Rouse
HERMITAGE — Poly Rouse, pastor of Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, Hermitage, will retire Aug. 20, 2023, after 23 years of ministry with the Nashville-area congregation.
Rouse joined the church on Aug. 20, 2000 from a staff position at First Baptist Church, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Hermitage Hills was his first and only pastorate.
“It’s been a good run for us,” Rouse said. “We’ve been blessed with a wonderful journey and wonderful people.”
In 2009, Rouse was elected vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He became president of the convention in July of 2010 when then President Randy C. Davis was elected as president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Rouse was then elected for his own term as president during the convention’s annual meeting in November.
Rouse had informed leaders at Hermitage Hills last year of his plans to retire. The church worked with a transition consultant and now has a search team In place to find a successor. “We have been in a good journey to prepare for that,” Rouse said. “We want what is best for the church.”
“We are looking forward to this next chapter in our life. We are not done.”
Rouse and his wife, Julie, will remain in Tennessee. They have a home outside of Lebanon. He hopes to stay busy with supply preaching and interim pastorates. B&R
