NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Jim Carter, vice president of the finance and business services division of LifeWay Christian Resources, has announced his retirement effective June 30.
Carter is LifeWay’s chief financial officer and treasurer and directs the finance and business services division, which includes finance and accounting, human resources, legal services, investment services, purchasing, facility and risk management and strategic planning. A member of the executive management group, he also is responsible for the company’s financial, strategic and business plans, corporate policies and the conduct of LifeWay’s relationship with lending institutions and external auditors.
During his decade-long tenure at LifeWay, Carter established the Southern Baptist Purchasing Alliance, a free program that leverages the collective buying power of the Southern Baptist Convention’s entities and churches on common products and services. Through contract negotiations with LifeWay’s key vendors and suppliers, Carter helped institute a shared discount program for SBC entities, churches and others. Collective savings for the participants total more than $20 million to date.
“We are grateful for Jim’s leadership,” said Ted Warren, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “His work has positively influenced virtually every ministry and every business unit through improved services, greater efficiency and wise investment of the company’s financial resources.
“But perhaps Jim’s greatest contribution to LifeWay,” Warren said, “has been to involve hundreds of LifeWay employees in mission trips around the world, resulting in tens of thousands of professions of faith in Christ and a renewed employee vigor for evangelism. LifeWay mission trips, I believe, are his greatest legacy.”
Carter joined LifeWay in 1995 after serving in executive roles for Dallas-based companies that included First Insurance Group, Banc One Management, Lyco Energy Corporation and InterFirst Services Corporation.
A graduate of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., Carter holds a bachelor of arts degree from Hardin-Simmons University and a master’s degree in business administration with honors from Southern Methodist University.
Carter received 21 citations for exceptionally outstanding service, completing 20 years of military service as a lieutenant colonel and healthcare administrator in the U.S. Army Medical Department. He is the former president of the Texas chapter of Campers on Mission and currently serves as second vice president of the Tennessee chapter of the organization. Active in his local Southern Baptist church, Carter has served as chairman of deacons, Sunday School teacher and chairman of numerous committees.
He resides in Brentwood, Tenn., with his wife Jeannine. They have two sons and five grandchildren.
LifeWay’s executive management group will work with the company’s board of trustees in the months ahead to seek a successor.
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