Amid Turmoil, Pastor Resigns at FBC Daytona Beach
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, January 25, 2007
- Viewed 175
- (16) comments so far
Cox, who succeeded the popular Bobby Welch as senior pastor less than six months ago, has been under fire for a variety of reasons, including his spending habits.
“This has been a period of extreme duress and difficulty,” he said Wednesday. “I’ve realized that any continued service here wouldn’t be productive to church growth.”
The sudden announcement came during a weeklong FAITH evangelism clinic, with visitors from across the country at the church. Cox said he informed leading church officials earlier in the evening of his plan to resign. At the end of a scheduled worship service, about 8 p.m., Welch urged members to remain for some church business.
“We need to move together forward as one church,” he said before Cox’s resignation. “This city needs to see a church that has its head and heart right.”
Read more of the story here in the Daytona Beach News Journal…
No word yet, or official statement on the FBC’s website.
Baptist Press has a transcript of Cox’s statement:
On Aug. 28, David Cox became senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla. On Jan. 24, he resigned.
Cox became co-pastor of First Baptist on Aug. 1, 2003, serving alongside Bobby Welch who served the church for 32 years as pastor, and who retired Aug. 28 last year. Welch is immediate past president of the Southern Baptist Convention and is pastor emeritus of First Baptist.
Addressing more than 500 people in the members-only Wednesday night meeting, Cox read from a prepared statement which he later released to Baptist Press. The statement is presented in its entirety.
“On Aug. 1, 2003, I became your co-pastor and on Aug. 28, 2006, I became your senior pastor. It has been a privilege and joy to serve you and be a part of all that Almighty God wants to do with His beautiful Bride at First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach. There have been a number of high moments and victories won and it has been especially blessing to see a number of lives truly changed and transformed by the Holy Spirit. For these experiences my family and I will be forever grateful to you.
“Over the past several weeks, First Baptist Church has undergone a season of extreme duress and difficulty. Two weeks ago tonight, at a town hall meeting to discuss impending matters [a member] said to all present at that meeting, ‘Please don’t make me choose.’ Given present dynamics and poised circumstances, I believe that any continued service and ministry here, on my part, would not be productive toward future growth and health.
“Furthermore, the personal stress and toll on my wife and family has been extreme. As is the case with each of you, my family is the most vital and important part of my life with the exception of my personal relationship to Jesus Christ my Lord.
“While it has been encouraging to be approached by so many of you regarding the starting of a new, local work in the area, I have no plans to do so. To the contrary, to do so would only cause more division and difficulty, and I am hoping that my complete removal from this church’s life will bring healing and forward progress for the glory of God. We are all praying that healing can occur and be ushered in quickly.
“As for me and my family, I have absolutely no idea before you tonight as to what I and my family will do from here - or where - or when. I only know that our God reigns and that He is faithful and true and that HE will not only give clear direction to First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach in the days just ahead, but He will also direct my path and that of my family.
“We will always thank God for these days with you and will continue to serve our Lord as you do—just from another place and perspective. The personal friendships that have been forged here with many of you are not only highly valued and precious to us, but will hopefully continue for years and years in the lifetime ahead.
“With that said, I prayerfully offer my resignation to all members and friends of First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Florida, effective midnight tonight and pray that the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will fall on each of us in the days ahead. As the Apostle Paul said, and perhaps you share my heart in this matter, ‘Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press toward the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 3:13-14).”
Read more here at the BP News site…
TAGS: David Cox, First Baptist Church Daytona Beach, Pastor Resigns, Church Conflict, Bobby Welch, Southern Baptist Convention
After a few weeks of turmoil, the Rev. David Cox has resigned from First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach. In a brief but solemn meeting before church members Wednesday night, Cox quit as leader of the 4,000-member congregation. "I prayerfully offer my resignation, effective midnight tonight," he said in a prepared statement. "I love you and my family loves you. I'm forever grateful."
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
Pat on Tue, December 22, 2009
There are always two sides to every story. Bobby Welch has done nothing wrong, he has only helped FBC.
David Cox tried to turn a traditional Baptist Church into a “Simple Church” in six months bad mistake on his part. The big problem is when it was evident it was not working he should have stepped aside instead of taking the church and his family through the fire.
Tim Mann the new pastor has done and is doing a good work. He has had to work hard to help the church heal. I disagree with one post that the churches hay day is over. Some of the greatest days for FBC lie ahead. It has a solid foundation and a great staff good things are ahead in the future for this great church.
Yes Bobby and his wonderful wife are still members and Bobby is there anytime he is not traveling the world and we love it when we see him.
A Member.
Page 2 of 2 pages < 1 2
Post a Comment