VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 1/17/19)—The American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago called Rev. David Gregg as its new Executive Minister in a special meeting of the region’s Family Council on January 12, 2019. The body, which comprises one pastor and one other representative of each member congregation, voted overwhelmingly to approve the search committee’s recommendation to call Rev. Gregg, who will begin his service in late January.

“Rev. Gregg is a thoughtful and passionate minister deeply committed to multicultural and inclusive ministry, shared leadership, and our Baptist ideals of individual and congregational freedom. In addition to his incredible pastoral and collaborative ministry within our region, Rev. Gregg has served in various leadership roles within the larger denomination and has edited a book on Baptist polity published by Judson Press. Our committee is excited about the skills, knowledge, and passion that Rev. Gregg will bring to this position,” said Search Committee Co-Chairs Rev. Annette Thornburg Owen and Rev. Robert Rawls in the committee’s recommendation.

Rev. Gregg has served the ABCMC Cabinet in various positions, including as Chair of the now-defunct Program and Structure Committee, Secretary, and recently, President. He served for ten years on the board of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and was a region representative to the American Baptist Churches General Board, helping to design the 2011 denominational restructuring.

He served as Minister of Congregational life at the Lake Street Church of Evanston for ten years, and has served interim pastorates at the Community Church of Wilmette, the South Church of Mount Prospect, and North Shore Baptist Church (all ABC) and the United Church of Hyde Park (UCC-PC-UM). He has also frequently served as a guest preacher and workshop and retreat leader for various churches and groups.

Gregg edited of the most recent version of Norman Maring and Winthrop Hudson’s textbook, A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice, and he has trained ABC seminarians in Baptist Polity for the past decade.

Gregg earned a bachelors degree from Harvard, an M.A. in English from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Divinity from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. He is currently completing doctoral work at the University of Chicago.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.