Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
Phil Carpenter, concluding his tenure as minister of music at United Baptist Church, Annandale, Va., to accept a similar position at Ravensworth Baptist Church, Annandale, Va.
Will Dyer Jr., to First Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga., as senior pastor. He comes from First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Ga., where he was associate pastor.
Paul “Trey” Gilliam III, to First Baptist Church, Ahoskie, N.C., as interim pastor.
Merianna Harrelson, to New Hope Christian Fellowship, Columbia, S.C., as senior minister.
Matt Hester, to First Baptist Church, Clemson, S.C., as minister of students. He comes from Parkway Baptist Church, Duluth, Ga.
Earl Kirby Jr., to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Charles City, Va., as pastor.
Ron Lithgow, to First Baptist Church, Springfield, Va., as interim pastor.
Cy Lynch, to Trinity Baptist Church, Conyers, Ga., as pastor.
Jeremy S. Myers, to First Baptist Church, Seymour, Ind., as senior pastor.
Jennifer Rygg, to First Baptist Church, Pendleton, S.C., as senior minister.
John Thornton, to First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., as associate pastor for youth, adults and missions. He has been a pastoral resident at First Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C.
RETIREMENTS
Ronnie Brewer, announcing plans to retire as pastor of First Baptist Church, Bristol, Va., effective February 2018.
Frederick Lewis, announcing plans to retire after 12 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Ind., effective in August.
ORDINATIONS
Sarah Hubble, ordained to ministry on March 12 by Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. She is student minister at its Village campus.
Allison Kennedy Owen, ordained to ministry on Jan. 22 by First Baptist Church, Columbia, Ga. She serves as a chaplain with Columbus Hospice.
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Click here to learn more.
DEATHS
James C. Dalton, 51, died Feb. 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah, following complications from a kidney transplant. At the time of his death he was pastor of Community Baptist Church, Melba, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie; three sons, Zane, Jace and Owen; and mother, Joyce Dalton.
Robert Parham, 63, died March 5 in Nashville, Tenn. He was founder and director of the Baptist Center for Ethics and its website, EthicsDaily.com. He began his career with the SBC Christian Life Commission and left it to start the Baptist Center for Ethics in 1991. Early on BCE held conferences and distributed newsletters, adding curriculum and study guides. In 2006 the organization started producing documentary DVDs for use in faith communities. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Nashville. He is survived by his wife, Betsy; daughter, Elisa Wilhelm; son, Chris; and mother, JoAnn Parham.
George M. Pattington, 84, died Feb. 21 in Camden, N.Y. For the past 35 years he served as pastor of Hillsboro Baptist Church, Camden, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Elaine; two sons, Meader and Earl; a daughter, Rebecca Wade; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
KUDOS
CHURCH ANNIVERSARY
Heritage Baptist Church, Cartersville, Ga., 30 years; March 5.
STAFF ANNIVERSARIES
Edward Bolen, 20 years as senior pastor of Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, Athens, Ga.
Brian Jones, 15 years as associate pastor/minister to youth at Second Branch Baptist Church, Chesterfield, Va.
Bob Morrison, 30 years as minister of music at First Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla.
Edith Sweatman, 40 years as of minister of music at Harlem (Ga.) Baptist Church.
In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 03.03.17
Transitions for the week of 02.25.17