Interim Senior Minister Called

With joy and anticipation, the Interim Senior Minister Search Committee has announced that after prayerful discernment, Rev. Dr. Layne Smith has been called to serve as our Interim Senior Minister. Layne will begin his ministry with us on March 4, 2025.

Layne has dedicated his career to serving congregations in transition, providing pastoral leadership and guidance to churches across North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Before stepping into intentional interim ministry in 2009, he was a Senior Pastor for 26 years in Arkansas and North Carolina. He holds a B.A. from Oklahoma Baptist University, did graduate work at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Baylor University, and earned his M.Div. and D.Min. at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Layne and his wife, Dianne, have been married for over 50 years. They met while students in seminary and have two daughters and four grandchildren. Their family enjoys traveling and exploring international destinations together, and Layne also enjoys playing golf.  

Please join us at the Congregational Luncheon, March 9 at 12:00 in Heaton Hall. We will welcome Layne, and he will share his vision for our intentional interim period together. Please register here >

Join me in sharing gratitude to the Interim Search Committee. They did a tremendous job assembling, organizing, seeking, and securing Layne. The members are: 

Julie Barfied (Chair)
Ryan LaPrade
Deb Steiner
Anna Catherine Fowler
Fran Morrison
Sharon Doar
Tony Dick 
Sam Slack (non-voting member) 
Kevin Gray (non-voting member)
Eva Bender (non-voting member) 

Continue to pray for Layne and our congregation as we embark on this journey of discovering new and inspiring ways to authentically practice community, spirituality, justice, and inclusivity. I look forward to our work and time together!