{{Short description|American pastor (1940–2025)}} {{independent sources|date=October 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Morris Chapman | image = | image_size = | alt = Headshot of Chapman in a suit | caption = Chapman in 2006 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1940|11|21}} | birth_place = Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|10|20|1940|11|21}} | death_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | occupation = Pastor | spouse = Jodi Chapman | children = 2 | website = | signature = }} {{Southern Baptists}} '''Morris H. Chapman''' (November 21, 1940 – October 20, 2025) was an American Baptist pastor and writer. He was elected president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) executive committee in 1992 and retired in 2010.
==Early life and career== Chapman was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on November 21, 1940.<ref name=obit/> He graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, in 1963 and earned the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1968 and 1975 respectively.<ref name=obit/><ref name=vision/>
He served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Rogers, Texas (1967–1969), First Baptist Church of Woodway in Waco, Texas (1969–1974), and First Baptist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico (1974–1979), where he also served as president of the New Mexico Baptist Convention (1976–1978).<ref name=vision/> He became pastor of First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas (1979–1992), and was president of the 1986 SBC Pastors' Conference in Atlanta.<ref name=courier3673/>
==SBC executive== In June 1990, the theologically conservative Chapman, then still based in Wichita Falls, defeated the "moderate" Baptist choice, the Reverend Daniel Vestal of Dunwoody near Atlanta, Georgia, for the SBC presidency. The vote was 21,471 (58 percent) to 15,753 (42 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/13/us/southern-baptists-pick-conservative.html|title=SOUTHERN BAPTISTS PICK CONSERVATIVE|work=The New York Times|date=June 13, 1990|accessdate=October 20, 2025|archive-date=May 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525195049/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/13/us/southern-baptists-pick-conservative.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Chapman was president of the SBC until 1992, when he was elected president and CEO of the SBC executive committee.<ref name=courier3673/> His successive elections to these positions marked the start of a long period of conservative dominance of the SBC.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=22069 |title = Adrian Rogers, longtime Bellevue pastor and leader in Conservative Resurgence, dies |date = November 15, 2005 |author = Michael Foust |work = Baptist Press |accessdate = August 20, 2010 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100821044615/http://bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=22069 |archivedate = August 21, 2010}}</ref>
In February 2003, Chapman called on Southern Baptists to return to their heritage. Talking of their settled conviction of the truth of the gospels, Chapman said "Our forefathers drank from the deep, pure well named 'sound theology'."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/sbc-life-articles/redigging-the-ancient-wells/|title=Redigging the Ancient Wells|date=April 2003|publisher=Baptist News|accessdate=October 20, 2025|archive-date=September 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921082338/https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/sbc-life-articles/redigging-the-ancient-wells/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Addressing SBC delegates at a June 2004 convention, Chapman celebrated the success of the conservative resurgence, which he attributed to support from rank-and-file Baptists.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/chapman-sbc-must-be-conservative-cooperative/ |title=Chapman: SBC must be conservative & cooperative |author=Jon Walker |date=June 21, 2004 |work=Baptist Press |accessdate=August 20, 2010 |archive-date=May 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250512180411/https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/chapman-sbc-must-be-conservative-cooperative/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In November 2005, Chapman defended the SBC against what he saw as harsh criticism about the church's conservative direction in former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's book, ''Our Endangered Values'' and attacked Carter's positions on subjects such as abortion and homosexuality.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/first-person-a-democracy-jimmy-carter-cannot-support/ |title=A democracy Jimmy Carter cannot support |date=November 11, 2005 |author=Morris H. Chapman |work=Baptist Press |accessdate=August 20, 2010 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521232810/https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/first-person-a-democracy-jimmy-carter-cannot-support/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2007, Carter and former President Bill Clinton proposed that a broadly inclusive alternative Baptist movement should be established to counter what they called a "negative image" of Baptists. Chapman disputed the contention that Baptists had a negative image, and pointed out that the SBC was by no means a "white" organization since of the 43,071 churches 4,742 said they were mainly "ethnic" and 2,085 said they were mainly African-American.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/carter-clinton-call-for-new-baptist-covenant/ |title=Carter & Clinton call for 'New Baptist Covenant' |work=Baptist Press |date=January 10, 2007 |author=Erin Roach |accessdate=August 20, 2010 |archive-date=May 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517170649/https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/carter-clinton-call-for-new-baptist-covenant/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
His 2009 report to the SBC noted "a resurgence in the belief that divine sovereignty alone is at work in salvation without a faith response on the part of man".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://founders.org/articles/reflections-on-the-sbc2009/|title=Reflections on the #SBC2009|date=June 25, 2009|publisher=Founders.org|accessdate=October 20, 2025|archive-date=August 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813164926/https://founders.org/articles/reflections-on-the-sbc2009/|url-status=live}}</ref> This drew criticism as being unacceptable to Calvinists, and Chapman hastened to clarify that he was not denying the importance of faith but was asserting that it is a gift of God.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sbcvoices.com/has-morris-chapman-clarified-anything/|title=Has Morris Chapman Clarified Anything?|date=July 19, 2009|accessdate=October 20, 2025|publisher=SBC Voices|archive-date=September 7, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907025623/https://sbcvoices.com/has-morris-chapman-clarified-anything/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2009 he announced that he would retire from this position effective September 30, 2010.<ref name=courier3673>{{cite web |url=http://www.baptistcourier.com/3673.article |title=Chapman to vacate Executive Committee post next September |author=Art Toalston |date=September 30, 2009 |work=Baptist Courier |accessdate=August 20, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707211635/http://www.baptistcourier.com/3673.article|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>
==Great Commission Resurgence== In May 2009, Chapman spoke out against the Great Commission Resurgence Declaration, specifically Article IX of the declaration which was critical of the organization of the SBC and proposed a number of changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://founders.org/articles/morris-chapman-and-the-great-commission-resurgence/|title=Morris Chapman and the Great Commission Resurgence|date=May 31, 2009|publisher=Founders.org|accessdate=October 20, 2025|archive-date=August 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812191323/https://founders.org/articles/morris-chapman-and-the-great-commission-resurgence/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2009, while announcing his plan to retire, Chapman said he would launch an initiative to support a "Great Commission Resurgence".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baptistnews.com/article/morrischapmantoretirein2010/|title=Morris Chapman to retire in 2010|date=September 20, 2009|accessdate=October 20, 2025|publisher=Baptist News}}</ref> The Great Commission Resurgence task force formed by SBC President Johnny Hunt, which was chaired by Ronnie Floyd, issued a report in May 2010 pressing for a revival of evangelism in the face of declining baptisms and outlining new responsibilities for Southern Baptist mission organizations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/may/20/sharper-focus-20100520/ |title=Sharper focus |publisher=Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, LLC |author=Christie Storm |date=May 20, 2010 |accessdate=August 20, 2010 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716225108/http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/may/20/sharper-focus-20100520/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At their annual meeting in June 2010 the members of the Southern Baptist Convention overwhelming endorsed the report.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/jun/16/baptists-elect-chief-call-evangelism-surg-20100616/ |publisher=Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, LLC |title=Baptists elect chief, call for evangelism surge |author=Frank Lockwood |date=June 16, 2010 |accessdate=August 20, 2010 |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930034026/http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/jun/16/baptists-elect-chief-call-evangelism-surg-20100616/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Chapman publicly opposed the report, saying "the recommendations are about moving the chairs on the deck of the ''Titanic'' while the ship goes down into an icy, watery grave".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baptistnews.com/article/sbc-overwhelmingly-approves-great-commission-resurgence-report/|title=SBC overwhelmingly approves 'Great Commission Resurgence' report|date=June 15, 2010|accessdate=October 20, 2025|publisher=Baptist News|archive-date=February 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226141432/https://baptistnews.com/article/sbc-overwhelmingly-approves-great-commission-resurgence-report/|url-status=live}}</ref> He issued a list of alternate recommendations to those given by the task force.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baptistnews.com/article/sbc-exec-chapman-criticizes-task-forces-recommendations/|title=SBC exec Chapman criticizes task force's recommendations|publisher=Baptist News|date=June 8, 2010|accessdate=October 20, 2025}}</ref> In his final report prior to his retirement to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando in June 2010, Chapman said the last five recommendations of the task force did not sufficiently address spiritual needs, but instead concentrated on organizational issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baptistpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Final-GCR-TR-Evaluation-May-13-2024.pdf|title=Report of the Great Commission Resurgence Evaluation Task Force|publisher=Baptist Press|accessdate=October 20, 2025|archive-date=September 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250909143555/https://www.baptistpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Final-GCR-TR-Evaluation-May-13-2024.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Personal life and death== Chapman was married to Jodi Chapman and had two children, Chris and Stephanie.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/morris-h-chapman-former-ec-president-dies/|title=Morris H. Chapman, former EC president, dies|publisher=Baptist Press|date=October 20, 2025|accessdate=October 20, 2025}}</ref> He had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.<ref name=obit/>
Chapman was awarded three honorary degrees: Doctor of Sacred Theology, Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri (1985); Doctor of Divinity, Mississippi College (1992); and Doctor of Sacred Theology, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona (2005).<ref name=vision>{{cite web |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/morris-h-chapman-a-legacy-of-leadership-vision/ |title=A Legacy of Leadership and Vision |date=September 20, 2010 |publisher=Southern Baptist Press |accessdate=October 23, 2025 |archive-date=April 28, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428131516/https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/morris-h-chapman-a-legacy-of-leadership-vision/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Chapman died from a short illness in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 20, 2025, at the age of 84.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thebaptistpaper.org/sbc-leader-morris-chapman-dies-at-84/|title=SBC leader Morris Chapman dies at 84|work=The Baptist Paper |accessdate=October 20, 2025|date=October 20, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://baptistnews.com/article/sbc-luminary-morris-chapman-dies-at-84/|title=SBC luminary Morris Chapman dies at 84 |work=Baptist News|accessdate=October 21, 2025|date=October 20, 2025}}</ref>
==Bibliography== * {{cite book |title=Jesus: Author and Finisher |author=Morris Chapman |publisher=Broadman Press |year=1987 |isbn=0-8054-5047-5}} * {{cite book |title=The Wedding Collection: 26 Basic Wedding Ceremonies for Pastors |author=Morris Chapman |publisher=B&H Publishing Group |year=1991 |isbn=0-8054-2004-5}} * {{cite book |title=Faith: Taking God at His Word |author=Morris Chapman |publisher=Broadman Press |year=1992 |isbn=0-8054-5354-7}}
==See also== {{Portal|left=yes|Biography|Mississippi|Texas|Christianity}} * List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.morrischapman.com}}
{{S-start}} {{Succession box |before=Jerry Vines |title=President of the Southern Baptist Convention |years=1991–1992 |after=Homer Edwin Young}} {{S-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapman, Morris}} Category:1940 births Category:2025 deaths Category:20th-century Baptist ministers from the United States Category:21st-century Baptist ministers from the United States Category:Baptists from Mississippi Category:Baptists from New Mexico Category:Baptists from Texas Category:Mississippi College alumni Category:People from Kosciusko, Mississippi Category:People from Wichita Falls, Texas Category:Religious leaders from Mississippi Category:Religious leaders from New Mexico Category:Religious leaders from Texas Category:Southern Baptist Convention presidents Category:Southern Baptist ministers Category:Writers from Albuquerque, New Mexico