Trustees of the International Mission Board have overwhelmingly approved the selection of Tom Elliff as senior vice president for spiritual nurture and church relations.

In his new role, Elliff, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Del City, Okla., will teach and nurture missionaries, mentor IMB staff and relate to Southern Baptist pastors and churches. Board trustees will officially ratify his selection during their Sept. 12-14 meeting in Pensacola, Fla.

Elliff, 61, has been pastor of the Oklahoma church for the past 20 years. He served two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, as president of the SBC Pastors' Conference and as chairman of the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life.