Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
Correction
Ginter Park Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., has not sold its church building to Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, as reported last week in Transitions. The seminary has offered the church classroom space and a chapel in which the congregation will worship on Sundays.
STAFF CHANGES
Steve Ackerman, to Grace Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C., as interim pastor.
Jonathan Barlow, to First Baptist Church, Dalton, Ga., as senior pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Royston (Ga.) Baptist Church.
Joshua Braman, to Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., as chaplain resident. He was director of student ministries at Baptist Church of West Chester, Pa.
Cory Brand, to First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas, as family minister. He comes from First Baptist Church, Edna, Texas, where he served as pastor of youth and discipleship.
Anna Burch, to First Baptist Church, Greenwood, S.C., as children’s minister.
Chase and Brittany Caldwell, to Nobles Chapel Baptist Church, Sims, N.C., as co-pastors. He comes from the pastorate at Lakeview Baptist Church of Lacy, Lakeview, Texas.
Jeff Davison, to First Baptist Church, Carrollton, Ga., as student minister. He comes from North East Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga., where he was student minister.
David Eldridge, to Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala., as senior pastor. He comes from the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Clinton, Miss.
Jeremy Gengler, to First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas, as minister of students.
Aaron Hodges, to First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas, as minister of music. He comes from First Baptist Church, Canton, Ga., where he served as minister of music.
Shelly Lewis, to First Baptist Church, Lewisburg, Pa., as interim pastor.
Shelton Love, to First Baptist Church, Greenville, S.C., as organist, effective in September.
Christina Ryan Perkins, to United Church of Christ, Fort Wayne, Ind., as pastor.
Taci Phaup, to Fairlanes Baptist Church, Borger, Texas, as youth minister.
Richard Phillips, to First Baptist Church, Gainesville, Fla., as interim pastor.
Michael Poole, to Westwood Baptist Church, Springfield, Va., as intentional interim pastor, effective Sept. 5.
Nathan Pruett, to First Baptist Church, Ballenger, Texas, as senior pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Grace Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C.
Mark Rotramel, to First Baptist Church, El Paso, Texas, as senior pastor. He comes from the pastorate of Crestwood Baptist Church, Lumberton, Texas.
Elizabeth Terry, to East Cisco Baptist Church, Cisco, Texas, as pastor.
Dan Vincent, to Fernwood Baptist Church, Spartanburg, S.C., as intentional interim pastor.
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RETIREMENTS
Reppa M. Cottrell, retiring after 24 years as pastor of North Scituate (R.I.) Baptist Church.
Frederick Lewis, retiring after 12 years as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Ind., and 40 years of professional ministry.
Rodney McGlothlin, retiring after 7 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Brownwood, Texas, and 39 years of full-time ministry.
ORDINATION
Tabitha Coker, ordained to ministry on June 4 by Oakland Baptist Church, Rock Hill, S.C.
DEATHS
James Chuck, 87, died July 20 in Walnut Creek, Calif. He was pastor emeritus of First Chinese Baptist Church, San Francisco, Calif. While in seminary he became First Baptist’s youth director. Upon graduation he was named the church’s English-speaking pastor and, later, senior pastor for the entire congregation. After completing that pastorate, he joined the faculty of the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkley, Calif. He was a professor of Theology and Church Ministry, director of Supervised Ministry and director of Continuing Education. The school named him a professor emeritus. He was founding member of the Asian American Baptist Caucus, now known as the Alliance of Asian American Baptist Churches. He served on the board of American Baptist Churches USA and American Baptist Home Mission Societies, when it was known as National Ministries. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joy. He is survived by two sons, Paul and John; two daughters, Rebecca Lessler and Carol Jensen; and eight grandchildren.
Hal H. Eaton, 90, died July 15 in Mouth of Wilson, Va. He served as religion teacher and chaplain at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson. He was pastor of Young’s Chapel Baptist Church, adjacent to the Academy, for 21 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marge. He is survived by two sons, Sam and Jack; two daughters, Laura Phipps and Carol Covington; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
J. Marshall Walker, 100, died July 28 in Durham, N.C. He was a Baptist minister and served as director of missions for East River Baptist Association in Southwest Virginia. During his tenure he was instrumental in the founding of Bland (Va.) Ministry Center and Dental Clinic in 1980. He is predeceased by two spouses, Cora and Anne. He is survived by two daughters, Martha Martin and Anne Phillips; two sons, Marshall Jr. and Timothy; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
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.
KUDOS
STAFF ANNIVERSARIES
David Brooks, 10 years as pastor at Edenton (N.C.) Baptist Church.
Tommy Cox, 20 years as minister of education at First Baptist Church, Laurens, S.C.
Steve Hartwick, 20 years as executive pastor of First Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.
CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES
First Baptist Church, Franklin, Pa.; 150 years; July 30.
In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 08.04.17
Transitions for the week of 07.28.17