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Ky. editor accepts Ouachita VP post

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)–Trennis Henderson, editor of the Kentucky Baptist Western Recorder, has announced his resignation effective March 1 to accept a position as vice president for communications at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark.

Henderson, who has been editor of the Western Recorder since 1999, has served more than 25 years in Baptist journalism. He previously was editor of the Arkansas Baptist News and managing editor of the Missouri Word & Way.

“It has been an incredible privilege to serve alongside Kentucky Baptists during these eight-plus years,” Henderson noted.

“While it is difficult to say goodbye to dear friends and colleagues throughout the state…. I welcome the prayers of fellow Baptists as my wife Pam and I seek to make a positive impact on the Ouachita campus in the years ahead.”

Ouachita President Rex Horne described Henderson as “well known in Arkansas and across the nation as an outstanding Christian journalist” and as “a man of integrity, Christian compassion and strong character.”

Henderson “understands the value of the educational opportunities offered by Ouachita Baptist University,” Horne added. “As vice president for communications, he will play a pivotal role with the public, prospective students, families, churches and others who are interested in supporting our important mission.”

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Linda Polley, outgoing chair of the Western Recorder board of directors, cited Henderson’s “keen understanding of moral, social and ethical issues” and noted that he has “made Kentucky Baptists proud as his commentary and leadership of the Western Recorder reflected scriptural accountability and an overarching commitment to integrity and fairness.” Polley is director of administration at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, Ky.

“His wit and sense of humor add the finishing touch,” she added. “On behalf of the Western Recorder board of directors, I express regret as the paper’s loss will be another’s gain.”

Bill Mackey, Kentucky Baptist Convention executive director, described Henderson as “an excellent editor of an outstanding award-winning denominational paper that is recognized nationally.”

“Trennis is compelled by a passion for missions, the local church and his family,” Mackey noted. “Trennis has endeared himself to Kentucky Baptists by his balanced reporting of Baptist news and the ministries of Kentucky Baptists, especially missions.

“I have admired Trennis and his family for their active involvement in the ministry of Crestwood Baptist Church where Trennis and his wife, Pam, have taught Sunday School and small group Bible study for high school students,” he added. “Trennis will be missed not only as an editor and friend but for his natural sense of humor. Tense and sometimes slow-moving meetings have come to life with his humor.”

Henderson, a 1983 graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, also is a graduate of the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo.

A former national president of both the Association of State Baptist Papers and Baptist Communicators Association, he has served since 2000 as a member of the Baptist World Alliance communications committee.

Henderson has earned numerous journalism, photography and design awards from Associated Church Press, Baptist Communicators Association and Evangelical Press Association. He is a 2006 recipient of the University of the Cumberlands’ Moral Leadership Award.

At Crestwood Baptist Church in Oldham County, Henderson also is a deacon and his wife is director of the weekday preschool ministry. Their two daughters, Emily and Audrey, are students at Taylor University in Upland, Ind.

In response to Henderson’s resignation, the Western Recorder board of directors has elected a search committee to seek Henderson’s successor.

Skip Alexander, pastor of Campbellsville Baptist Church, will serve as search committee chairman. Other members include Chip Hutcheson, publisher of the Princeton Times Leader and a member of Southside Baptist Church in Princeton; Lanna Kilgore, an attorney and member of Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green; Bill Marshall, retired KBC executive director and co-director of the Marshall Center for Christian Ministry at Georgetown College; and Linda Polley, director of administration at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown.

Newly elected Western Recorder board chairman Floyd Price, a former KBC president and associate pastor of First Baptist Church of London, will serve as an ex officio member of the editor search committee.
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Compiled by Western Recorder staff.