Daytona Beach pastor first to be elected vice president to Florida Baptist Convention

Published: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 3:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 10:37 p.m.

The Florida Baptist Convention has for the first time elected a Daytona Beach pastor to be its vice president.

"It was a surprise," said the Rev. Dr. L. Ronald Durham in a phone interview on Monday. "I was not expecting it."

Durham, senior pastor at Greater Friendship Baptist Church in Daytona Beach for 10 years, said he was recommended for the position by the president of the Florida Baptist Convention at the 138th Convention held in Orlando April 8 - 12th.

More than 2,000 delegates representing their churches in Florida voted to install Durham as vice president. In the more than 100-year history of the Baptist Convention in Florida, it is the first time that a Daytona Beach pastor has attained this position, Durham said.

"This makes it historically significant for Daytona Beach," Durham said, who attended the convention two weeks ago at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando.

The Florida Baptist Convention is made up of over 600 Baptist churches from Pensacola to Key West with more than 350,000 members. Prior to being selected vice-president, Durham served as the convention's corresponding secretary for four years.

"I deem this an honor, for which I am thankful," Durham said. "This was something I was not seeking, but it's wonderful to be recognized state-wide, and I do not take this lightly."

Durham said he will be working with pastors assigned by the Convention president from the Central Florida area. He will also have in his area of responsibility, which stretches from Jacksonville to Daytona Beach, the 153-acre Convention property in Palatka. The facility is used for retreats and conferences and the Convention will start looking into building an assisted living center there, Durham said.

Source: http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20130429/news/130429722

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