BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

John Sullivan
Executive Director Treasurer, Florida Baptist Convention

John Sullivan has served as the executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention since 1989, employed by the Convention’s governing agency, the State Board of Missions, which is appointed by messengers attending the Florida Baptist State Convention.

In this role, he carries out the work of the Florida Baptist State Convention when it is not in session and implements the Convention’s mission statement “to inspire and to equip—through word and deed—Florida Baptist churches and associations to accomplish the Great Commission.”

During the Florida Baptist State Convention meeting Nov. 12-13, he will ask Convention messengers ( delegates) to institute a bylaw revision to make abstinence from alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs a litmus test for trustee service on the Convention’s agencies and boards. This is expected to be considered on Tuesday morning. Sullivan also will preach on Tuesday afternoon. See the following articles for background on his stance on abstinence:

http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6927.article.

http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6711.article;

http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6904.article;

http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/7944.article;

As one of 41 state entities within the Southern Baptist Convention, the Florida Baptist State Convention provides assistance and resources to 2,759 Florida Baptist congregations and one-million members, the largest evangelical denomination in the state. The state is also the most ethnically diverse denomination in the state reaching 20 different language groups in the state with more than 600 language churches.

During Sullivan’s tenure with the Convention, Florida Baptists have increased in number of churches from 2,157 in 1989 to 2,759 in 2006; in membership from 935,338 in 1989 to 1,041,061 in 2006; and annual baptisms of new converts from 27,850 in 1989 to 33,461 in 2006. Receipts to the state convention have increased from $32 million in 1989 to $53 million in 2006.

Also in a time when other national Baptist entities and state conventions have been in turmoil politically, Florida Baptists have enjoyed a time of peace and unity under Sullivan’s leadership.

Each year, Sullivan serves as Parliamentarian at the annual Southern Baptist Convention held in June.

Prior to coming to the Florida Baptist Convention, Sullivan served as pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, La., 1975-1989 and pastor of First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs, 1971-75 and Ridglea West Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, 1967-1971.