Joe Walker will serve as interim president of Lifeway Christian Resources, trustees decided today (July 15) in a special-called meeting.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Lifeway Christian Resources trustees named an interim CEO and began the initial steps to search for a successor to President and CEO Ben Mandrell during a special-called meeting on July 15.
Trustees have asked Lifeway’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Joe Walker to serve as interim president and CEO until a new president is named, in accordance with Lifeway’s bylaws.
Walker will serve in the role held by Mandrell, Lifeway’s 10th president, who is vacating the position to serve as senior pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn. Mandrell’s first Sunday as pastor is scheduled for Aug. 10.
James Carroll, chairman of Lifeway’s board of trustees, said, “Selecting Joe Walker to lead was an easy and unanimous decision. Because we have served closely with him and watched him lead in a variety of capacities, we have the utmost confidence in him and his ability. In fact, I believe God has equipped him through his four decades with Lifeway and placed him in his current role for the purpose of raising him up to serve as interim president during this season of transition.”
Since March 2025, Walker has served as Lifeway’s executive vice president and COO, overseeing daily operations and helping provide strategic leadership of the organization. Prior to serving as COO, Walker served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for six and a half years and 12 years as corporate controller. He has held various financial positions at Lifeway since 1986.
A native of Tennessee, Walker is a CPA and holds a bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting from the University of Tennessee, Martin. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tenn.
“I’m so grateful to have served with Ben for the past six years,” Walker said. “During this time of transition, I will work closely with our leadership team and our trustees to continue the strong culture and financial results Ben led us to achieve.”
Walker expressed both appreciation for past leadership and full confidence in God’s continued guidance as Lifeway navigates this new chapter.
“During my 39 years of service at Lifeway, I have seen God’s hand and provision as He carried Lifeway through some difficult seasons,” Walker said. “That was especially true as He brought Lifeway through the pandemic when revenue plummeted, as many churches were not meeting for several months. Since that time, God has brought us back to a place of strength as we continue to strive to serve churches in the days ahead.”
During their meeting, trustees also named an eight-person search committee to find Lifeway’s next leader.
The trustees’ presidential search committee will be led by Billy Stewart, a retired community college president who now serves as the executive pastor for administration at First Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss.
Other members include Carroll, who will serve as an ex officio member by virtue of his role as board chairman; Beth Greene from Knoxville, Tenn; Madeline Harris from Philadelphia, Pa.; Caleb Iorg from Portland, Ore.; Michael Schmidt from Reno, Nev.; Rob Sumrall from Elizabethtown, Ky.; and Matt Surber from San Antonio, Texas.
“The selection of Lifeway’s next president is an enormous responsibility, first to the Lord and then to our fellow Southern Baptists,” Carroll said. “We will seek God’s help at every step of the process to move with wisdom, prudence and appropriate swiftness as we fill this important vacancy. I am thankful for the search team and excited to serve under Dr. Stewart’s leadership. While we will begin working immediately, our team will lead meaningful sessions with the full board and the executive leadership team during our August meeting to include them in the early stages of the process.”
Carroll also shared his appreciation for Mandrell’s leadership the last six years. “While God receives glory for any good accomplished by His servants, it is right to honor Ben for his faithful service at Lifeway,” Carroll said. “The trustees are thankful for him and his leadership, and we rejoice with him about this next chapter of his ministry. We’re praying for Ben and his family as they make this transition, and we plan to celebrate his time at Lifeway during our board meeting in August.”
He also asked the trustees to be in prayer for the search committee and for the future leader of Lifeway.
“We trust that our sovereign Lord already knows who will fill this role,” Carroll said. “We ask Southern Baptists to join us in praying for God to lead us to this man and to begin preparing his heart for this work.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Carol Pipes is director of corporate communications for LifeWay Christian Resources.)
