Briarwood Presbyterian Church has officially called Rev. Dr. John Scott Redd Jr. to serve as its next senior pastor, making him only the third full-time leader in the church’s 65-year history.
Congregational Vote and Appointment
The church’s congregation voted to call Redd on June 15, and the Evangel Presbytery formally approved his appointment on July 8 following a theological examination held at Briarwood. Redd is scheduled to preach his first sermon as senior pastor on August 3, according to the church.
Redd’s Background and Transition
Redd currently serves as president of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in Washington, D.C., and executive director of RTS New York. He joined RTS in 2009 and became president of the Washington campus in 2012. In a statement from RTS, Chancellor Dr. Ligon Duncan described Redd as “a man of deep biblical conviction, pastoral warmth, and theological clarity.”
In his own remarks, Redd expressed deep gratitude for his time at RTS and shared his excitement about joining Briarwood. “My years at Reformed Theological Seminary have been among the most formative and rewarding of my life,” he said. “While I am excited about what God has in store at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, I will always treasure my time as part of the RTS family.”
In a video message shared by Briarwood, Redd and his wife, Jennifer, thanked the congregation for their warm welcome. He described the appointment as a humbling honor and shared his eagerness to begin serving. The couple’s five daughters — Naomi, Mary, Charlotte, Katie, and Donna — were also introduced and warmly welcomed during a recent visit.
A Legacy of Leadership
Founded in 1960 by Rev. Frank Barker, Briarwood Presbyterian Church began in a Cahaba Heights storefront. Under Barker’s leadership, the church grew to over 4,000 members and led the development of its current $32 million campus off Interstate 459, completed in 1988 and later expanded by $5.5 million. Barker also helped establish Briarwood Christian School and Birmingham Theological Seminary. He retired in 1999 and passed away in 2021 at age 89.
Rev. Harry Reeder III succeeded Barker and served until his passing in a car accident in 2023. Rev. Dan Doriani then stepped in as interim minister.
Now, Rev. Dr. Redd begins his new role as Briarwood’s third full-time senior pastor. “It’s deeply humbling to step into the pulpit of pastors Barker and Reeder,” Redd said. “God has used Briarwood Presbyterian Church to advance His gospel in powerful ways, and my family and I are honored to become part of that mission.”
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