[1]FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–David W. Clark, president of the North American Mission Board’s FamilyNet broadcasting subsidiary since 1997, has resigned to accept the presidency of Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Peach, Fla. He will begin his new position July 14.
“Helping FamilyNet grow has been an exciting challenge and wonderful experience,” Clark said. “I did not anticipate a change at this stage of my career, but sometimes an opportunity comes along that you know you must accept. For me Palm Beach Atlantic is one of those opportunities. Although I will miss the exceptional people at FamilyNet, I am confident the network is positioned for unlimited success in the future.”
“NAMB’s loss is surely Palm Beach Atlantic University’s gain,” NAMB President Robert E. “Bob” Reccord said. “We have been very fortunate to have the blessing of David Clark’s leadership, character and knowledge of the field of radio and TV communications and his great ability to forge a positive team atmosphere at FamilyNet. We will miss both David and Lois greatly, but we would be less than Kingdom-hearted if we did not celebrate with them, and with Palm Beach Atlantic University, at this wonderful new opportunity.”
“… Surely the future will hold some wonderful opportunities for collaboration between NAMB and Palm Beach Atlantic in preparing the next generation of godly leaders,” he added.
Donald E. Warren, chairman of Palm Beach Atlantic’s board of trustees, called Clark “a visionary with a national reputation who brings a solid academic background and business expertise to Palm Beach Atlantic. He possesses a rare combination of experience in academia and in business with a heart for ministry.”
Clark succeeds former Palm Beach Atlantic President Paul R. Corts, who left the university after 11 years for an appointment as U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Administration in Washington, D.C. Kenneth L. Mahanes, vice president for Religious Life and dean of Palm Beach Atlantic’s school of ministry, served as interim president since Dr. Corts’ departure in November 2002.
[2]Based in Fort Worth, Texas, FamilyNet is a 24-hour television network available in more than 30 million homes nationwide, and also produces radio five radio programs heard on more than 2,000 stations weekly. The network, previously operated by the former Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission, has been part of the North American Mission Board since the 1997 restructuring of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Bob Sutton, a broadcast veteran and FamilyNet board member, will lead a transitional leadership task force to find Clark’s replacement. Sutton has been vice president of NBC Marketing and Programming, chairman/CEO of Media General Broadcast Group, president of Home Shopping Network and Silverking Communications, president of the Golf Channel and most recently, president/CEO of America’s Voice.
During his tenure at FamilyNet, Clark has been executive producer for a number of award-winning television programs, including many which have aired on ABC and NBC television networks. He also is current chairman/CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, an organization of Christian communicators with more than 1,700 member organizations.
Prior to joining NAMB, Clark was president of KMC Media, a media strategy, production and placement company that worked with many national ministries. He was dean of the college of communications at Regent University in Virginia from 1988-91, and vice president of marketing for the Christian Broadcasting Network from 1982-87.
Clark was licensed to preach in 1961 and ordained in 1966. He served as associate pastor or pastor of four churches in Illinois and Iowa.
A native of Chicago, Clark lived in Latin America as a child with missionary parents. He is a graduate of Evangel College, Springfield, Mo., Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago, and the University of Iowa, where he received his doctorate in mass communication research. He and his wife, Lois, have two sons and one daughter, all adults.
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(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at www.bpnews.net. Photo title: DAVID CLARK.
Denise Cook of FamilyNet and Becky Peeling of Palm Beach Atlantic University contributed to this report.