Two Southern Baptist executives to retire

Two longtime executives of the Southern Baptist Convention have announced plans to retire in 2010, with each warning that new evangelism approaches will be needed in the denomination’s future.

Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, announced to his trustees Sept. 16 that he would retire July 31.

"We are at a crucial stage at which it is imperative that we become a different type of organization — a denominational entity that is not doing missions on behalf of Southern Baptists but is essentially serving and facilitating churches in taking responsibility for the task,” said Rankin, who will be 68 and will have served for 17 years in the post when he retires.

Morris Chapman, president of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee, announced recently his plans to retire Sept. 30.

Baptist Press, the news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, said Chapman also announced a prayer effort during his last year in office that urges Southern Baptists to "pray for one person every day until that person is saved or one of you dies.”

Chapman, 68, said the prayers would be part of a new initiative called the "Great Commission Resurgence.”

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