A friend recently shared with me a daily devotion that pointed out the story in Exodus 17 regarding Moses’ arms. Remember? As long as Moses held his … [Read more...] about The tired arms of ministers
About Bill Wilson*
Dr. William “Bill” Wilson founded The Center for Healthy Churches in January of 2014. This followed his service as President of the Center for Congregational Health at Wake Forest Baptist Health since 2009. Previously he was Pastor of First Baptist Church of Dalton, Georgia, where he served since 2003. He brings over 33 years of local church ministry experience to the Center, having served as pastor in two churches in Virginia (Farmville BC and FBC Waynesboro) and on a church staff in South Carolina. Bill has led each of the churches he has served into a time of significant growth and expansion of ministry. He is a certified coach and facilitator and has experience as a consultant in numerous settings and with a wide range of organizations, faith communities, and churches.
Dr. Wilson grew up in Greensboro NC and Brentwood TN, where his father pastored local congregations. He graduated from Murray State University, and went on to receive his Master of Divinity at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry at the Graduate Theological Foundation in South Bend, Indiana.
Bill is a popular speaker and writer, and he brings to his role as the leader of the work of the Center a deep passion for the local church, as well as a commitment to the health and success of both clergy and congregations. He and Dr. Bob Dale have written a book together: Weaving Strong Leaders: How Leaders Grow Down, Grow Up and Grow Together. (2016)
He is married to Kathy and they have three children and ten grandchildren.
The Center for Healthy Churches is a nationwide network of 27 consultants and leaders who value and believe in the local church and are committed to it’s future. Deliberately trans-denominational, team members come from a wide range of denominational, geographic, theological and vocational backgrounds. The Center has worked with churches from approximately twenty different denominational groups that span the geographic and theological spectrum.
Endorsements:
“The help that Bill Wilson and his team have given here at First Baptist Church of Decatur (GA) in our recent, challenging season of transition has been an absolute game-changer. The new Center for Healthy Churches is a fresh expression of a proven approach to congregational wellness. This is great news for churches of all kinds, and for the kingdom of God.”
Dr. Julie Pennington-Russell
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Decatur GA
“I have known Bill Wilson as a confidant, encourager, and consultant. Most recently I have seen the results of his work at First Baptist Greensboro, where he and his team served as primary consultants through the church’s 19-month Transition and Pastor Search. Bill provided outstanding consultation that prepared both congregation and pastor for what has been a magnificent start. If my church or I were seeking consultation, facing challenges, or planning for the future, Bill Wilson would be my first phone call.”
Rev. Alan Sherouse
Pastor, First Baptist Church Greensboro NC
“In 2011, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the second largest church in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, embarked on a long-range visioning process to help chart St. Paul’s future. After conducting a thorough request for proposal process for assistance from a consulting firm to help guide St. Paul’s’ process, St. Paul’s selected Bill Wilson and his team at the Center for Congregational Health. Bill and his team did an outstanding job throughout our engagement, which lasted about a year. They provided critical information about the various global dynamics and changes affecting churches, they appropriately guided us in our process without taking it over, and they were masterful in allowing us as a congregation to develop our own thoughts and ideas while effectively challenging us to consider newer, different and bigger, “provocative proposals”. Bill Wilson and his team were available, present, responsive, insightful and a pleasure to work with. I am certain that St. Paul’s Long Range Vision process and outcome would not have been as successful as it was were it not for Bill Wilson and his team. I look forward to an opportunity to work with him again in the future.”
David P. Broughton
Chair, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Long Range Vision Committee
Articles by Bill Wilson*
Staffing for Survival
What is the most important staff position at your church? Of course, as a former pastor, I must declare that we cannot function without a pastor. But … [Read more...] about Staffing for Survival
Are denominational bodies doomed?
The recent news stories describing the massive layoffs at the International Mission Board of Southern Baptists, the nearly 50% downsizing of the … [Read more...] about Are denominational bodies doomed?
Are character and competence really that important?
I love what I do. Really. Every day is like a new adventure of learning and exploring the future of congregational and clergy life. While the future … [Read more...] about Are character and competence really that important?
Is your church fragile or agile?
One of the most excruciating congregational projects I’ve ever experienced was a strategy planning process at a church where I served on staff early … [Read more...] about Is your church fragile or agile?
The day the Bodybuilders met the Baptists
I recently attended a national gathering of Baptists that was a stark reminder to me of the desperate need for congregational and clergy health. Some … [Read more...] about The day the Bodybuilders met the Baptists
Jason’s Upside Down World
If asked to identify a favorite New Testament character, most of us go with the predictable and obvious: Barnabbas, Mary, Nathaniel, Peter, Lydia, … [Read more...] about Jason’s Upside Down World
Healthy Beginnings Matter for Pastor Search Process
In a recent training event for congregational conflict interventionists, one of our CHC team members heard Richard Blackburn, a Lombard Peace Center … [Read more...] about Healthy Beginnings Matter for Pastor Search Process
The Growing Issue of Frequency of Attendance
The photo above is of a perfect attendance pin for Sunday School. Many of you have never seen one. There was a day when it was a regular feature in … [Read more...] about The Growing Issue of Frequency of Attendance
