Head of Kentucky's largest church retiring, successor tapped

Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The head of one of the nation's largest churches is stepping down in June, turning over the leadership of Kentucky's largest congregation to his long time associate.

Bob Russell, Southeast Christian Church's senior minister, announced Saturday night that Dave Stone will assume the mantle of leadership upon his departure.

Russell, who expects to preach eight or nine more weekends, made his announcement at the first of four weekend services. Stone, who joined the church in 1989, will oversee a staff of about 400.

"I was concerned that the last six months of my ministry, I would be a lame duck as everybody sat around and waited for me to leave, and Dave would be a sitting duck," Russell, 62, told worshippers Saturday night. "This way the church would not lose momentum."

Russell, who in almost 40 years as its head, has led Southeast Christian from meeting in a house to its status as one of nation's 10 largest churches.

Stone, 44, said he would follow the lead set by Russell, whom he called "my hero and my mentor."

But in Saturday night's sermon, Stone did say he would launch new emphases, including more community service activities and the creation of satellite centers in other parts of Louisville and southern Indiana, enabling some Southeast members to have activities and services closer to their homes.

Warren Bird, research director for the Leadership Network, which advises large congregations, said the smoothest changeovers at mega-churches take place with a "designated successor, a time of overlap, a gradual transition, and a clear blessing of the new pastor by the outgoing pastor."

"In this regard, Southeast Christian has handled it very wisely," Bird said.

The conservative evangelical Christian church has seen its share of controversies in recent years, including its public opposition to abortion, adult businesses and same-sex marriage.

Southeast had an average congregation of 18,520 last year, placing it among the top 10 largest congregations in the nation, according to 2005 surveys by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research and the research group Church Growth Today.