One Alabama Baptist church made a historic move recently by naming an African-American as interim pastor of its predominantly white congregation.
Chris Hamlin, who works as an assistant to the provost at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, delivered his first sermon to the Baptist Church of the Covenant, Birmingham, Dec. 2. He follows interim pastor Sarah Shelton, who served one year.
While this move is a first for Alabama Baptists, Hamlin said he doesn’t think ministering to the approximately 370 members – with fewer than a dozen blacks – will be a challenge.
“I don’t see that for me,” Hamlin said. “I’ve always tried to be diversified and reflect what I believe the kingdom of God to be.”
Jack Brymer, chairman of Covenant’s staff committee, said Hamlin was tapped as interim because he was the candidate that was right to lead them until a permanent pastor is found. “We looked at the interim possibilities and Chris was the right man,” Brymer said.
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