news about the denomination The following news items apply to (or affect) the Free Will Baptist denomination scattered across the nation and around the world.To read more about Free Will Baptists and the various departments that make up the national organization, visit www.nafwb.org. Read a brief history of Free Will Baptists in the United States.

2018 Leadership Conference to Focus on Communication

Nashville, TN—The 2018 Free Will Baptist Leadership Conference will return to Nashville Airport Marriott Hotel December 3-4. Pastors and church leaders across the denomination will explore the theme “Communicating Effectively” from pulpit to print to web.

During keynote sessions, Robert J. Morgan, teaching pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, will share principles for communicating effectively through preaching. Morgan has served The Donelson Fellowship for 35 years. He is a best-selling, Gold Medallion-winning writer with more than 35 books in print and more than 4 million copies in circulation in multiple languages. He is a writer for Dr. David Jeremiah and Turning Points Magazine, has articles published in many leading Christian periodicals, and has appeared on numerous national television and radio shows. Rob and his wife Katrina have three daughters and 14 grandchildren.

On Tuesday morning, during a slate of seminar-styled sessions, Eric K. Thomsen, editor of ONE Magazine, will offer practical advice for communicating effectively in print. Media Commission member Daniel Edwards will unravel the mysteries of communicating effectively through technology. Dr. Neil Gilliland, director of member care for IM, will offer advice for communicating effectively across generational lines.

The two-day conference will offer more than training, with time for renewing friendships during banquet-styled meals, music provided by Welch College, and free time on Tuesday afternoon for sightseeing in Nashville. Additionally, several national boards will meet in conjunction with the conference.

“Communication is changing, many times at a pace impossible to match,” notes conference planner Ryan Lewis. “As a denomination, our churches, pastors, and laypeople must work together to communicate our message clearly. This year’s theme emphasizes key mediums and methods to ensure we communicate our most critical message effectively—the message of the gospel.”
Visit www.nafwb.org/ leadershipconference for registration and reservation information.

Executive Secretary Search Underway

Antioch, TN—At the conclusion of his report to delegates at the 2018 national convention, Executive Secretary Keith Burden announced his retirement, effective December 31, 2019. “Only a few individuals have had the opportunity to serve as executive secretary of the denomination,” Burden noted, “and it is a privilege and responsibility I have not taken lightly.”

After Burden received a standing ovation for his work, Moderator Tim York announced the following procedure for selecting a new executive secretary:

The Executive Committee is charged with the responsibility of presenting a single candidate for the position of executive secretary to the General Board of the National Association of Free Will Baptists by July 2019.

The Executive Committee will receive candidate recommendations for executive secretary until October 30, 2018. A candidate profile form must accompany each recommendation. (This form is available at www.nafwb.org/candidate.) All pertinent information regarding this process will be dispersed to pastors, state leaders, General Board members, state papers, and printed in ONE Magazine.

The Executive Committee will recommend one candidate to the General Board. The General Board will recommend one candidate to the National Association. The executive secretary will be elected by majority vote of the National Association.

The following information about nominees will be requested on the recommendation form:

• Contact information: name, address, phone, email
  

• Present position held and title
  

• Personal information: age, date of conversion, marital status, spouse’s name, children’s name(s) and age(s), date called to preach, date of ordination, place of ordination
  

• Denominational service: churches pastored (with dates); district, state, and denominational positions (with dates)
  

• Does this person actively support denominational ministries through the Together Way Plan? (cooperative/designated)
  

• Are there any denominational ministries this person cannot support? List and explain why.
  

• Education: schools attended, dates, and degrees or diplomas earned
  

• Other: awards received, books written, community service, etc.
  

• Comments (the reasons for the recommendation)
  

This form must be completed online. Visit www.nafwb.org.

2019 Nominees Requested

Antioch, TN—The 2018-19 Nominating Committee, which will serve through the national convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, is prepared to receive nominees for the 2019 convention election, according to Tommy Swindol (TN), committee chairman.

The committee will meet Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at the annual Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, to consider nominations and compile a report with a single nominee for each position to be filled. The report will be presented to delegates at the 2019 convention.

The following board and commission positions will be filled in 2019: Home Missions/North American Ministries (3), Board of Retirement (3), Free Will Baptist Foundation (3), Commission for Theological Integrity (1) Historical Commission (1), Media Commission (1), Music Commission (1), General Board (11), Executive Committee (3), and General Officers (4).

The following boards do not elect members in 2019: IM, Inc, Randall House Publications, Welch College, and WNAC.

Nominations, accompanied by a brief resume, must be submitted exclusively to the chairman on or before November 30. Complete or download the form at nafwb.org. Send physical resumés to Chairman Tommy Swindol:

Nominating Committee,
Tommy Swindol
3210 McGavock Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Phone: (615) 871-4769
Email: tommy@donelson.org