ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — Trustees elected Kentucky pastor Kevin Ezell president of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention after a four-hour called meeting Sept. 14.
Ezell, pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., was a controversial choice, because during his tenure the church's budget tripled, yet the congregation gives little more to the Cooperative Program unified budget and SBC mission offerings now than it did 10 years ago.
He succeeds Geoff Hammond, who resigned in August 2009 over philosophical differences with trustees. Richard Harris, senior strategist for missions advancement, was named acting interim president.