Mississippi Baptist Convention Board Executive Committee reassigns staff, makes other decisions
By Tony Martin, Editor, and Tanner Cade, Communications Services Director
The Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) has reassigned two current staff members to different roles.
In an Executive Committee (EC) meeting Dec. 5, Shawn Parker, Executive Director-Treasurer, MBCB, recommended that Michael Lee move from serving as the Chief Strategy Officer to the newly created Human Resources Officer position. Jon Martin, currently serving as the Men’s Ministry Director, would be promoted to serve as the Chief Strategy Officer. The move was unanimously approved by EC vote.
Lee will serve and function directly under the leadership and direction of the Executive Director-Treasurer in all areas pertaining to personnel. In particular, the Human Resources Officer has responsibility for: staff recruitment, training, and development; benefits coordination; employee relations; legal issues; and corporate image. In consultation with other MBCB officers, the new Office will be responsible for supporting staff with tools necessary to connect with and minister to affiliated churches and entities. In addition, Lee will serve as a member of the administrative team for all Mississippi Baptist Convention Board members.
Lee holds degrees from Mississippi State University and three from New Orleans Seminary. Prior to coming to the MBCB, he served as minister of students at Calvary Church in Vernon, Ala.; minister of music/students at First Church, Reform, Ala.; Associate Pastor, First Church, Howe, Tex.; and pastor of New Prospect Church, Iuka; Macedonia Church, New Albany; Providence Church, Hattiesburg; and First Church, Grenada. He is married to Jennifer (Elsler) Lee. They have three children: Elizabeth, Ian, and Rebecca.
Martin will serve and function directly under the leadership and direction of the Executive Director-Treasurer in all areas of convention strategic planning, program implementation, and ministry oversight; and serve as a liaison to associational ministries. Convention Board missions and ministries shall continually be reviewed, refined, refocused, and recommended by the Chief Strategy Officer to the Executive Director-Treasurer in an effort to honor the Lord by assisting our churches and associations in making disciples in Mississippi and around the world. In addition, the Chief Strategy Officer shall serve as a member of the administrative team for all Mississippi Baptist Convention Board matters.
Martin holds degrees from East Central Community College, the University of Southern Mississippi, and two degrees from New Orleans Seminary. Prior to coming to the MBCB, he served as student pastor at East Philadelphia Church, Philadelphia; associate pastor at Highland Church, Meridian; and pastor of First Church, Union. He was also adjunct professor, philosophy and religion, at East Central. He is married to Faith (Moore) Martin. They have two children, Riley Manning Martin and Mary Hanna Martin.
Both men will assume their new duties effective Jan. 1, 2024.
Executive Committee Positions
The election of a new Vice Chairman/Chairman-Elect and Secretary were included in the Executive Committee meeting. First, David Hamilton nominated and the committee unanimously elected Andrew Chesteen to serve as Vice Chairman. Next, Don Gann nominated and the committee also unanimously elected Donnie Stuart to serve as the Secretary.
The Vice Chairman also becomes the Chairman-Elect for the upcoming year. Currently, Mike Tyson serves as the President of the Executive Committee.
SB DataTech
The Executive Committee passed a recommendation to authorize the transfer of up to $50,000 from the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board’s Operating Fund to cover the cost of SB DataTech for 2024.
SBC Workspace is owned by SB DataTech, a Tennessee not-for-profit corporation, which is a consortium of Baptist state conventions who purchase membership into the corporation. The system is designed to help manage contacts and statistical information for use in the Gospel ministry of the state conventions. The new platform will make information from the Annual Church Profile and other data more efficient for MBCB.
Given this represents a new ministry resource, no budgeted line item presently exists sufficient to fund the total cost of buy-in and onboarding of MBCB with SB DataTech.