By Bridgette Sallee, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — James M. Porch, executive director-treasurer for the Tennessee Baptist Convention, will be the guest speaker for chapel/convocation, Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. in the Ransdell Chapel.
Chapel/convocation is designed to provide opportunities for corporate worship and exposure through of a variety of informative speakers and presentations.
All chapel/convocations are open to the public free of charge.
Porch graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Mississippi College. He also received his master’s of divinity in 1966 and his doctorate in theology in 1974, both from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Upon his ordainment to gospel ministry, May 14, 1961, he served as pastor to Concord Baptist Church in Yazoo County, Miss. until 1963. He was pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in New Orleans, La. from 1963 until 1966 when he moved back to Mississippi as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Bogue Chitto until 1971 and then Northside Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss. until 1977. From 1977 until 1992, Porch was the minister for the First Baptist Church in Tullahoma, Tenn., where he has been given the honor of pastor emeritus.
Porch has served on various boards and committees for the Mississippi Baptist Convention including member and president of the Historical Commission. He has also served as vice president from 1981 to1982 and president from 1982 to 1983, of the executive board with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, as well as chairman for multiple other committees until 1991.
He has also been a Camp Pastor at Camp Carson’s Music Week.
He has worked with The Glorieta and Ridgecrest Conference Centers as a conference leader for Church Training and Discipleship Training weeks as well as a leader for the Baptist Student Union Conference and the Church Administration Youth Horizons Conference.
He has written for Training Young People, Outreach, Sunday School Leadership, Home Life and Baptist and Reflector, Sunday School lessons and Broadman Press.
He has been listed in Outstanding Young Men of America and Who’s Who in Religion.
Porch has received an honorary doctor of divinity Degree from Carson-Newman College.
He is married to Kelly Louise Porch, and they have two children, Scott Jackson and Terri Lynn. They are also the grandparents of Madison Elaine, Aaron Jackson and Anna Lynn.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,310 students who represent 100 Kentucky counties, 32 states and 28 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South and eighth in the South for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” CU has been ranked 15 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.