By Bob Allen
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia unanimously elected a new field coordinator at a called General Assembly Dec. 5 at Central Baptist Church in North Chesterfield, Va.
Terry Maples, who for the last five-and-a-half years has held a similar position at the Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, begins work with CBFVA on Feb. 1. He succeeds Rob Fox, who stepped down this summer after six years to become vice president of institutional advancement at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.
Maples came to Tennessee in June 2010 for a newly configured post employed jointly by the national CBF in Decatur, Ga., and the Tennessee CBF, one of 18 autonomous state and regional organizations that relate to the national body. He followed Ircel Harrison, who served as Tennessee CBF coordinator from 1998 to 2008.
Prior to the move Maples served nearly 25 years in Virginia, including almost 20 years as associate pastor for education/discipleship at Huguenot Road Baptist Church in Richmond, Va.
In a resignation letter linked to on Facebook, Maples said Dec. 7 he had planned to remain in Tennessee until retirement.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as the first field coordinator in Tennessee and getting to know key leaders across the state,” Maples said. “Thank you for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity and responsibility.”
CBF Virginia leadership released a statement expressing confidence both in the experience and passion Maples brings from his work in Tennessee.
“[We] hope that he will continue to strengthen the relationship of the state organization to CBF Global while providing meaningful resources for congregations in Virginia,” according to the press release.
A native of Alabama, Maples graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Alabama and worked as an auditor in Nashville prior to responding to a call to vocational ministry.
Both he and his wife, Joan, have degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Married since 1980, they have two adult children, both living in Virginia.
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