Rev. Ronnie Floyd of Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) on June 10.
The megachurch pastor received 1,834 votes, or 51.62 percent, and replaces New Orleans pastor Fred Luter, Jr.
Rev. Floyd was nominated by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr., who called him a "gifted and visionary pastor," as well as a "unifier and a denominational statesman," according to AL.com.
Floyd has pastored at Cross Church, formerly known as First Baptist Church of Springdale, for 27 years. He led the church's expansion to two other campuses, and was instrumental in building the largest congregation in the state.
The 58-year-old is a former SBC Executive Committee chairman, and a former SBC Program and Structure Task Force member. He has been married to his wife, Jeana, for 37 years, and they have two sons and six grandchildren.
Megachurch pastor Dennis Kim of Global Mission Church in Silver Spring, Maryland came in second after the vote with 1,446 persons choosing him. Rev. Kim would have been SBC's first Korean president. Rev. Luter Jr. was the Convention's first African-American leader.
Rev. Jared Moore of New Salem Baptist Church in Hustonville, Kentucky received 210 votes, and Rev. Clint Pressley of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina was elected first vice president.
The election occurred during the SBC's Annual Meeting, which ends today.
Fresh off the heels of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference, the two-day meeting is a chance to hear spiritual leaders speak, and worship with people from across the country. The conference is also being live streamed on SBC's website, and this year's theme is "Show Us Your Glory."
Activities during the Annual Meeting include the Clear Creek Baptist Bible College Reception, a panel discussion hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and ministry by the Filipino Southern Baptist Fellowship of North America.
For young Christians, the Meeting offers the Children in Action Missions Camp, whose theme is "Go Tell It." The program encourages children in grades one through six to have holy boldness when discussing Christ.
