WCC mourns passing of Rev. Dr Timothy Stewart, president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention

Rev. Dr Timothy Stewart, president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, has passed away. The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed its mourning for his loss.

Stewart began his pastoral ministry at the age of twenty-five as the Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, the oldest Baptist church in The Bahamas and one of the oldest continuing Baptist churches in the Caribbean. Over the decades, he served the Bain and Grants Town communities, which are among the largest and oldest working-class communities in The Bahamas.

His leadership and dedication led to his appointment as the first non-American president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., in 2018. The convention, which was founded in 1961 by Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, is part of the Historic Black Church family and has over 2.5 million members across North America, the Caribbean, and the world.

Stewart’s contributions extended beyond the pulpit. He served as moderator of the Bethel Baptist Association in Nassau since 1997 and was an Executive Board member of the Bahamas National Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention. He also played a significant role in providing spiritual guidance to political leaders and Bahamians on matters affecting national development, particularly those concerning the underprivileged.

In addition to his religious duties, Stewart was involved in numerous civic and governmental organizations in the Bahamas. These included the Prerogative of Mercy Board, Judicial Review Commission, Hospital and Health Care Facilities Licensing Board, and the Bahamas Development Bank. He also served as Chaplain of the House of Assembly and a member of the Bahamas Juvenile Panel.

Stewart’s early education included a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology from the American Baptist College in 1980. He pursued a Master of Divinity at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary but was called back to Nassau to pastor Bethel Baptist Church. Despite this, he continued his studies and was awarded a Master of Divinity and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Eastern Theological Seminary.

Stewart is survived by his wife Sharon Stewart, three sons, three sisters, and one brother.

The WCC has offered its prayers for all those connected to the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

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