COLUMBIA, Md. — In a letter sent Friday (Feb. 3) to the churches of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, president Glenn Swanson announced that state executive director Michael Crawford had resigned from the position effective immediately “due to moral failure involving marital indiscretions which disqualifies him from this position.”

Crawford had been in the role for less than a year after being named to the position in March 2022. He had been with the convention for nearly a decade. He was also named vice president of strategies and development for Send Network in the fall of 2022. A NAMB spokesperson confirmed to Baptist Press his contract with the entity was terminated Feb. 3.

In the letter, Swanson called “upon all Maryland and Delaware Baptists and our extended Southern Baptist family to pray for everyone involved.” Swanson also noted that the “BCM/D officers, staff, volunteers and churches are committed to praying for [Crawford], his family and providing them with spiritual and emotional support in the coming days, weeks and months ahead.”

Swanson also announced that associate executive director Tom Stolle will serve as interim and lead the staff as the administrative committee makes plans to fill the role.

The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware is composed of more than 450 churches with more than 76,000 members in the two-state region.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – This article was written by a Baptist Press staff member.)