Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

First person: Remembering Lloyd Elder, Southern Baptist statesman

Lloyd Elder died Nov. 3 after a lengthy illness. Southern Baptists lost a statesman — and bivocational and small church pastors across the denomination lost a friend.
  • November 8, 2023
  • Tennessee Baptist and Reflector
  • First Person, Latest News, Obituaries
(Photo courtesy of Baptist and Reflector)

First person: Remembering Lloyd Elder, Southern Baptist statesman

Lloyd Elder died Nov. 3 after a lengthy illness. Southern Baptists lost a statesman — and bivocational and small church pastors across the denomination lost a friend.

Many people will remember Lloyd Elder for his years as president of the former Baptist Sunday School Board (now Lifeway Christian Resources). He served as head of the Baptist publishing agency during the “conservative resurgence” which began in 1979 and lasted through the early 1990s.

Baptist News Global described Elder as the last “moderate” leader of the Baptist Sunday School Board. Elder led the Board from 1984 until he was “forced out” in 1991 by trustees who were appointed during the resurgence. An earlier attempt to force him out in 1989 failed, but two years later the trustees negotiated an early retirement.

Baptist News Global reported that “trustee leaders said Elder’s departure was not due to theology or politics but was about management style, philosophy and performance.” Elder was later replaced by conservative leader and Texas pastor Jimmy Draper.

Gary Cook served as a vice president at the Board with Elder. He told BGN that “Elder was the kind of leader who helped shape the Southern Baptist Convention back in the day. Unfortunately, there came a day when his kind of leader was no longer appreciated.

“As a result, he was cast aside. Lloyd Elder, being the kind of man he was, stayed in Nashville and watched up close and personal what happened to Southern Baptists. In all the conversations we have had since we both were no longer employed by the Baptist Sunday School Board, I never heard him utter a harsh word concerning those who cast him aside. That was Lloyd Elder,” Cook told BGN.

‘A Christian gentleman’

I knew Elder during those years but not well. Others can debate where he stood in the conservative resurgence. I would rather define Elder as a Christian gentleman who loved the God he served faithfully for more than six decades because that is how I best knew him.

Elder taught at Belmont University and later directed the university’s Moench Center for Church Leadership. He wrote leadership materials for pastors and he would have a booth at the annual meetings of the Tennessee Baptist Convention where he would provide resources at no cost to the pastors.

He had a strong desire to help bivocational and small church pastors because that’s how his ministry began in 1953. He served as pastor of five bivocational churches during his early ministry before moving to full-time pastorates and later a denominational career.

Ray Gilder, former bivocational ministries specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and recently retired pastor of First Baptist Church Gordonsville, also noted Elder had “a passion” for helping to train, support, encourage and to provide resources for bivocational and small church pastors.

Expanded ministry

Elder later expanded that ministry across the SBC. The Baptist and Reflector wrote a feature on Elder in 2016 when he “retired for the final time” in his then position of volunteer administrator and chair of the Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network (BSCLN) which at the time had offices at Tusculum Hills Baptist Church, Nashville.

Gilder, who later became executive director of BSCLN (now retired), noted in the article that Elder approached him 20 years ago while he was on staff with TBMB and offered support through resources and training among pastors of churches with Sunday School attendance of 125 or less.

“He became a volunteer in BSCLN in 2006 and then established the national office in 2014. It’s been amazing to watch him give his time and talents to this organization. He’s been at work five days a week even when he developed health issues. He has always maintained a positive and courageous attitude,” Gilder related in the 2016 article.

“He was a true friend to me personally and provided wise counsel and encouragement as we served bivocational and small church pastors across the SBC. He will be missed,” Gilder said, following Elder’s death.

Baptists may have differing opinions on the ministry of Lloyd Elder, but I believe with all my heart that when he entered heaven on Nov. 3, he was greeted by the Lord he loved with a “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lonnie Wilkey and originally published by Baptist and Reflector.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’
    First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities
    Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’

“Let me tell you something that may not surprise you: my head can be a mess first thing in the morning,” writes Tony Martin, editor of The Baptist Record.

Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities

Life for Kentuckians in Somerset and London was thrown into chaos after an EF-4 tornado ripped through their communities on May 16, killing 19.

Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller

With tarot cards showing up on Barnes and Noble shelves, in viral TikToks and in cutesy Jane Austin-themed sets, perhaps it’s no surprise that 30% of U.S. adults consult a fortune teller, tarot cards or astrology on a yearly basis.

Jack Graham picked to serve on Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission

President Donald Trump has appointed Jack Graham, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, to the advisory board of the newly established Religious Liberty Commission.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel