CBMW Announcement: Denny Burk Named CBMW President

By Matt Damico

The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood has named Denny Burk the organization’s next president.

CBMW’s board of directors made the appointment shortly after former president Owen Strachan announced his resignation last week. The appointment makes Burk the organization’s ninth president since its founding in 1987.

“I want to thank the CBMW board of directors for the opportunity to serve an organization that I care so deeply about,” Burk said. “I also want to thank my friend and outgoing president Owen Strachan for the faithful labor that he put into this work over the last four years.”

Burk takes leadership of CBMW as it continues to defend and teach biblical views of sexuality, marriage, gender, and related issues as articulated in the Danvers Statement.

“Christians are facing unprecedented challenges to the Bible’s teaching on gender and sexuality, and CBMW has its work cut out for it,” Burk said. “I am eager to advance the biblical conviction reflected in the Danvers Statement in order to meet those challenges.”

“I am delighted that Dr. Burk is taking the reins of CBMW,” said Erik Thoennes, chairman of CBMW’s board of directors. “He is abundantly qualified and passionate about helping the church gain greater clarity on vital issues of our day related to fulfilling God’s design for human flourishing.”

Board member Wayne Grudem added: “Denny Burk is a man who possesses a remarkable combination of deep biblical convictions, high academic competence, strong personal faith, and a gracious Christian character even in interaction with those with whom he disagrees. He has long been a faithful defender of biblical manhood and womanhood and I am excited about having him fill the crucial role of president of CBMW.”

Burk has written and contributed to a number of books, including Transforming Homosexuality: What the Bible Says about Sexual Orientation and Change, co-authored with Heath Lambert, and What Is the Meaning of Sex? He also addresses cultural and theological issues on his popular blog, DennyBurk.com.  

“Denny Burk is a brilliant, experienced, Christlike leader who understands both the Bible and the culture,” said Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. “I am excited about his selection to lead CBMW and about his vision for the organization. We at the ERLC look forward to working with CBMW to serve the church toward a biblical view of God’s good design for men and women, girls and boys.”

In addition to his role as CBMW president, Burk is professor of biblical studies at Boyce College, the undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and director for The Center for Gospel and Culture, based at the school. He also serves as an associate pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church in Louisville.

Albert Mohler, Jr., president of Southern Seminary, said that Burk is “an outstanding theologian and a leading Christian intellectual. He will serve CBMW incredibly well even as the need for CBMW grows almost daily. I am confident that Dr. Burk will bring the wisdom and courage needed for this important task. He is rigorously biblical and is a man of great character. Furthermore, he models in his life, marriage, and ministry what he teaches in the classroom and in the public square. Our culture is entering a brave new world of deeper and deeper confusion on matters of gender, sexuality, marriage, and identity. I welcome Denny Burk’s leadership of CMBW at this crucial time.”

“Denny Burk is a godly leader who has thought deeply about issues related to human sexuality,” said Justin Taylor, executive vice president of book publishing and book publisher for Crossway. “I am grateful for his appointment and I am eager to see him position CBMW to help the church face new challenges in the 21st century.”

To keep up with all CBMW news and announcements, visit cbmw.org and follow CBMW on Twitter: @cbmworg.