by Julie McGowan, posted Friday, November 16, 2018 (one year ago)

IMB photo
RICHMOND, Va.(BP) -- Paul Chitwood was elected unanimously as the 13th president of the Southern Baptists' International Mission Board on Thursday, Nov. 15, during trustees' regularly scheduled meeting near Richmond, Va.
Chitwood, 48, who has served as executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, took office immediately as the president of the 173-year-old entity, the largest denominational missionary-sending body among American evangelicals. More than 3,600 Southern Baptist international missionaries serve worldwide, with 42 new missionaries approved for appointment by trustees Wednesday (Nov. 14).
Since September 2018, Clyde Meador, former missionary and IMB executive vice president, has served as IMB's interim president. At Chitwood's request, Meador was approved by trustees to remain in the President's Office as interim executive vice president for several months during the transition. Read More