TENNESSEE
The Commercial Appeal
By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal
A Cordova pastor was named the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis, on Wednesday.
Pastor Steve Gaines of Bellevue Baptist Church was elected after the first vote resulted in a tie between Gaines and North Carolina pastor J. D. Greear of The Summit Church of Raleigh-Durham.
Of the 5,784 ballots cast, Gaines received 44.1 percent; Greear received 44.97 percent, according to a statement from the convention. A second runoff election produced similar results.
To avoid another runoff election Wednesday morning, Greear withdrew the race Wednesday and Gaines was elected by acclimation.
Gaines agreed to accept the presidency after a talk with Greear, saying “we need to leave St. Louis united,” according to the statement.
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