First Baptist Church of Asheville announces new senior pastor

Press release from First Baptist Church:

The congregation of the First Baptist Church of Asheville, N.C., voted Sunday to call the Rev. Dr. Austin McIver “Mack” Dennis to be the church’s 22nd senior pastor. His first Sunday at the church will be Aug. 7.

Dennis, who grew up in Henderson, N.C., earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his Master of Divinity degree from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR), Va., and his Doctor of Theology degree from Duke Divinity School in Durham.

He has served churches in eastern North Carolina, and in recent years has been working toward his doctoral degree and teaching at Duke Divinity School.

“Erin (Dennis’ wife) and I are thrilled to join this extraordinary church with its high standards for theologically-grounded, liturgical worship, a vibrant culture of lay-led ministries and missions, a thriving arts academy and a rich tradition of prophetic witness in Asheville and beyond,” Dennis said. “We’re also delighted to be able to raise our children in a caring, diverse congregation where the words ‘freedom, friendship and faith’ come alive every day of the week.”

The Dennis family includes two young sons, Liam, 5, and Ozzie, 2. Erin Dennis is a licensed clinical social worker.

 The committee that recommended Dennis for the position identified his greatest strengths as preaching, teaching and vision.

“The congregation of First Baptist Church believes we are called to reflect the caring, compassionate and reconciling voice of Jesus Christ from our location in downtown Asheville,” Cliff Christian, chair of the Pastor Search Committee, said. “One of the many reasons we have been drawn to Mack is his love of people, expressed through the words and actions of reconciliation. In a culture as diverse, and sometimes divisive, as our own, we are convinced that Mack will provide a relevant and hopeful message for our church and community.”

Dennis has more than a decade of ministry experience and has demonstrated leadership on a national level with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. His honors and awards include the Doctor of Theology Fellowship, Duke Divinity School; the American Baptist Doctoral Grant; the John and Charlotte Canning Pastoral Ministry Award (BTSR) and the John Grover Scales Preaching Award (BTSR).

“Mack Dennis is one of the most gifted young ministers in church life today,” said Dr. Curtis Freeman, director of the Baptist House of Studies at Duke Divinity School. “He is an imaginative preacher, a loving pastor and a courageous leader. I am hopeful of what the future holds as he joins the leadership team of this wonderful congregation.”

Dennis said he is encouraged by the ministry opportunities the area provides.

“I have a fourfold hope for ministering in Asheville: to be an engaging preacher and keeper of the Word, to walk with a broken heart beside my people, to be a doting husband and father to my family and to seek the peace of this great city,” he said. “One day, I’d like to look back on my time here and be able to say I helped shepherd a new generation of faithful leadership for this beautiful church. I believe if it can be done anywhere, we can do it here.”

First Baptist Church, located at 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville, was founded in 1829 and has an active membership of 1,200.

For more information, contact David Blackmon, coordinating pastor, at 828-252-4781.