CARY, N.C. – Currie Tilley, associational mission strategist for the Carolina Baptist Association in Hendersonville, has been named director of the Mission Catalysts Group with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
Tilley’s appointment was approved unanimously by the executive committee of the state convention’s board of directors during a meeting held Tuesday, July 11, by video conference. N.C. Baptist Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Unzicker presented Tilley to the committee as a candidate for the role, in accordance with state convention employment policies.
In his new position, Tilley will oversee a group of deployed catalysts who serve churches in different geographic regions of the state. The group also includes statewide catalysts to serve African-American, Asian and Hispanic pastors and churches. The catalysts serve as a primary contact for pastors, churches and associations in their respective regions.
Tilley will assume his new position on Aug. 15. He steps into the role previously held by Chuck Register, who retired from the state convention in January.
In recommending Tilley for the role, Unzicker called Tilley a proven leader who has a track record of bringing churches together. Unzicker said Tilley stood out from a number of qualified candidates, and he came highly recommended by a number of pastors and ministry leaders from across the state.
“After seeing a number of great candidates, the Lord was really putting on our hearts Currie Tilley,” Unzicker said. “Currie came recommended by a number of people. This was not something that Currie sought out. We sought him out. Currie has done a great job with the Carolina Baptist Association, and his name just kept coming up for this role.”
Tilley said he is excited about joining the N.C. Baptist staff, and he senses a unity around state convention’s emphasis on being a movement of churches on mission together.
“Primarily, my ministry experience has been very connected to the local church,” Tilley said. “I love the local church. I believe that’s God’s ‘Plan A.’ Everything we do needs to be striving to strengthen the church…. The vision is clear, and we know what the Lord has called us to do. I’ve felt a connection and a unity in seeing how the Lord is working. I’m thankful and excited to be a part of that. I’m excited about moving forward for the Lord’s glory.”
Since November 2020, Tilley has served as associational mission strategist for the Carolina Baptist Association, where he has worked with church leaders on missions mobilization strategies and revitalization efforts.
Prior to joining the Carolina Baptist Association, Tilley spent a total of seven years on the pastoral staffs at two Triangle-area churches. He served as pastor of discipleship and mission at Rebuild Fellowship Church in Durham from August 2019 to August 2020. Tilley also served as the family and discipleship pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hillsborough from August 2013 to June 2018.
With a strong background in Christian higher education, Tilley has also served as an adjunct professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest and at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, since 2011. He also spent two years as the associate dean for master’s studies at Lancaster Bible College & Capital Seminary.
Tilley holds Master of Divinity and Doctor of Education degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tilley also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and he was called to ministry following a career in business.
Tilley has been married to his wife, Suzanne, for more than 35 years. The Tilleys have two adult children and five grandchildren.
