FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Austin, Texas – March 31, 2023 – The Board has appointed Sandy Willson as interim president of The Gospel Coalition, and he will lead TGC while the Board launches a national search for the next TGC president.
“I am deeply humbled to be asked to serve TGC in this interim period,” said Willson. “I have personally been blessed by the excellent resources and strong gospel convictions of TGC, and I speak for many churches and Christians globally in expressing gratitude that this ministry exists. I will do my best to steward the great work being done by TGC’s top-notch staff, making sure we carry on in our work to equip the church and promote the gospel for all of life.”
Sandy Willson is pastor emeritus of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, after serving as senior minister there for 22 years. Since then he has served two churches as interim senior pastor. He also pastored Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Prior to being appointed interim president, Willson served TGC as a Council member and Board member.
After three years serving as TGC president, Julius Kim will end his tenure in July. The TGC Board, Council, and staff are grateful for Kim’s faithful leadership of the ministry since January 2020.
“Julius is a gifted preacher, a joy-filled brother, and a kind-hearted leader,” Board chairman Juan Sánchez said. “He began as president during a challenging time, mere months before the COVID-19 pandemic started, and he has led us to stronger financial health. We wish him the best and support him fully as he transitions to a new place of ministry.”
Willson will begin on May 1, while the Board begins a national search for the next president. Julius Kim will stay on staff in an advisory capacity during the transition, and Kim will still be a keynote speaker at TGC’s upcoming TGC23 conference in Indianapolis.
During this transition, TGC remains committed to our mission of renewing faith in the gospel of Christ. Since our founding in 2005 by Don Carson and Tim Keller, TGC has championed gospel-centered ministry through conferences, resources, and training which has reached millions of people around the world. By God’s grace and in his providential leading, we will continue this work as long as he allows us.