J. Gerald Harris

Resolution honoring J. Gerald Harris upon his retirement as an editor

WHEREAS, J. Gerald Harris, a native of Hickory, North Carolina, who was called to preach the gospel as a high school senior on January 29, 1961; and

WHEREAS, he thus began a ministry and journalistic career earning a master’s degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and later a Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida, also eventually earning distinctions from Southeastern as Alumnus of the Year (1997) and president of the National Alumni Association (1998); and

WHEREAS, he served with honor and distinction as a pastor in churches throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and the Atlanta metro area; and

WHEREAS, his journalistic leadership as editor of The Christian Index since June 2003 has been reflected in his faithful and active participation in the Association of State Baptist Publications; and

WHEREAS, he has contributed as a writer to other Southern Baptist publications, such as devotions for Open Windows and HOMELIFE, both of LifeWay Christian Resources, and the Baptist Record, state paper for Mississippi Baptists, as well as Sunday School lessons for the Baptist Courier, state paper for South Carolina Baptists, and LifeWay Christian Resources; and

WHEREAS, he has been recognized in his career for award-winning editorials through the Baptist Communicators Association and overseen The Christian Index’s move into an online format that has witnessed tremendous digital growth since its inception in January 2016;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the grateful members of the Association of State Baptist Publications, meeting at the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas, Texas, do express their heartfelt appreciation to J. Gerald Harris on this date June 11, 2018.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Association of State Baptist Publications wish him and his wife, Martha Jean, the best in their further course of ministry during his retirement set to begin at the end of 2018.