S.C. Baptist Ministries for Aging names new president

New president – McLawhorn, an attorney and ordained minister, brings a self-described “pastor’s heart” to South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging.

Richard McLawhorn, a pastor and lawyer with broad administrative and government staff experience, has been named president of South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging.

The 58-year-old former governor’s aide and, more recently, pastor of Little River Baptist Church in Jenkinsville was elected by a unanimous vote of SCBMA’s board of trustees during a called meeting Jan. 19 in Columbia.

Following his election, McLawhorn traveled to Martha Franks Retirement Center in Laurens, where he was introduced to residents and staff by SCBMA board chairman Kirby Winstead. He was to meet with employees and residents of Bethea Retirement Community in Darlington the following day.

McLawhorn, who was ordained to the ministry 12 years ago after spending much of his adult life as a lawyer serving in a variety of South Carolina government agency appointments, said he brings a “pastor’s heart” to his new responsibility.

“I want to be your voice to Baptists in this state,” he told residents of Martha Franks. McLawhorn told the retired seniors that he hopes to preach in a different church every Sunday in his role as a goodwill ambassador for the ministry he now heads.

McLawhorn pledged that under his leadership the ministry will be “unapologetically Christ-centered” and “will adhere to the highest ethical, moral and legal standards because Christ-centered people reflect the values of Jesus Christ.”

Board chairman Winstead said that McLawhorn is an “able and capable administrator” who will “put a face” on the ministry. “He seems to be a man ‘for such a time as this,'” Winstead said, referencing a familiar quotation from the book of Esther.

McLawhorn told residents that he was “totally committed to having this [institution] thrive, not just keep it open.” He described the annual Mother’s Day offering that is designated to support SCBMA as “vital,” and said he was confident that Baptists will continue to give generously to the offering. “When we have better communication, South Carolina Baptists have always supported their retirement institutions,” he said.

The goal for the Mother’s Day offering for 2006 is $750,000. Last year South Carolina Baptists gave $1.2 million in a year when the very survival of the ministry was threatened.

From 1987-89, McLawhorn served as executive assistant to Gov. Carroll Campbell. From 1989-93, he was commissioner of the South Carolina Department of Youth Services (now called the Department of Juvenile Justice). From 1993-99, he was deputy general counsel and chaplain for the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.

McLawhorn said he was drawn to the chaplain’s position because he felt that God was leading him into some kind of ministry. He was called as pastor of Little River Baptist Church in 1999.

McLawhorn holds a B.A. in government and politics from the University of Maryland, a master of public administration degree from the University of South Carolina, and a juris doctor degree from the University of South Carolina Law School. He earned a diploma in pastoral ministries from SBC seminary extension in 1994.

In the coming year, McLawhorn will take course work to become certified in the administration of assisted-living and skilled-care facilities.

McLawhorn is not a newcomer to SCBMA. He served on the ministry’s board of trustees for most of 2005. He resigned his trustee position in November when fellow board members encouraged him to apply for the position of SCBMA president. McLawhorn said he resigned his board seat to forestall any potential conflict of interest.

SCBMA advertised the position through the South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging. McLawhorn was one of three candidates considered for the job, said Winstead.

McLawhorn graduated from Lake City High School in 1965 and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps for three years. He is married to Jo Ann “Jody” McLawhorn, a teacher’s aide in special education at Irmo High School. They have five children who range in age from 17 to 27.