By Lindsey Williams
Writing Specialist
The Executive Committee of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) met Aug. 26 and unanimously approved Seth Price as the new Director of Communication Services, effective Sept. 1. He replaced Tanner Cade who resigned in order to accept a position at the Florida Baptist Convention.
Price and his family recently returned to Mississippi after several years of service with The Summit Church in Arkansas. He has strong Mississippi Baptist influences throughout his life and ministry, including surrendering to Christ at Gulfshore Baptist Assembly, attending Mississippi College, involvement in BSU summer missions where he met his wife Amanda, serving at Central Hills Baptist Retreat, and serving at churches in the metro Jackson area.
In addition to the Executive Committee convening, the 100-member Board also gathered Aug. 26.
2026 Proposed Cooperative Program Budget
Michael Barnett presented the Budget Committee’s recommendation for the 2026 Proposed Cooperative Program (CP) budget to the EC and to the full 100-member Board. The proposal, which can be viewed in full below, increases the budget total to $31,100,000, a 0.68% change from the current year. The 2026 Proposed CP Budget was approved unanimously.
Cooperative Program Study Committee
Andrew Chesteen, Executive Committee Chairman, reminded board members of a MOTION that was brought to the floor of the 2024 Mississippi Baptist Convention regarding a new method of cooperative giving, which would allow churches the option to withhold funds from selected Southern Baptist Convention entities without withdrawing from CP support altogether.
The MOTION was referred to the Executive Committee. The CP Study Committee was formed out of the Executive Committee and convened six times between December 2024-May 2025. The CP Study Committee and the Executive Committee recommended to the full 100-member Board that Mississippi Baptist churches continue with unaltered support of the Cooperative Program. MOTION passed unanimously.
The report and recommendation will be presented to the Convention messengers during the Annual Meeting in October.
Executive Director-Treasurer’s Report
Shawn Parker, MBCB Executive Director-Treasurer, asked Bill Hurt to make a presentation regarding the Annual Meeting. Hurt shared that Will McNeese resigned as Associate Recording Secretary of the Mississippi Baptist Convention and recommended that Donnie Stuart fill the role. The decision was approved unanimously.
Parker gave an update on the Henderson Point Property that is now under contract, noting that a Planning Commission meeting will be held Sept. 18 in Harrison County, followed by a Board of Supervisors/Zoning Committee meeting on Oct. 6. Parker encouraged pastors in Harrison County to attend the meetings in support of rezoning the property for multi-residential use.
In closing, Parker encouraged Board Members to remain hopeful despite daunting statistics about lostness in Mississippi. God is always at work. New Life Experience, planted at Parchman (the Mississippi State Penitentiary), baptized more than 100 men the past year with attendance running between 100-200. Right before the Board Meeting, Parker was notified of two students who had just made professions of faith on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campus due to the efforts of the BSU on campus.
