NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) -- Making good on a promise made a year ago, Jimmy Draper, president of Lifeway Christian Resources for 14 years, announced his retirement Feb. 7, to take effect next February.

Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing house immediately named a search committee. Draper, 69, said he hopes the trustees elect his successor at their next meeting Sept. 12-13. He plans to work with the president-elect until Feb. 1, 2006, when he'll retire.

Draper, who told the Southern Baptist Convention last June that the nation's largest Protestant denomination is in danger of losing the next generation of leaders, told trustees Feb. 7 it is time for new leadership at LifeWay, one of the SBC's largest agencies.

"We are seeing a great response in our effort to connect with younger leaders across our denomination," he said, "and we need a younger man who can lead this organization to continue that trend. The younger leaders are ready to be Kingdom leaders, and LifeWay should reflect a full commitment to partner with them as they follow God's call."

Draper, a conservative who served two years as SBC president, recounted how reluctant he was to leave the pastorate when approached about the LifeWay position. He counseled trustees: "Find somebody who has no ambition to be here. And when you come across someone actively pursuing this position, run from him. Your only purpose is to find God's man."

Trustees named to the search committee are Rick Evans of Alabama (chair), Phil Neighbors of California, Ken Jones of Tennessee, Mark Anderson of Mississippi, Bill Henard of Kentucky, Melvin Pugh of Pennsylvania, Roger Willmore of Alabama, and Tom Woodson of Oklahoma. Ex officio members are trustee chair Wayne Hamrick, trustee vice chair Ed Ethridge, and SBC president Bobby Welch of Florida.

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