Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
Joshua Breslaw, to First Baptist Church, Gonzales, Texas, as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of College Heights Baptist Church, Cleburne, Texas.
Abby Carter, to Broadus Memorial Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., as worship minister.
Amy Chilton, to Phillips Memorial Baptist Church, Cranston, R.I., as pastor, effective June 26. Currently she is visiting assistant professor of religion at Wingate (N.C.) University.
Evan Duncan, resigning as teaching pastor at First Baptist Church, Temple, Texas, to accept a pastorate in the Philadelphia, Pa. area.
Soozi Whitten Ford, to American Baptist Churches USA Office of the General Secretary, as interim associate general secretary for regional ministries.
Freddy Gardner, to First Baptist Church, Claxton, Ga., as supply pastor.
Ben Gurganus, now serving as associate pastor for youth and Christian education at Oakmont Baptist Church, Greenville, N.C.
Jillian Hankamer, to Northminster Baptist Church, Monroe, La., as senior pastor, effective July 31. She comes from the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Lewisburg, Pa.
Matthew Hensley, to First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as minister of Christian invitation. He comes from Huguenot Road Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., where he was associate pastor for discipleship and missions.
Ernest Jones, to Greater New Friendship Baptist Church, Dublin, Ga., as pastor.
Evan Kunz, to Brentwood (Tenn.) Baptist Church, as associate student minister of groups and leadership.
Grace Martino-Suprice, to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of the Northeast, as coordinator, effective August 1. She will continue to serve on the CBF outreach and growth team.
Jeff Miller, concluding his tenure as church administrator at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Jennifer Mullins, to Gayton Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as youth and young adult pastor. Previously she was associate pastor for New Highland Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va.
Elizabeth Nance-Coker, to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of South Carolina, as coordinator, effective June 20. She comes from the pastorate of Lakeview Baptist Church, Camden, S.C.
Jordan Norton, to Calvary Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., as associate worship pastor.
Joel Schroeder, to First Baptist Church, Paola, Kan., as pastor.
Chris Shade, to Community Church of Barrington, Ill., as pastor.
Ginger Stanfield, to First Baptist Church, Woodway, Texas, as interim associate minister of congregational care.
Nathan VanHorn, to First Baptist Church, Corinth, Miss., as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss.
Mathew Wall, to First Baptist Church, Maryville, Tenn., as contemporary worship and media pastor.
RETIREMENTS
Pam Cooke, retiring after 25 years on the music ministry staff at First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, Fla. Currently she is youth choir director.
Larry Danks, retiring as minister of music at Trinity Baptist Church, Kerrville, Texas, where he has served since 2006.
Joseph Fuller, retiring as pastor of Clincho (Va.) Missionary Baptist Church.
Diane Hawkins, retiring as director of music ministries and organist for First Baptist Church, Morehead City, N.C.
Wendy Kiefer-O’Brien, retiring after 13 years as pastor of Greenville (R.I.) Baptist Church.
Raleigh Kincaid, retiring as minister of worship for Central Baptist Church, Lexington, Ky., effective June 12.
Deborah Lockey, retiring as director of youth and senior adults for First Baptist Church, Morehead City, N.C., effective Aug. 31.
Mike Woods, retiring after 40 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Powder Springs, Ga.
ORDINATIONS
Kate Honeycutt, ordained to gospel ministry on May 15 by Blacksburg (Va.) Baptist Church.
Ariel Koerner, ordained to gospel ministry on April 3 by First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Janie Powell, ordained to gospel ministry on May 24 by First Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tenn.
Camille Loomis Rehnborg, ordained to gospel ministry on April 24 by First Baptist Church, Greenville, S.C., where she is pastoral resident.
Aundreya Sheperd, ordained to gospel ministry on April 24 by Peace Haven Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Katherine Smith, ordained to gospel ministry on June 5 by First Baptist Church, Winchester, Va.
DEATHS
Bob Layman, 86, died May 7 in Greenville, Texas. He was pastor of numerous churches, including a long-term pastorate at Washington Street Baptist Church in Greenville, which became Highland Terrace Baptist Church during his time there. He is survived by his wife, Doris; sons, David and Nathan; daughter, Carla Moody; eight grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Robert D. “Don” Mantooth, 80, died May 20 in Morehead, Ky. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Morehead, for 32 years. He was also a home designer and craftsman, donating his time and skill to numerous church and nonprofit building and renovation projects in the region. He was a founding member of both the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne; daughter, Robin M. Simpson; son, Mark; and four grandchildren.
Robert Miranda, died May 22 in Boston, Mass. At the time of his death he had served for nearly 40 years as senior pastor of the Congregation Lion of Judah in Boston. He was accompanied in death by his wife, Mercedes. He is survived by two daughters, Sonia and Abigail; and three grandchildren.
Joe M. Thomas, 89, died April 20 in Louisville, Ky. He served as pastor of churches in Brownsville and Jackson, Tenn.; Kilmichael, Mississippi; and Hardinsburg, Lebanon Junction and Owensboro, Ky., where he was pastor of Dawson Baptist Church from 1978-1995. He retired in 2013 from Third Baptist Church in Owensboro, where he was associate pastor. He is preceded in death by his wife; Emily; and daughter, Sharon T. Lowe. He is survived by a daughter, Karen T. Smith; and one granddaughter.
Charles Davis Vanderslice, 93, died April 27 in Richardson, Texas. He founded Richardson Heights Baptist Church, now The Heights Church, in 1956 and served there for 18 years. He later was on staff of Dallas Baptist University, the SBC Stewardship Commission and Guidestone Financial Resources. He is survived by his wife, Dorcille; sons, David, Doug and Don; daughter, Denise Schramm; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
KUDOS
ANNIVERSARIES
David Brooks, 15 years as pastor of Edenton (N.C.) Baptist Church.
Horacio Hall, 25 years as pastor of Faithway Baptist Church, Chesapeake, Va.
Randy McConnell, 15 years as minister of music and worship at Chester (Va.) Baptist Church.
John Nixon, 10 years as pastor of Bayside Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, Va.
Charles Qualls, 5 years as pastor of Franklin (Va.) Baptist Church.
CHURCHES
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Warrenton, Va.; 25 years; June 5.
Franklin (Va.) Baptist Church,150 years.
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In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 5-20-22
Transitions for the week of 5-6-22
Transitions for the week of 4-22-22
Transitions for the week of 4-1-22