Jordon Willard to be Nominated for Second Vice President

The lead pastor of First Baptist Church of Garner will seek a leadership role at the upcoming N.C. Baptist annual meeting.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a solitary lectern, evoking the institutional process of a formal organizational leadership transition. — Michael Cloer is set to nominate Jordon Willard for the position of second vice president at the N.C. Baptist annual meeting in November. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Michael Cloer plans to nominate Jordon Willard for the position of second vice president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The nomination will take place during the convention's annual meeting scheduled for Nov. 16-17, 2026.

Why it matters

The nomination represents a leadership transition for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, as delegates prepare to select executive officers for the upcoming term. Willard joins other nominees, including Steven Wade and Matt Capps, who are also set to be proposed for top convention offices during the Greensboro gathering.

Jordon Willard serves as lead pastor of First Baptist Church of Garner, which reported 650 members and $100,637 in Cooperative Program gifts in 2025. This follows his six-year tenure at First Baptist Church of Weddington, which reported 100 members and $19,349 in gifts the same year.

The players

Jordon Willard

He is the current lead pastor of First Baptist Church of Garner and a former president of the N.C. Baptist Pastors' Conference.

Michael Cloer

He is the individual responsible for formally nominating Jordon Willard for the role of second vice president.

Steven Wade

He is a nominee set to be proposed for the position of president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

Matt Capps

He is a nominee scheduled to be proposed for the role of first vice president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

The details

Willard has maintained a significant record of service within the convention, having previously served on the N.C. Baptist board of directors and a special study committee on partnerships. He also held the presidency of the 2023 N.C. Baptist Pastors' Conference and was recently elected to a five-year term on the board of trustees for the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Jordon Willard served as senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Church from 2016 to 2020.
Willard was a member of the N.C. Baptist board of directors from 2018 to 2021.
The nominee served on a special study committee on convention partnerships from 2021 to 2022.
The N.C. Baptist annual meeting is set for Nov. 16-17, 2026.

Market Landscape

This nomination reflects the recurring leadership cycles within the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, where members select officers to guide the organization's mission. The process follows the standard governance patterns established for the convention's annual administrative changes.

The upcoming election will determine the executive leadership that shapes the strategic direction and partnership initiatives of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Members of local affiliated churches may see shifts in convention policy and administrative focus depending on the success of these nominations.

The takeaway

The selection of convention officers plays a critical role in determining the long-term priorities of state-wide Baptist organizations. Attendees of the upcoming annual meeting will have the opportunity to review these candidates before casting their votes for the new leadership team.