PINEVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Bill Whittaker, president of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College since 1988, has announced his resignation effective at the end of the 2006-07 academic year.
“The time has come for me to turn the leadership task over to another,” Whittaker told trustees in a letter announcing his resignation.
Whittaker, 63, noted that “it was my personal desire to remain at Clear Creek until my retirement from full-time ministry. The Lord would not allow that; the time is now. I have submitted myself to his will and will follow his direction.”
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, a Bible-based school that focuses on preparing students for Christian service, has 212 students.
Both Whittaker and Tim Langford, chairman of Clear Creek's board of directors, said Whittaker was not under pressure to resign.
Langford said it will be “a significant loss for Clear Creek for Bill Whittaker to leave the helm.”
“You cannot drive on Clear Creek's campus now without noticing a marked improvement in the facilities,” Langford said. “And it goes much beyond facilities upgrade. He has made significant strides in ensuring the financial soundness of the college. The overall educational experience at Clear Creek has been enhanced.”
Whittaker, who served as Kentucky Baptist Convention president in 1980-81, also was a pastor and international missionary before being elected to head Clear Creek. He and his wife, Rebecca, served four years in the Philippines with the former Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.
During his years at Clear Creek, Whittaker led the Kentucky Baptist school to renovate student housing, construct additional housing, eliminate debt, double the school's endowment and endow four teaching chairs.
“All the major goals I have had have been achieved,” Whittaker said. “I'm very grateful for that. There are new initiatives the school needs to face and do. I think it would be better for someone to have a length of time to implement those.”
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— With additional reporting by Western Recorder news director David Winfrey.