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SCOTT DEPOT, W.Va. (BP) — William D. “Bill” Henard, III has been elected as the new executive director-treasurer of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists. With a unanimous vote, the WVCSB Executive Board elected Henard during a Sept. 12th meeting at the Baptist building in Scott Depot.

Henard will assume his new role in October. He has served as the senior pastor of Porter Memorial Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky., since 1999 and as a professor of evangelism and church growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary since 2007. He is the author of the recently released book, “Can These Bones Live?: A Practical Guide to Church Revitalization,” B&H Publishing Group.

He is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Ph.D.), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min. and M.Div.), and Cumberland College (B.A.). He also holds an honorary doctor of laws degree from The University of the Cumberlands.

Henard has served in the past as the first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, as a trustee with Lifeway Christian Resources, serving as chairman for 2 years, and as president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

“I am thrilled and humbled by the vote of the Executive Board and have a very clear calling to lead West Virginia. I believe that God has a great future for our convention,” Henard said.

He succeeds Terry Harper, who served the convention for 13 years, and retired in November 2014. The WVCSB assembled a search committee September 2014 in anticipation of Harper’s retirement. Seth Polk, lead pastor of Cross Lanes Baptist Church served as the search committee chairman.

“We had a committee of 14 who represented every region in the state. There was a strong sense of unity from the beginning, and it was obvious God was leading the process,” Polk said

Polk noted Henard “has a strong record of leadership as a pastor, and is a respected convention leader. He understands the importance of church health and vitality, as well as the critical need to plant new churches. We are excited about and hopeful for the future of the convention.”

Henard has been married to his wife Judy for nearly 40 years. They have a daughter, two sons and four grandchildren.