Two well-known members of the Baptist State Convention (BSC) staff are retiring.
Dan Ridley, the BSC’s music and worship team leader, and M. Wayne Oakes, senior consultant in pastoral ministries, announced their retirements in separate statements.
Ridley, 55, has been serving as music and worship team leader since January 2005. He came to the BSC as music consultant in June 1997 and retired effective Oct. 31.
While he was at the BSC, Ridley worked with the N.C. Baptist Singers, the All-State Youth Choir, Music Week at Caswell and Senior Adult Choir Festivals. He helped lead mission trips to South Africa and Alaska.
Ridley said in an article posted on the BSC web site that he is grateful to those he ministered with and ministered to during his time in music ministry.
“I have considered it an honor to serve North Carolina Baptists through music and worship,” he said. “I treasure the experiences, the friendships and the opportunities to walk alongside you, my colleagues in ministry.”
Ridley currently is interim minister of music at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh.
Oakes, 64 next month, has helped N.C. Baptist churches deal with conflict for more than 13 years. He also trains search committees in a process to call new ministers; leads an online process for sharing names of ministers with churches; and he trains and supervises a network of ministers who assist churches in conflict.
Oakes said in his announcement that he is grateful for the “high honor and privilege” of working at the BSC.
“I have had the joy of walking beside hurting ministers and churches, and they have blessed me by sharing with me the darkest parts of their journeys,” he said. “This has been a sacred trust for which I am grateful.”
Oakes’ retirement is effective Dec. 31.