Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
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.