JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) -- By a unanimous vote Jan. 11, Wayne Stacy, dean of the divinity school at Gardner-Webb University, will become pastor of a church in Florida.

A South Florida native, Stacy, 53, was presented to the 1,600-member Southside Baptist Church following the morning worship service in which he preached. Because of prior commitments, Stacy will assume his duties officially in April.

Since 1997 Stacy has been dean of the Christopher White School of Divinity at Gardner-Webb, in Boiling Springs, N.C. He recently requested and was granted a sabbatical leave from the divinity school and has been serving as interim pastor at First Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C.

Stacy previously served on the faculty of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., and Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla. He also served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Raleigh, N.C.

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