Charles Edward Lawless, Jr.

In addition to his duties at Southeastern, Dr. Lawless also serves as Team Leader for Theological Education Strategists for the International Mission Board. He previously served as a Vice-President for Global Theological Advance for the IMB. Prior to that, he was dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, where he also served as Vice President for Academic Programming and the Director of Professional Doctoral Studies.

Dr. Lawless served as pastor of two Ohio churches prior to joining the Southern Seminary faculty in 1996. He and his wife Pam reside in Wake Forest, NC.

BS, Cumberland College
MDiv, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Professional Experience

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
     Dean of Doctoral Studies, Senior Professor of Evangelism and Missions; Sept. 2021 – present
     Dean of Doctoral Studies, Professor of Evangelism and Missions; Apr. 2017 – Sept. 2021
     Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor of Evangelism and Missions; Nov. 2012 – April 2017

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
     Distinguished Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth; 2011-2012

Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
     Dean and Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth; 2005-2011
     Senior Associate Dean; Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth; 2004-2005
     Senior Associate Dean; Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth; 2002-2004
     Associate Dean; Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth; 2000- 2002
     Assistant Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth; 1997-2000
     Assistant to the Dean and Instructor in Evangelism and Church Growth; 1996-1997

University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia, OH
     Lecturer in English; 1994-1996

Ministry/Missions Experience

Church Answers, led by Thom Rainer
     Team Member, 2019 – present

International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention
    Global Theological Education Consultant; Nov. 2012 – present 

Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC
     Interim Pastor; Aug. 2020 – Jan. 2022

Restoration Church, Wake Forest, NC
     Elder for Equipping; March 2015 – July 2020

The Lawless Group Church Consulting, Inc.
     President; 2002 – 2020

The Lawless Group
     President; Sept. 2005-2019

Parkway Baptist Church, Moseley, VA
     Interim Pastor; June 2012 – June 2013 

International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention
     Vice-President for Global Theological Advance; 2011 – 2012
     Consultant for Global Theological Education; 2008 – 2011

West Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson, TN
     Interim Pastor; Nov. 2010 – Aug. 2011

Highview Baptist Church, Louisville, KY
     Bible Study Leader; Jan. 2007 – 2010

ChurchCentral/Society for Church Consulting, Louisville, KY
     Seminar speaker; 2002 – 2010

Cedar Creek Baptist Church, Louisville, KY
     Interim Pastor; Oct. 2004 – Dec. 2004 

Lakota Hills Baptist Church, West Chester, OH
     Interim Pastor; May 2002 – March 2003

Lakota Hills Baptist Church, West Chester, OH
     Pastor of Teaching/Equipping Ministries; Sept. 2000 – May 2002 

Church Growth Seminars, Lynchburg, VA
     Seminar speaker; 1998 – 2000

Bullitt Lick Baptist Church, Shepherdsville, KY
     Interim Pastor; Oct. 1999 – Dec. 1999 

Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield, KY
     Interim Pastor; Jan. 1999 – Aug. 1999 

Hamilton West Baptist Church, Hamilton, OH
     Minister of Education; Mar. 1995 – July 1996 

Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fairfield, OH
     Interim Pastor; Aug. 1994 – Feb. 1995

Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fairfield, OH
     Pastor; Feb. 1984 – Aug. 1994

Southwestern Baptist Association, Hamilton, Ohio
     Single adult advisor; 1988 – 1993
     Evangelism director; 1985 – 1986

The Baptist Sunday School Board
     Seminar leader for single adult Labor Day conferences; 1990 – 1991

State Convention of Baptists in Ohio
     Executive board and finance committee member; 1987 – 1991

Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Fairfield, OH
     Interim Pastor, Sept. 1983 – Feb. 1984

Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Harrison, OH
     Pastor, Apr. 1981 – Aug. 1983 

Pisgah Heights Baptist Church, West Chester, OH
     Ordained; 1981

Memberships

Great Commission Research Network

Evangelical Missiological Society

Evangelical Theological Society