By Jim Carney, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
Feb. 21–The Rev. Dallas R. Billington has announced his resignation as senior pastor of the Akron Baptist Temple.
Billington, 48, the third generation of Billingtons to lead the historic church at 2324 Manchester Road, will remain on the job for the next six to nine months, until a minister is chosen to replace him.
“I love my family and my church with all my heart,” he said. “It’s truly been a privilege to be part of this ministry and the Akron Baptist Temple.”
Just as he felt a call when he took over the church from his father, Charles Billington, a decade ago, he said he felt a calling from God that the time had come to move to a new chapter in his ministry.
He said he is taking a giant leap of faith in leaving.
“The Bible says without faith, it is impossible to please him,” Billington said.
Billington said he and his family may move to Southern Florida or Southern California.
He said he is considering teaching at a Christian college, working as a church consultant with pastors and their families, or going to another church as pastor.
Billington served 10 years at three churches in the Naples, Fla., area before moving back to Akron in 1994. He took over as senior pastor of the Akron church in March 1996.
The church was founded in 1934 by his grandfather, Dallas F. Billington, who died in 1972.
Charles Billington, 78, took over when his father died and was senior pastor until 1996, when his son took over.
Founder Dallas F. Billington had moved to Akron from Kentucky in 1925 to work at Goodyear, founding the church nine years later.
The first service was held at Akron’s Rimer School, with only 14 people in attendance.
At its peak in the late 1960s, the church had 7,000 active members. At one time, the church said it had the world’s largest Sunday school.
In 1981, a new $4.2 million, 4,000-seat sanctuary was destroyed by fire. Three years later, a new $8 million building was dedicated.
Dallas R. Billington said that when he took over in 1996, the church was $6 million in debt, and one of his goals was to see that its finances were in order.
By the end of the year, he said, he hoped the church debt would be less than $1 million.
During his time as pastor, the church has added a contemporary service to the traditional service, a program of small group study for members and a food and clothing ministry that has provided some 2,000 school backpacks to youngsters.
His leaving, he said, is good news in that he believes the church will continue to grow.
“This is the first time in 72 years the church has had to go through this,” Billington said.
“I love this church and the last thing I want to do is hurt it. It is the Great Lighthouse on Manchester Road and it will continue to be.”
In making his announcement at Sunday’s services, Billington closed with this statement:
“I never have desired my name to appear on the front of the church, because it was my conviction that God alone is the Chief Shepherd,” he said. “It’s appropriate to close with the Scripture that is on the front of the church: As Jesus said, `I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ “
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or [email protected]
—–
Copyright (c) 2006, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail [email protected].
Comments