Page 12 - Western Recorder October Issue

12
Faithful
Western Recorder ǀ October 2020
Pastors’ Conference theme addresses burnout
By CHIP HUTCHESON
When Dan Summerlin was elected president of the KBC Pastors’ Conference last November, he immediately found himself behind schedule for the Nov. 9, 2020 event in Owensboro.
“We want to encourage pastors because there are so many factors that make it tough. No one understands that except pastors.”
McLaurin is vice president for Great Commission Relations and Mobilization
with the SBC Executive Committee. Before beginning his role in January 2020, McLaurin served as special assistant to the executive director at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
“Willie is a highly relational, disciplined, gifted and growing leader,” said Ronnie Floyd, EC president and CEO. “At 46 years of age, he is a powerful preacher that inspires people to follow Christ passionately. Willie loves people, and it is more than evident when you are around him.” McLaurin authored the book Which Race Are You Running? Keeping Life in Perspective and is the co-chair of the Southern Baptist Convention Second Chair Network.
In Baptist life, McLaurin served on the SBC Resolutions Committee in 2018 and as president of the Black Southern Baptist Denominational Servants Network in 2011-2012. He also was on the executive board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention from 2003-2005 and was the inaugural president of the African American Fellowship of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Dan Summerlin (center) accepts the Distinguished Cooperative Leadership Award at the 1029 Annual Meeting. He is pictured with Curtis Woods (left) and Todd Gray. Summerlin is the president of the 2020 Pastors' Conference. – Photo by Robin Cornetet
Kenny Rager was elected in 2019 to be president for
the 2020 conference, but had to step down when he accepted a position with KBC. That necessitated electing two men last year to serve as conference presidents
for 2020 and 2021. Summerlin, pastor of Lone Oak
First Baptist and past president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (2012-13), wasted no time in establishing the theme of “Faithful.”
Speakers and their topics are:
• Willie McLaurin, Faithful to the Master • Tony Rose, Faithful to Mental Health
• Michael Catt, Faithful to Ministry
• Hershael York, Faithful to Marriage
Mark Swadley from Lone Oak First Baptist will lead the music.
“We are seeing the greatest burnout in ministry in history,” Summerlin noted. “And there may be even more burnout ahead. It is alarming how many are entering ministry but not staying until retirement,” he said in explaining the theme.
ROSE
Rose retired as pastor of LaGrange Baptist Church after serving there for 26 years. He is a former chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Mental Health Advisory Board (2014-2015) and is founder of Relational Leadership.
McLAURIN
In a 2014 Western Recorder interview, Rose elaborated on the need for applying the gospel to the arena of mental health. He noted that some Christians don’t understand the varied causes and remedies for mental disturbances.
“From my 26 years of pastoral ministry, I have learned that Christians are not immune to mental illness. I have seen almost the entire spectrum of mental and emotional issues among the precious people of God whom I have been privileged to serve. Depression, eating disorders, suicidal tendencies and actual suicides, cutting — and the list could go on,” Rose said.