Rev. Dr. John Scott Redd Jr. becomes third senior pastor in Briarwood Presbyterian Church's 65-year history

Briarwood Presbyterian Church has officially named Rev. Dr. John Scott Redd Jr. as its next senior pastor, making him just the third full-time senior pastor to lead the church since its founding 65 years ago.

According to AL.com, the church’s congregation voted to call Redd on June 15, and the Evangel Presbytery formally approved his appointment during a July 8 meeting at Briarwood following a theological examination. Redd will preach his first sermon as senior pastor on August 3, the church announced.

Redd currently serves as president of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in Washington, D.C., and executive director of RTS New York. He has been part of RTS since 2009, teaching at RTS Orlando before being appointed president of the Washington campus in 2012. In an RTS news release celebrating Redd’s new role, RTS Chancellor Dr. Ligon Duncan praised him as “a man of deep biblical conviction, pastoral warmth, and theological clarity”.

Redd himself expressed deep gratitude for his years at RTS and excitement about serving Briarwood.

“My years at Reformed Theological Seminary have been among the most formative and rewarding of my life,” he said in RTS’s announcement. “While I am excited about what God has in store at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, I will always treasure my time as part of the RTS family.”

In a video message shared by Briarwood Presbyterian, Redd and his wife, Jennifer, thanked the congregation for their warm welcome.

“What a humbling thing and what a deep honor to be a part of the church work that you have been involved in over so many years,” he said, adding that he and his family “can’t wait to join you in the weeks and months ahead and bring our whole family down to become a part of your community and your congregation. The Redds’ five daughters — Naomi, Mary, Charlotte, Katie, and Donna — were also warmly welcomed by the church during a recent visit.

Briarwood Presbyterian Church was founded in 1960 by Rev. Frank Barker, who started the congregation in a Cahaba Heights storefront. AL.com stated that under Barker’s leadership, the church grew to more than 4,000 members and oversaw the construction of its current $32 million campus off Interstate 459 in 1988, with a later $5.5 million expansion. Barker, who also helped establish Briarwood Christian School and Birmingham Theological Seminary, retired in 1999 and passed away in 2021 at the age of 89.

Barker was succeeded by Rev. Harry Reeder III, who served until his death in a car crash in 2023. Rev. Dan Doriani then stepped in as interim minister later that year.

Now, Redd steps into the pulpit as the third full-time senior pastor in Briarwood’s history.

“I can’t tell you how humbling it is to have the prospect of filling the pulpits of pastors Barker and Reeder,” Redd said in his video message. “God has seen fit to bless the world with His gospel through the ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, and we are thrilled to be a part of this”.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].