DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) – A Baptist expert in encouraging congregational health is moving from a company he founded to a new initiative at Duke University Divinity School.
David Odom, who founded the Center for Congregational Health, will become executive director of a program tentatively called “Leadership Education @ Duke Divinity.” The initiative is part of a plan to develop leaders in Christian institutions.
According to a written statement from Marinn Bengel, chair of the Center for Congregational Health's board, Odom's new position will involve work with large-scale entities like seminaries, foundations and denominations. His efforts at Duke will “complement” his previous work at the center, Bengel wrote.
Gregory Jones, dean of Duke Divinity, said he is “delighted” to have Odom join the school's staff.
“Through his work with the Center for Congregational Health, Dave has developed great insight into issues of church leadership, and we look forward to sharing that knowledge through a variety of new programs we are developing,” Jones said, through the school's communications director.
Although Odom will leave the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based center at the end of August, Bengel's statement said, he will continue to assist the staff and directors there over the following months in order to ensure a smooth transition.
Leslie Robinson Jr. will succeed Odom as the Center's interim director and president.
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