CORDOVA, Tenn. — Adrian Rogers, three-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention, 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. “Nevertheless, I will not retire from the ministry until I draw my last breath.”
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.
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 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.”
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