Dick Baldwin's Distinguished Ministry . . .

Tireless Work and Deep Faith

by Dr. B. Denton McLellan, Jr.

Dick Baldwin

On February 28, Dick Baldwin will walk out of his office concluding five and a half years as Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Memphis. That departure will also bring to a close a faithful and productive ministry of 36 years that included pastorates at First Presbyterian Church in Manchester, Tennessee, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, and Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Memphis.

Dick's life has been intertwined with the Presbyterian Church since birth, being baptized and growing up as part of a family actively involved in the historic old First Presbyterian Church of Natchez, Mississippi. It was there that he not only worshiped and participated in the youth ministry of his local congregation, but began to emerge as a leader in the larger church. He served as President of the youth organization of his Presbytery and Treasurer of the youth council of the Synod of Mississippi. Feeling a sense of call to the ministry, Dick went on to Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College) from which he graduated in 1958 with a degree in history. After four years of active duty in the U.S. Navy, he enrolled in Union Theological Seminary (now Union-PSCE) where he received both the B.D. degree (1965) as well as the Th.M. degree the following year. He was then ordained and began his ministry in Manchester. In 1974 he received a Doctor of Ministry degree in theology and ethics from Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Dick will miss . . .

* The diversity of challenges in the day to day duties of the Executive Presbyter

* Being in touch with others in ministry, sharing expertise and advising them to do their best work

Dick advises . . .

* Caution to all congregations to avoid a "congregationalist" mentality where each church sees itself as separate and independent from the other

* Strive to realize the creative opportunities that face our churches today

* Recognize the two streams that exist in our Presbytery -- those who focus on the preservation of a pure orthodoxy and those who focus on the preservation of unity within our orthodoxy

* Live out and demonstrate our beliefs

Dick's ministry across the years has been distinguished and productive in many ways. In addition to being a faithful and effective pastor and executive presbyter, he has served the denomination in a number of roles including membership on the Permanent Judicial Commission of the PCUS and as a member and moderator of the PCUSA's General Assembly Advisory Committee on the Constitution. He recently assumed the responsibility of serving as Stated Clerk of the Synod of Living Waters. Alongside the demand of being a local church pastor, it should not be forgotten that for 30 years Dick served his country in a crucial inter-denominational ministry as a Naval Reserve Chaplain with the rank of Captain.

Married to the former Mary Allie McColgan, herself the daughter of a minister, they are the parents of three children, Amy (Mrs. Stephen Crockett), Allie (Mrs. Elliott Scott), and Robert; and are the grandparents of eight. Those grandchildren, incidentally, include not only a set of twins, but also of triplets! In addition to "spoiling the grandchildren," as he puts it, Dick's hobbies include music (He and Mary Allie are members of the Chancel Choir at Idlewild), reading, fishing, and puttering around his greenhouse where he raises lovely orchids and other plants, refinishing furniture, and traveling. Dick and Mary Allie make an annual trek each summer to England and Scotland as a part of her responsibility in directing the Rhodes-at-Oxford program.

Those who know Dick in whatever role it may be -- pastor, chaplain, executive, colleague in ministry, or just "good friend," know him to be a person of deep faith and unquestioned integrity, who loves the church and has served the church and our Lord with tireless energy, diligence, and imagination. David Snellgrove, Synod Executive, while lauding his managerial skills and organizational accomplishments, spoke also of his "people skills."

Others see him as a loyal Presbyterian who was not afraid to take on tough, difficult issues and who, in the midst of conflict and even personal attack, refused to respond in kind, but demonstrated unbelievable patience, respect and goodwill. So as Dick retires to enjoy the fruits of his labor and to enter other ministries, he goes with heartfelt appreciation and countless friends and colleagues. Patti Wilson says it best, "I am really going to miss him!"

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