Amy Whitfield appointed to serve as EC’s associate VP for convention communications

Southeastern President Danny Akin described Whitfield to Baptist Press as “one of God’s great gifts to Southeastern Seminary.” 

“She is one of the most talented ladies I know,” he said. “She is omni-competent, and her skills are a perfect match for this new assignment. … Amy has my prayers and full support. She also will have the prayers and full support of the Southeastern family.” 

In her new role, Whitfield will primarily oversee SBC LIFE, the journal of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC); advancing the mission and vision of SBC and EC ministries through media and messaging channels; and promotion of SBC annual meeting and convention event participation. 

Whitfield will also play a key role as the EC’s women’s liaison, which will involve advocating for women’s involvement within the SBC and strategizing and recruitment to involve women in leadership at various stages within the convention. She will continue to work from Wake Forest where her husband, Keith, serves as acting provost, vice president for academic administration, dean of graduate studies and associate professor of theology at SEBTS. 

In 2014, Whitfield was asked by Art Rainer, vice president for institutional advancement at SEBTS, to join the staff as director of communications. For five years, Whitfield has overseen the brand management of the institution, creating the GO Campaign, which launched in 2014. In 2017, Whitfield additionally began overseeing marketing strategies for the school as her office expanded to focusing on both marketing and communications. 

Additionally, Whitfield has served SEBTS through teaching courses in the school’s Biblical Women’s Institute and on the SBC Cooperative Program. She also served as research assistant to the president and assistant to the president’s wife from 2012-2014.  

Whitfield has been actively involved in Southern Baptist life for a number of years, serving as an assistant parliamentarian for three years. In 2019, she helped start the Women’s Leadership Network, which serves to connect women leading across multiple platforms within the Southern Baptist Convention. Whitfield is also the co-host of “SBC This Week” with Jonathan Howe, which now has 235 episodes and began in 2015. In 2018, Whitfield co-authored the book, “SBC FAQs: A Ready Reference” with SEBTS senior professor of Baptist studies Keith Harper. 

Before serving as director of communications at SEBTS, Amy worked as an executive assistant to the vice president of LifeWay Insights at LifeWay Christian Resources. She also served as administrative assistant to the senior vice president for academic administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. From 2005-2010, she and her husband served at Waverly Baptist Church in Waverly, Virginia. 

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Whitfield received her Master of Arts in Christian studies from SEBTS in December of 2018. 

“Wherever I have served I have always considered how each entity fits into our greater cooperative relationship,” Whitfield told Baptist Press. “The role of the Executive Committee staff in our Southern Baptist family is a vital trust, particularly as we tell the big picture story of the convention while supporting the work of its entities and ministries. 

“I take seriously the importance of integrity and clear messaging as we encourage cooperation and engagement at every level,” Whitfield said, “and my prayer is to serve that purpose well.” 

The Whitfields have two children: Mary and Drew. They live in Wake Forest and attend Faith Baptist Church in Youngsville, North Carolina.