Resigned • Dwight McKissic, as a trustee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, on June 20. Only McKissic dissented in October when the school’s 37 trustees said they would not “knowingly employ professors or administrators who promote” private prayer languages or other charismatic practices. In March, McKissic described efforts to remove him from the board as a “21st-century lynching of an independent-thinking black man.” McKissic is senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas.
Defeated • Peter Akinola, in his bid for reelection as president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in June. Akinola, the Anglican archbishop of Nigeria, mustered only 33 votes compared to 72 for John Onayeikan, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Abuja.
Named • John Ashmen, as executive director of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. For nearly 15 years, Ashmen served as chief operating officer of the Christian Camp and Conference Association. Ashmen replaces Stephen Burger, who announced last year he would retire after 18 years as executive director. Founded in 1913, the association represents 300 rescue missions in North America.
Selected • Paul Ervin, as executive director of A Foundation for Theological Education (AFTE). Ervin previously served as head of the Foundation for Evangelism, which encourages evangelism in the United Methodist Church (UMC). AFTE aims to “help revitalize theological education” by granting scholarships for Ph.D. candidates within the UMC. Many of the organization’s more than 100 John Wesley fellows teach in distinguished colleges and seminaries.
Resigned • Doug Birdsall, as president of Asian Access, in order to focus on his role as executive director of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. Birdsall spent 28 years with Asian Access, serving since 1991 as president. Bruce Johnson, vice president for leadership development, will serve as interim president.
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Related elsewhere:
“McKissic Resigns as Southwestern Seminary Trustee” elaborates on McKissic’s decision to leave.
Associated Baptist Press and Baptist Press also posted articles about McKissic.
CAN’s general assembly, who would have made Akinola vice president according to CAN protocol, also rejected Akinola for that position. Archbishop Daniel Okoh was appointed instead.
In an interview, a CAN officer gave his opinion about why Akinola was not reelected and what he expects from the new president.
John Ashmen became executive director of Gospel Rescue Missions on July 1.
Paul Ervin left his position at the Foundation for Evangelism in January, before he was selected as executive director of A Foundation for Theological Education.
Doug Birdsall will officially step down from his presidency at Asian Access in September.
