Sunday was a big day at several of the nation’s megachurches
Sunday was a big day for pastoral musical chairs at some of the nation’s most prominent megachurches.
In Atlanta, Pastor Charles F. Stanley, 85, announced his succession plan, naming Pastor Anthony George to replace him at First Baptist Church Atlanta when the time comes.
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Stanley said in a post on the church’s Facebook page that he intends to remain as pastor “ as long as God gives me health and strength, this plan will be officially in place to ensure a seamless transition in leadership whenever God ordains that to occur.”
Meanwhile, in Houston, John W. Gray III, the popular associate pastor at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church, announced on his Instagram account that he and his family were bound for Greenville, S.C.
Gray, also a best-selling author, will become the new senior pastor of what was has been known as the Greenville campus of Redemption Church in 2018.
Pastor Travis Hayes, chief financial officer of Redemption Church, said Gray will rename the Greenville location once he officially takes over in the summer.
He will replace Redemption Senior Pastor Ron Carpenter Jr., who will head to Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, Calif., replacing Pastor Dick Bernal, who is retiring.
Redemption will keep its television ministry, record label and other affiliated entities, including satellite campuses.
Jubliee will then become Redemption Church of San Jose.
That the moves are happening at the same times is probably coincidental, said Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College in Illinois.
“Pastors move all the time,” he said.
There may also be a bigger story, said Anthea Butler, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
In Stanley’s case, she said it makes sense for him to name an heir to the pulpit.
All come from churches with vibrant television and radio ministries.
With many megachurch pastors, “so many people hear similar messages from these pastors it may not matter that they are changing venues and pulpits...their messages are easily available on cable networks podcasts and live streamed on the internet.”
About the Author
Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.
