

Bailey will be nominated as second vice president by Travis Coleman, pastor of First Baptist Church, Prattville, and a former convention president.

Bailey has served as pastor of Canaan Baptist since 2006.

Coleman said Bailey has proven himself a leader as a pastor and in his work as chairman of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

“He understands Alabama Baptists, is articulate in his speech, a man of wisdom and someone people trust,” Coleman said.

“He is a seasoned leader ready to serve our state convention and assist Dr. Rick Lance in carrying out the mission of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.” (Grace Thornton)