The following is a press release from Alabama CBF:

Birmingham, Alabama — The Coordinating Council of the Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has called The Reverend Lucas Dorion to serve as their next Coordinator. This appointment comes after Dorion’s eight years of service as Associate Coordinator and spending the last 10 months as Interim Coordinator, following the resignation of Terri Byrd from the position. As directed by the bylaws of Alabama CBF, the Coordinating Council is empowered to elect a new Coordinator based on the nomination of the Coordinator Search Committee. The Reverend Laura Stephens-Reed served as chair of the Search Committee. Stephens-Reed praised Lucas for his commitment to Alabama CBF and the zest he brings to the role as well as his deep relationships within the fellowship.

“Our team knew well Lucas’ considerable abilities as demonstrated in his long tenure with Alabama CBF. But as we talked with Lucas and his references, the intangibles he would bring to the role of Coordinator made him the clear choice. He has a deep and abiding passion for the mission, people, and churches of Alabama CBF, and he will work tirelessly on our behalf. Lucas’ relationships within Alabama CBF are not only wide but deep. He has worked closely with many of our second chair ministers and our lay people as Associate Coordinator, and he has made an effort to initiate and strengthen relationships with senior pastors in this past year as Interim Coordinator.”

Search Committee member and Pastor of Auburn First Baptist Church, Tripp Martin, echo others’ sentiments when it comes to the passion Lucas will bring to the position.

“Lucas brings focused passion and experienced leadership to the position of Coordinator for Alabama CBF. We are grateful for his dedication and commitment to our congregations! He has a history of great relationships with congregations and ministers within Alabama and beyond, and he offers a vision for our future.”

As Associate Coordinator for Alabama CBF, Dorion worked closely for the past eight years with Former Coordinator, Terri Byrd, who highlighted Lucas’ skill set for the role and her enthusiasm for the future of the organization under Lucas’ leadership.

“I’m delighted that the search committee and the Coordinating Council have chosen Lucas Dorion as the next Coordinator of Alabama CBF! Lucas is uniquely qualified for this role after serving several years as the Associate Coordinator. His knowledge and wisdom for this role will enable Alabama CBF to continue to successfully encourage and equip the churches that are a part of our CBF fellowship. Lucas has a passion for the mission of this good work and a heart for nurturing churches and individuals in sharing God’s love in our Alabama communities and beyond. I’m excited to see what God will continue to do through Alabama CBF with Lucas as Coordinator!”

Lucas Dorion grew up in Pensacola, Florida but is no stranger to the state of Alabama, having made Birmingham his home for 18 years. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Samford University (B.A., Religion) in Birmingham, Alabama, Lucas then earned his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Decatur, Georgia. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry at the church where he grew up in Pensacola, Northridge Church, in June of 2001. Lucas brings over 25 years of ministry experience in both churches and other ministry organizations. In addition to his past eight years with Alabama CBF, he has served in several churches in the surrounding area, including Southside Baptist in downtown Birmingham and Riverchase Baptist in Hoover. Before joining the staff at Alabama CBF, Lucas was the Associate Pastor for Families with Children and Youth at College Park Baptist in Orlando, Florida. Lucas has been married to Emily Clift Dorion since 2004 and they have two children: Nash (14) and Sarah Cate (8). Emily currently serves as a nurse practitioner in the Emergency Department at Alabama Children’s Hospital. Lucas and his family live in Hoover, Alabama and have been members of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church since 2012.

The passion Lucas feels for Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is infectious and the excitement for his new role is palpable.

“As my work as Interim Coordinator began and I stepped into the administrative and operational management side of Alabama CBF, I have been delighted to learn how much energy it gives me and how much personal fulfillment I get from thinking about and doing often unseen tasks that allow the ministry and mission of Alabama CBF to go forward. I have also discovered with joy that I have a calling to this work and believe that I have been equipped to lead Alabama CBF into the future.”

Lucas has forged deep relationships with many partners of Alabama CBF. Partners such as Reverend David Burroughs, President and CEO of Passport, Inc. Rev Burroughs echos many others, in his affirmation of selecting Lucas as the new Coordinator.

“At Passport, we are excited for Lucas to continue leading Alabama CBF as the new Coordinator! Lucas is a creative soul who will dream big for Alabama CBF. Lucas doesn’t just dream, he puts in the work to bring those dreams to reality. We look forward to partnering with Lucas as he leads Alabama CBF into a new chapter in the coming years.”

Ruth Perkins Lee, Project Director at Princeton Theological Seminary, understands that Lucas’ commitment to the people and churches of Alabama will propel him as he begins this next chapter.

“Alabama’s legacy of good work across the state will continue and grow under leadership. His love of the churches and people in Alabama as well as his experiences of leadership have already positioned him to be an effective leader in the work to come.”

Reverend Lucas Dorion will begin his role as the 5th full-time Coordinator of the Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship on Monday, August 1, 2022.

The Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is a vibrant, Christ-centered community of churches and individuals in Alabama who work together in Christian missions and ministry. Learn more at www.alabamacbf.org