NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Bill Langley, pastor of Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, has been named to a seven-person search committee to find LifeWay Christian Resource’s next leader.
LifeWay trustees began the initial steps to search for a successor to President and CEO Thom Rainer, who has announced his retirement, during their Aug. 27-28 meeting in Nashville.
The trustees’ presidential search committee will be led by Kent Dacus, vice president of student services at California Baptist University, as committee chair. Dacus is a member of of The Grove Community Church in Riverside, Calif.
Bill Langley
Other members include Millie Burkett, member of Greater Gresham Baptist Church, Gresham, Ore.; Ken Bledsoe, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Aberdeen, N.J.; Madeline Harris, member of Ezekiel Baptist Church, Philadelphia, Penn.; Todd Fannin, member of Life Fellowship Church, Pryor, Okla.; and Luther McDaniel, member of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tenn.
The search committee is receiving questions and names for consideration at presidentialsearch@LifeWay.com.
Trustee chairman Jimmy Scroggins shared his appreciation for Rainer’s godly leadership the last 13 years. “Thom is a man of honor and integrity who has brought honor, integrity and success to this organization.”
He also asked the trustees to be in prayer for the search committee and for the future leader of LifeWay.
“We believe in a God who is sovereign over all things,” Scroggins said. “We believe God has had His hand and anointing on this organization for well over 100 years. And we are confident God will continue to sustain LifeWay and allow this organization to move forward and thrive.”
Aaron Earls
Darron Edwards leads fellow trustees of LifeWay Christian Resources in a time of prayer for Thom Rainer, LifeWay president and CEO, who announced his retirement during their Aug. 27 plenary session.
“My life has been blessed immeasurably by the ministry and the people of LifeWay,” Rainer said. “I accepted this position with humility and gratitude, and I leave it with humility and gratitude.”
Rainer told trustees he had no doubt it was the right time and season to pass the baton of leadership. “We are in an incredible position,” he said. “LifeWay is poised for a great future with a new leader.”
In other business, Rainer welcomed Curtis Woods, associate executive director for convention relations at the Kentucky Baptist Convention and a member of Watson Memorial Baptist Church in Louisville, among eight new trustees who began their terms with the August meeting. (WR)