GuideStone Financial Resources will begin a time of transition of leadership this summer with the announcement of the new president-elect, D. Hance Dilbeck Jr.
Dilbeck, executive director-treasurer of Oklahoma Baptists since 2018, was unanimously elected as GuideStone president-elect during a called meeting of the board of trustees today (May 20). He will serve alongside current GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins beginning this summer and culminating in the first quarter of 2022 with Hawkins becoming president emeritus and Dilbeck becoming president and Chief Executive Officer.
Steve Dighton, chair of the GuideStone presidential search committee, said the committee bathed the process in prayer to seek out the Lord’s candidate in this process.
“We established a process where we were determined to only consider prospects recommended to us from our Southern Baptist family,” Dighton said. “We solicited feedback for three months, and even added one more month to give time for more recommendations to come in. A total of 15 people were recommended to the committee.”
Hawkins expressed his confidence in the selection.
“Hance Dilbeck is one of the most respected men in Southern Baptist life,” Hawkins said. “He has pastored all sizes of Southern Baptist churches, has a heart for serving pastors from small, medium and large churches; he understands the dynamics and complexity of GuideStone’s ministry, and he is a quick learner. And he is among the humblest men I’ve ever known, so he’ll be one who has a learner’s heart as he embarks on this new calling from the Lord. Susie and I are holding Hance and Julie in our hearts and prayers, and we invite Southern Baptists to join us in lifting them up.”
Dilbeck’s wife, Julie Dilbeck, has served as a GuideStone trustee since 2019. She resigned her post at the called meeting; she did not vote in the selection process.
Dilbeck brings three decades of ministry service.
Dilbeck has served in Oklahoma churches as pastor for more than 30 years. He served as pastor at Quail Springs Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, for 15 years before being called to lead Oklahoma Baptists in 2018. During that time, the church tripled in size even as it took part in planting 32 churches. He has been an active participant in denominational life, having served as chairman of the board of trustees at Oklahoma Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the International Mission Board through the years. He is a prior second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“Julie and I have a clear sense of the Lord’s calling to GuideStone,” Dilbeck said. “We are grateful for how the search committee and their prayerful process helped confirm this calling. Dr. Hawkins has been a faithful steward and transformational leader for almost 25 years. He has assembled a world-class team.
“I am asking our Father for grace to be faithful with this stewardship and effective with the platform; serving those who serve the Lord.”
Born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, Dilbeck earned his undergraduate in religion from Oklahoma Baptist University. He holds two degrees from Southwestern Seminary — a master of divinity obtained in 1992 and a doctor of ministry earned in 2002.
The Dilbecks have three grown and married sons and eight grandchildren. He will begin work as president-elect on July 1.
