The Kentucky Baptist Convention (KBC) announced the recommendation of Paul Chitwood to serve as the next executive director-treasurer of the convention, May 23, 2011. Chitwood is associate professor of evangelism and church growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The Kentucky Baptist Mission Board will consider the recommendation for approval at a special-called meeting on June 2. According to the KBC news release, a 15-member search committee will make the recommendation. If the board approves, Chitwood will start his position July 1. He will replace former director-treasurer Bill Mackey who will retire May 31.
“Kentucky Baptists will be celebrating the nomination of Dr. Paul Chitwood as executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. I have known Paul for many years, and he is a man of deep conviction, Great Commission passion, pastoral vision, tremendous personal skills and leadership ability. He will provide outstanding leadership for Kentucky Baptists across the generations – of that, I am certain,” said R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Seminary.
Russell D. Moore, dean of the School of Theology and senior vice president for academic administration at Southern Seminary, also expressed his confidence in Chitwood’s experience, skills and leadership ability.
“Paul Chitwood is one of the most respected young leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention and in Kentucky Baptist life,” Moore said. “He understands Kentucky Baptists and he understands the urgency of the Great Commission. I could not be more thrilled with his selection as executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.”
Serving as a faculty member since 2007, Chitwood also earned his master of divinity and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southern Seminary. Moore noted that he and Chitwood studied together as doctoral students at Southern Seminary, commenting that Chitwood’s leadership abilities were evident then.
“Even in the doctoral seminar room, you could tell Paul was a leader and a leader with integrity,” Moore said. “Southern Seminary is very proud to have one of our own serving in this key role in taking the Gospel to Kentucky and to the rest of the world.”
He has served as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Mt. Washington, Ky., since 2003, and prior to that, he served pastorates in other Kentucky Baptist churches.
Chitwood was KBC president in 2005-06 following his term as first vice president in 2003-04. In 2002, he was president of the KBC Pastors’ Conference. Additionally, from 2008-10, Chitwood was chairman for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
A native of Tennessee, Chitwood and his wife, Michelle, have three children, Daniel, Anna and Cai.