CORDOVA, Tenn. (BP)–Adrian Rogers, who helped lead the Southern Baptist Convention back to its biblical, historical roots, announced his retirement as pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church Sept. 12.
Rogers’ retirement is effective next spring, although a specific date has not yet been given. The goal is to have a new pastor in place when Rogers leaves. Making the announcement on his 73rd birthday, Rogers read a letter to the church, which has some 27,000 members.
“Now comes a time that we all knew would come when I should announce my retirement as pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church,” Rogers said in the statement that has since been posted on the church website. “Nevertheless, I will not retire from the ministry until I draw my last breath.”
Health, Rogers said, “is not a factor” in the decision. He had triple bypass heart surgery March 16.
“I thank God for my recovery and growing vitality and hope for many good years ahead,” Rogers said.
Upon retirement, Rogers said he plans on continuing the Love Worth Finding radio and television ministry. He also plans on ministering through the recently established Adrian Rogers Pastor Training Institute and teaching at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He will continue attending Bellevue Baptist.
“These and other opportunities will keep me challenged and busy,” Rogers said. “I also plan to spend more quality time with my family.”
Rogers was called as pastor of Bellevue Baptist in 1972, succeeding Ramsey Pollard, who had served as pastor since 1960. The church became a prominent SBC congregation under the leadership of R.G. Lee, who served as pastor from 1927 to 1960.
Rogers’ election as president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1979 helped spark what is known as the conservative resurgence — a period in which the denomination returned to its historical, orthodox roots and a commitment to biblical inerrancy. After choosing not to run for re-election in 1980, Rogers was elected president again in 1986 and 1987. A conservative has won the presidency every year since 1979.
In 1999-2000 Rogers served as chairman of the Baptist Faith and Message Study Committee, which revised Southern Baptists’ statement of belief by clarifying the denomination’s core doctrines. It was adopted by the 2000 SBC annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Rogers’ commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture has formed the core of his ministry. In his presidential sermon in 1980, Rogers told messengers, “In the [biblical] autographs, every sentence, word, line, point, pen stroke, jot or tittle was placed there by the purpose and will of God.”
Rogers hopes to have his successor in place next spring. In his retirement announcement Sept. 12, he said that he would be “thrilled” to have the new pastor “ready to move onto the field before or at my last days as pastor.”
“I would love to place the baton in his hand and bless his ministry with you,” Rogers said.
In the short-term, Rogers’ Love Worth Finding radio and television ministry will continue. Long-term, though, a replacement — particularly on television — will have to be found.
“Right now, the thought is that whoever would succeed him at some point could be involved in the television ministry,” Bill Skelton, executive vice president of Love Worth Finding Ministries, told Baptist Press. “… Any man that can keep 7,200 people awake on Sunday morning probably can do fairly well on media.”
Any decision, Skelton said, would be made by the Love Worth Finding board. Love Worth Finding, which can be seen on more than 14,000 broadcast and cable television outlets and heard on nearly 2,000 radio stations and translators, was founded in 1987. The ministry is separate from the church.
Because television is “visual as well as audio,” Skelton said, messages can become “somewhat dated.” Once Rogers retires, the ministry will have a number of months of television messages that have yet to be aired, Skelton said.
But even after retirement, Skelton said, Rogers could tape new messages in various venues — preaching at crusades or at guest churches, or possibly preaching to the camera or to a small audience.
It is possible, Skelton said, that in two to three years the television ministry will feature sermons from both Rogers and the new pastor. Rogers’ radio ministry, Skelton said, has less logistical problems and could continue “until Jesus comes … without change.”
“There are some unknowns,” Skelton said. “We’re just going to have to walk through those doors as we come to them.”
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Below is the text of the letter Adrian Rogers read to the congregation at Bellevue Baptist Church Sept. 12:
Dear Beloved Bellevue Congregation:
The grace and goodness of God brought us to serve the Bellevue Church 32 years ago. At that time I could have never dreamed or envisioned what God would do in these more than three decades.
As pastor and people we have prayed together, wept together, and laughed together–all in the bond of love. When we first came to this beloved church, you opened your hearts to us and received us immediately. Your gift of love and support has sustained us through these years.
I have frequently said that when I came to Bellevue, I found in you three of the greatest qualities that any pastor could hope for in a congregation. First, you believed the Bible and loved our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, you loved one another with a spirit of unity found in few churches. Lastly, you believed that the pastor was God’s anointed and appointed leader of the church.
Never have I asked you to do anything in the name of Jesus that you did not endeavor to do. Never did I have a need that you did not endeavor to meet.
The history of our time together has been recorded in heaven. This brief letter could not begin to describe the blessings and miracles that we have experienced together. For 32 years God has heaped blessing upon blessing and victory upon victory.
God has graced Bellevue with a strong, well-trained and gifted staff. Through the years I have leaned upon them for support, and I offer them my profound gratitude.
Our deacons and lay leadership have been beyond compare. Their unselfish service and wisdom have helped to make Bellevue the mighty church that she is. Standing in the wings is a new generation ready to take on the challenge.
Our children and grandchildren have been nurtured and loved by you. Correspondingly, they all love Bellevue and each of you.
Now comes a time that we all knew would come when I should announce my retirement as pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church. Nevertheless, I will not retire from the ministry until I draw my last breath.
Health is not a factor in this decision. I thank God for my recovery and growing vitality and hope for many good years ahead.
Joyce and I plan to stay in Memphis and in Bellevue. We plan to continue our service to Jesus under the leadership of the new pastor. I plan to minister through the Adrian Rogers Pastor Training Institute, which has already been set in progress. I plan to teach preaching as an adjunct professor at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. I want to continue the radio and television ministry of Love Worth Finding. Of course, Bellevue Baptist Church, under the leadership of the new pastor, will continue to broadcast its services locally. These and other opportunities will keep me challenged and busy. I also plan to spend more quality time with my family.
Therefore, with your blessing, I offer my retirement in the spring of 2005. It is my hope that during this period a Pastor Search Committee would be put to work. I would be thrilled to have the new pastor ready to move onto the field before or at my last days as pastor. I would love to place the baton in his hand and bless his ministry with you.
We face the future with a bright expectation of blessings upon our lives and upon this dear church.
Joyce joins me in expressing our deepest love and thankfulness for these unforgettable years. To God be the glory, great things He has done!
Devotedly, your pastor,
Adrian Rogers
