Ed Young resigns from Second Baptist of Houston after 46 years

By Leah MarieAnn Klettassistant editor Monday May 27, 2024

H. Edwin Young, senior pastor of Second Baptist in Houston and one of the most prolific Southern Baptist pastors in the United States, announced his resignation Sunday morning, ending his 46-year tenure.

The 87-year-old preacher closed his sermon at the church’s Woodway campus by announcing that his son Ben Young would succeed him as senior pastor, the Houston Chronicle reported.

“We are not resigning, we are stepping up to use our core spiritual gifts,” Young said. “I step in to maximize what God has given me and what God has given my amazing wife, Lisa.”

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“I’ll be 88 in August,” Young added. “Two weeks ago I thought I was in the red zone and maybe in the two minute zone because I know I’m in the last quarter of my life. But Lisa and I have been through all sorts medical things, and surprisingly . So I stand here happy, reasonably healthy and ready to serve God.

Young, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, grew Second Baptist into one of the largest churches in the Houston area after assuming the role of senior pastor in 1978, according to the church’s website.

In 1999, Second Baptist became a two-site church and today has six campuses across the city with approximately 18,000 members.

His resignation comes just two weeks before the SBC’s annual conference in Indianapolis on June 9.

Born in 1936 in southeastern Mississippi, Young studied at Mississippi College and Southeastern Seminary. A prolific writer and speaker, Young has a long-running broadcasting ministry called The Winning Walk. Young served two terms as SBC president beginning in 1992.

In a letter sent to his congregation this weekend, Young said he and his wife were “desiring to use our core spiritual gifts of evangelism and encouragement within this family of faith” and vowed to ” stay in the battle” despite their resignation from their senior position. pastor.

“Evangelism has always been my heart’s desire, and Lisa can do it better than anyone I know. I am committed to following Andrew’s example in the New Testament. Lisa is a natural Barnabas with the gift of encouragement and also teaches me to expand that cheerleading spirit in my ministry, we will stay in the battle,” he wrote.

“Please know that I love you collectively and I love the individuals in this Body of Christ with all my heart. Long ago I promised God to give Him all that I am and all I will ever be. Even though I am, the chief sinner, God has graciously allowed me to live out this calling with You has been the great privilege of my life. .

According to The Chronicle, Ben Young was previously an associate pastor at Second Baptist and chaplain for the Houston Astros. He also hosted a radio show and enjoys surfing and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

In addition to Ben, Young is the father of two other children: Ed Young, pastor of Fellowship Church, a megachurch in Grapevine, Texas; and Cliff Young, director of Second Films and member of the contemporary Christian music group Caedmon’s Call.

In recent months, Young has made headlines for his comments on immigration and for calling President Joe Biden “ungodly” after declaring Easter Transgender Day of Visibility.

“By presidential proclamation, Joseph Biden has chosen Easter as the time when there will be a coming out of – whatever that means – and I imagine he will honor and affirm those who feel that God made a tragic mistake when they were brought to this earth as male or female,” Young said in an April sermon, according to The Chronicle. “I have never experienced a more unholy attack on Christianity from the President of the United States in the entire history of our country.”