ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) – The pastor of a leading church in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship announced Feb. 20 that he plans to retire after his successor is named.
Bill Self, senior pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Ga., told church members he became convinced five years ago that a traditional pastoral transition would not be suitable for the congregation. Two years ago church leaders approved a pastoral succession plan to be initiated by the senior pastor.
Under the plan, Self, 79, will keep his current position until the new pastor is called and in place. He will remain on staff three months after the new pastor arrives to provide continuity.
"Carolyn and I love the church so much that we felt it necessary to do this while our health is good and the church is doing so well," Self told church members. "We do it now so that we can transfer to the new pastor a very healthy church ready for the next chapter in her life."
Self was pastor of Atlanta's Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta from 1964 to 1990 before taking the pastorate of nearby First Baptist Church of Chamblee, Ga., in 1991. The 118-year-old church relocated to a growing suburban area and changed its name to Johns Creek Baptist Church. Since then the congregation has experienced phenomenal growth in membership, finances and facilities.
The church has built four buildings that cost a total of $50 million. Its annual operating budget now exceeds $5 million. The last two years Johns Creek has been the ninth-highest contributing church to the CBF, according to officials of the Atlanta-based organization.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press. John Pierce of Baptists Today contributed to this story.