Tom Hellams has been named vice president for denominational relations and chief of staff, Office of the President, at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, President R. Albert Mohler Jr. announced Aug. 19.
“I’m very pleased that Tom Hellams is re-joining the Southern Seminary executive team,” Mohler said. “He is a man of rare gifts, deep commitment and an incredibly warm heart. He is also a man of incredible experience. This a welcome home to a friend and fellow servant. We are thrilled to have him return to Southern Seminary.”
Hellams, who will begin Sept. 1, is returning to Southern Seminary to a similar role he served previously, 1997-2006.
As vice president of denominational relations, Hellams’ responsibilities will include “assisting the institution to relate to the whole Southern Baptist Convention, including state conventions, in a way that would be most helpful to Southern Baptists in accomplishing all the Lord has assigned to us,” Mohler added.
Since 2006, Hellams has served as vice president of corporate relations at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. In that capacity, Hellams represented LifeWay’s president in a variety of capacities to the LifeWay board of trustees, Southern Baptist Convention, state Baptist conventions and the Nashville business community.
“Southern Seminary holds a very special place in my heart,” Hellams said. “Since my time at the school as a student, I have affirmed the mission of the seminary. I am grateful for the opportunity to return to Louisville to serve our Lord through an institution that is effectively training ministers of the gospel for more faithful service, and look forward to serving alongside Dr. Mohler and the entire seminary community.”
In addition to his service at LifeWay and Southern Seminary, Hellams has served in various pastoral roles at churches in South Carolina and Kentucky.
Ordained to the gospel ministry at First Baptist Church in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, Hellams holds degrees from Anderson College in Anderson, South Carolina, and Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina. He also earned master of divinity, master of arts and doctor of ministry degrees from Southern Seminary.
Hellams and his wife, Tena, are parents to two adult children. They are currently members of First Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.