Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Podcasts
    • Stuck in the Middle With You ↗
    • Madang with Grace Ji-Sun Kim ↗
    • Highest Power: Church + State ↗
    • Non-Disclosure: The Silenced Stories of Kanakuk Kamps Survivors ↗
    • Change-making Conversations ↗
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Associated Baptist Press Foundation
    • Planned Giving
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Transitions 01.29.16

NewsBarbara Francis  |  October 1, 2015

STAFF CHANGES

Jan Ballard, now serving as assistant director of the American Baptist Historical Society, Atlanta. She has worked at the Historical Society since 2011.

Michael Bentley, to First Baptist Church, Asheboro, N.C., as pastor of worship and music.

Steve Bolton, to Westwood Baptist Church, Cary, N.C., as transition pastor.

Lucynda Caceres, to First Baptist Church, Mooresville, N.C., as interim children’s minister.

Warren Chesser, to Sandy Creek Baptist Church, Jetersville, Va., as pastor.

Aaron Coyle-Carr, to New Bessemer Baptist Church, McLeansville, N.C., as pastor.

Morris Driggers, to First Baptist Church, Auburn, Ala., as associate pastor for music, effective Feb. 21.

Paul Eaker, concluding his tenure as associate pastor for student ministries at Orcutt Baptist Church, Newport News, Va.

Kevin S. Georgas, to Ephesus Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, N.C., as pastor.

Mark T. Holland, now serving as pastor of St. Stephens (Va.) Baptist Church. He previously was interim pastor.

Sara Jones, to First Baptist Church, Clemmons, N.C., as children’s minister.

Daniel Knollenberg, to Northstar Church, Blacksburg, Va., as worship and creative arts minister.

Sarah Mears, to Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., as minister to children and families, effective Feb. 10. Previously she served in a similar position at Wake Forest (N.C.) Baptist Church.

Alan Newcomb, to Boiling Springs (N.C.) Baptist Church, as minister to youth.

Daniel J. Palmer, to North Roanoke Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., as pastor for succession. Previously he was director of financial development at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.

Laura Primm, resigning as minister of music/children at First Baptist Church, Elon, N.C.

Scottie Stamper, to Sardis Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C., as interim minister of music.

Joanie Williams, concluding her tenure as minister of music at Sardis Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C.

Daren Wood, to First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas, as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Central Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Texas.

RETIREMENTS

Mike Eddinger, retiring as pastor of Westwood Baptist Church, Cary, N.C.

Jerry Rodgers, retiring as minister to senior adults and church administration at First Baptist Church, Hickory, N.C.

DEATHS

Spurgeon McClaren Dorton, 91, died Nov. 12 in Huntersville, N.C. He served as pastor of the following North Carolina churches:  Orrum Baptist in Orrum; Ten Mile Baptist in Lumberton; First Baptist in Pembroke; and Fair Bluff Baptist in Fair Bluff; before being called to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church, Huntersville, N.C., where he served for 25 years. He was named pastor emeritus of First Baptist, Huntersville. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betsy. He is survived by two sons, David and Mark; two daughters, Martha Mays and Beth Fields; and 6 grandchildren.

Share this:

  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • More
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
Tags:Transitions
More by
Barbara Francis
  • This BNG series of articles on Christianity and democracy will lead toward the July 4 celebration of America’s 250th birthday. The series has been curated by Carol McEntyre, senior minister at First Baptist Church of Greenville, S.C.

    • What is democracy?
    • The church as school for democracy
    • Democracy as the practice of loving our neighbors
    • Democracy and religious freedom
    • Democracy as a moral practice, not just a system
    • Love of neighbor is a democratic ideal

  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Check out our podcasts

     

     

    Stuck in the Middle
    With You

     

    Madang
    With Grace Ji-Sun Kim

     

     

    Highest Power
    Church+State

     

     

    Non-Disclosure:
    The Silenced Stories
    of Kanakuk Kamps Survivors

     

    Change-making
    Conversations

     

     

  • Politics • Faith • Resistance: by Greg Garrett

    BNG interview series on the state of faith, politics and resistance in our nation.

    See also Greg’s series on Politics, Faith and Mission

     

  • Featured

    • Except for white evangelicals, Americans have soured on Trump’s leadership

      News

    • CBF approves $16 million budget, leaders challenge more mission

      News

    • The Black Church was not meant to save America

      Opinion

    • Caner sues Truett-McConnell for wrongful firing

      News


    Curated

    • Together for Hope marks 25 years by asking, “How do you write the future?”

      Together for Hope marks 25 years by asking, “How do you write the future?”

    • Who Decides War and Peace? Lebanon After the New Regional Agreement

      Who Decides War and Peace? Lebanon After the New Regional Agreement

    • 54 Countries, One Survey, A Lot of Religion

      54 Countries, One Survey, A Lot of Religion

    • From ‘feigele’ to free: What does it mean to be LGBTQ+ and Orthodox?

      From ‘feigele’ to free: What does it mean to be LGBTQ+ and Orthodox?

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2026 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS
    • 129