This week in Christian history: Charles Stanley names successor, First Vatican Council begins, Episcopal Church leader born
Charles Stanley names successor – Dec. 10, 2017
This week marks the anniversary of when Charles Stanley, prolific author and founder of In Touch Ministries, announced who would succeed him as senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta.
Stanley, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention who had led the Georgia-based megachurch for decades, named Associate Pastor Anthony George as his successor upon his retirement as part of an approved succession plan.
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"While I intend to remain the pastor as long as God gives me health and strength, this plan will be officially in place to ensure a seamless transition in leadership whenever God ordains that to occur," said Stanley, then 85 years old, in a statement at the time.
Stanley would remain senior pastor until officially stepping down in September 2020 and taking on the role of pastor emeritus. He would die in April 2023 at the age of 90.
