Earlier this year the church voted to pursue hiring an Intentional Interim Pastor to lead the congregation through a transition period between the retirement of Pastor Jerry Haywood and the hiring of our next permanent pastor. A committee was established to conduct a search for a candidate to fill that position. After considering more than 20 candidates we selected Dr. William Tuck for the position of Intentional Interim Pastor. On Sunday July 4th he will speak at both services. He and his wife will also attend the picnic Sunday afternoon.
Dr. Tuck is a native of Lynchburg, Virginia. He is married to the former Emily Campbell, is the father of two grown children and has three grandchildren. He graduated from Bluefield College and the University of Richmond, received his B.D. and Th.M. degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Theology degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
He has served over 30 years as pastor to 7 churches in Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, and North Carolina. He taught for five years (1978-1983) at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He retired from the active pastoral ministry in 2000 after serving for seven years at the First Baptist Church in Lumberton, North Carolina.
Dr. Tuck served as Interim Pastor of Hampton Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia from September 2001 - December 2003. Dr. Chester L. Brown had just retired from Hampton after thirty-nine years as pastor, and the church was to go through an intentional transitional period, which is similar to what Walnut Hills has decided to follow.
Wherever Dr. Tuck has ministered, he has led the church members to an increased awareness of local and worldwide missions, and to an active community involvement. Dr. and Mrs. Tuck now live in the Richmond area where he is an Adjunct Professor at The Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and Emily serves as a deacon in their church.
Dr. Tuck is the author of twelve books, including The Lord's Prayer Today, Authentic Evangelism, and The Way for All Seasons. He has contributed to numerous collections including The Twentieth Century Pulpit, Best Sermons, and Biblical Preaching, An Expositor's Treasury. He has published articles in magazines such as Theology Today, Proclaim, and Baptist Today.
We feel that Dr. Tuck is the right person to lead us in worship and in our commitment as Christians during this time of change and introspection.
Bill Bynum, Sharon Carter, Alice Erickson, Joanne Jenner, Dale Johnson, Eric Shaver, Terry Tyler Jr.
Intentional Interim Pastor Search Committee