Article by Diana Chandler, Baptist Press senior writer originally published at baptistpress.com
DALLAS (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee will consider Gateway Seminary President Jeff Iorg for EC president and CEO in a special called meeting from noon-3 p.m. March 21 in Dallas.
The vote comes after a lengthy search for an EC president and CEO following the October 2021 resignation of Ronnie Floyd.
While the search has taken nearly two and a half years, EC Chairman Philip Robertson told Baptist Press the journey was worth the wait.
“No one ever anticipated that it would take as long as it has to come to this point. It’s been a long journey,” said Robertson, senior pastor of the multisite Philadelphia Baptist Church in the Alexandria, La. “I would say for me personally, even though it’s been a challenging journey, I’ve equated it in some respects to a wilderness wandering.
“When the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness,” he said, “they encountered detours and dead ends and sometimes dry holes. But yet through all of those, God was at work.”
The bulk of the meeting at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport location of the Grand Hyatt hotel will occur in executive session, with only the opening and conclusion of the meeting open to the public. A press conference, scheduled 30 minutes after the conclusion of the meeting, will be livestreamed on the Baptist Press Facebook page.
The EC search committee announced Iorg’s nomination Feb. 29.
“I can unequivocally say, along with the search team members, we have seen God’s hand at work all along the journey,” Robertson said. “If it took two and a half years of searching so that God could bring us to Dr. Iorg, then I think it was worth it.”
The search team, led by Montgomery (Ala.) Baptist Association mission strategist Neal Hughes, has described Iorg as a humble leader embodying the fruit of the Spirit and displaying statesmanship, bridgebuilding, strong business acumen and transparency. The team has described Iorg as a good preacher and communicator with an intimate knowledge of denominational dynamics and issues, as well as a history of leading a staff with a strategic focus.
The search team announced Iorg’s candidacy with endorsements from several SBC leaders including Iorg’s fellow seminary presidents, various entity heads, state convention executive directors, fellowship presidents and pastors.
Iorg, longtime president of Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention in Ontario, Calif., announced in October 2023 his pending retirement from the seminary after 20 years of service, and has continued to serve during the search for a replacement.
Iorg’s vibrant resume includes a decade as executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention, nearly 15 years in the pastorate, and two years as a children’s minister.
The prolific author and commentator holds a Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts from Hardin-Simmons University.
He and his wife Ann have three children and five grandchildren.