Maryland-Delaware leader resigns after ‘moral failure’

  |  Source: Baptist Press

Michael Crawford resigned as executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware “due to moral failure involving marital indiscretions which disqualifies him from this position.”

image_pdfimage_print

COLUMBIA, Md. (BP)—In a letter sent Feb. 3 to the churches of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, President Glenn Swanson announced state Executive Director Michael Crawford resigned from his position effective immediately “due to moral failure involving marital indiscretions which disqualifies him from this position.”

Crawford had been in the role less than a year after being named to the position in March 2022. He had been with the convention for nearly a decade.

He also was named vice president of strategies and development for Send Network in fall 2022. A NAMB spokesperson confirmed to Baptist Press his contract with the entity was terminated Feb. 3.

In the letter, Swanson called “upon all Maryland and Delaware Baptists and our extended Southern Baptist family to pray for everyone involved.”

Swanson also noted that the state convention’s “officers, staff, volunteers and churches are committed to praying for [Crawford], his family and providing them with spiritual and emotional support in the coming days, weeks and months ahead.”

Swanson also announced associate executive director Tom Stolle will serve as interim and lead the staff as the administrative committee makes plans to fill the role.

The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware includes more than 450 churches with about 76,000 members in the two-state region.


We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.

Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.

More from Baptist Standard