Briarwood Presbyterian Church has appointed Rev. John Scott Redd Jr. as its new senior pastor, making him the third individual to hold this position since the church was established 65 years ago.
The church congregations voted to call Redd on June 15, and the Evangel Presbyterian officially approved his appointment during a meeting at Briarwood on July 8. His first sermon as senior pastor is scheduled for August 3, as announced by the church.
Currently, Redd serves as the president of Reform Seminary (RTS) in Washington, DC, as well as the executive director of RTS New York. Having been with RTS since 2009, he taught at RTS Orlando before becoming president of the Washington Campus in 2012. Dr. Ligon Duncan, a prominent figure at RTS, praised Redd in a news release, commending his deep biblical convictions and warm demeanor.
Redd expressed his appreciation for his time at RTS and shared his enthusiasm about serving Briarwood. “My year in a reformed seminary was one of the most formative and rewarding things in my life,” he remarked. He added, “I’m excited about what God has in store for Briarwood Presbyterian Church, but I will always treasure my time with the RTS family.”
In a video message, Redd and his wife Jennifer thanked the congregation for their warm welcome. He commented on the honor of being part of the ongoing work at the church, expressing eagerness to join the community with his family.
Briarwood Presbyterian Church was founded in 1960 by Rev. Frank Barker, who led the church to a membership of over 4,000 and oversaw the construction of a significant campus expansion. Barker retired in 1999 and passed away in 2021 at the age of 89.
After Barker, Pastor Harry Leader III took over but tragically died in a car accident in 2023. Rev. Dan Doriani served as interim minister for a time following Leader’s death.
Now, Redd steps into this important role as the church’s third full-time senior pastor. In his video message, he reflected on the significance of following in the footsteps of his predecessors. “It’s a humble prospect to be filling the pulpit left by Pastor Barker and Leader,” Redd stated, expressing excitement about sharing God’s message through the ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church.
