BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — The leader of the Alabama state affiliate of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will leave that post at the end of May to return to local-church ministry after a Texas church voted to call Brent McDougal as pastor March 7.
McDougal, who has served as coordinator of Alabama CBF since 2006, will become pastor of Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas June 1.
“Alabama CBF is a great community,” McDougal said, according to an Alabama CBF press release. “One of the most wonderful aspects of this work has been to connect with pastors, lay leaders, seminary students, university professors and non-profit leaders that share a common goal of helping congregations to be the best that they can be. I'll miss so many people.”
“We are sad to see him go, but Brent is leaving ALCBF in a prime position to continue its effective ministry around the state through the networking, ministerial development and missions opportunities nurtured during his time as coordinator,” said Ruth Perkins Lee, the group’s current moderator and minister of students at First Baptist Church of Auburn, Ala.
McDougal was pastor of Corinth Heights Baptist Church in Haleyville, Ala., prior to joining the Alabama CBF staff. A native of Montgomery, Ala., he earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University in Atlanta; a master-of-divinity degree from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.; and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Alabama.
He leaves his office May 31, but Alabama CBF leaders have already formed a search committee to find his replacement. Terri Byrd, the group’s associate coordinator for congregational life and missions, will help provide leadership in the interim.
“I believe that Alabama CBF is a vibrant, healthy organization and I am excited about the direction we are headed,” Byrd said. “We are blessed to have great support from our partners around the state and look forward to working together toward a future full of promise and possibility.”
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