TOPEKA, Kan. — Church Forward Executive Director-Treasurer David W. Manner has announced his plans to retire at or before the Church Forward Annual Meeting in October 2026, concluding 26 years of service on staff with the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists, also known as Church Forward.
Manner shared the announcement with the Church Forward Executive Committee and Mission Board, noting that his decision followed months of prayer with his wife Karen.
“For 26 years I have served on the staff of the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists, including the last five years as your executive director-Treasurer,” Manner said. “Prior to that, I served for 13 years in one of our Kansas churches. So for the past 39 years, I have had the blessing of serving alongside some of the most gifted and giving pastors, ministry leaders and state convention staff in the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Manner said the timing of the decision reflects his conviction that ministry leadership comes in seasons.
“I believe God calls us to ministry roles for specific seasons, and we must be sensitive to His prompting when it is time for one season to end and another to begin,” he said.
During his 26 years on staff with Church Forward, Manner traveled extensively across Kansas and Nebraska serving pastors and churches. Reflecting on those years, he noted that the ministry included nearly 1 million miles driven and approximately 1,000 hotel nights while working alongside church leaders throughout the region.
In retirement, Manner said he looks forward to spending more time with family, including his wife, daughter, son-in-law, grandson and soon-to-arrive granddaughter. He also hopes to continue writing and serving in part-time ministry roles.
Manner expressed confidence in the future of Church Forward and the churches it serves.
“Because the churches and ministries of Church Forward are unified in their mission of advancing the Gospel and pushing back the darkness, this next ministry season provides an opportunity for your new executive director to lead both our existing and future discipleship and leadership initiatives into the next decade,” he said.
Church Forward leaders said the Executive Committee and Mission Board will play a key role in the search process for the next executive director-treasurer. Manner said he plans to continue working with convention leaders and praying for churches throughout the transition.
“And since God has divinely guided our convention of churches for the past 81 years, we can rest in the confidence that He will continue to lead us into this next season,” Manner said.
Manner concluded his letter by thanking pastors, leaders and churches across the convention.
“Thank you for allowing me to serve the churches of our great convention,” he said. “I love you and am eternally grateful for your trust over these past 26 years.”
Related posts:
SBC DIGEST: Litton to address UM graduation; Ohio Baptists to sell Seneca Lake facility 
YEAR IN REVIEW: Top 12 most-read stories in 2024 
‘Jersey’ impacts Ohio & the world 
4 entity heads address messenger questions 
More than 13,000 registered for Send Conference 
WEEK OF PRAYER: Prayers back home boost new Japan church 
SBC entity leaders respond to Guidepost report 
‘I have everything,’ God says to pastor
