Michael Sean Williams Takes on the Pastoral Role at First Baptist Church Without the ‘Interim’ Attached

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, Michael Sean Williams was officially installed as pastor of First Baptist Church in Front Royal, Virginia. Williams had been serving as the church’s Interim Pastor since October 2025. Sunday’s installation ceremony, before a packed services room, featured spiritually based musical performances led by Guitarist Bob Wilson of the Money Pit Recording Studio on Main Street in Front Royal.

Guitarist Bob Wilson leads the church membership in an opening musical prelude titled ‘There is a Fountain Filled with Blood’. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

There were group responses from the congregation members present, as well as a Historic recounting of the church’s past ministers dating back to the 1800s, as well as a Laying On Of Hands by many of the congregation members present for a personal moment with Rev. Michael S. Williams, now 24th Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church (FBC), Front Royal, Virginia.

Two shots of ‘Laying on of Hands’ lines approaching Michael Williams, the now 24th Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Front Royal, VA.

A number of congregation officials were involved, including:

– John Hensley, Chairman of Deacon Board and Chairman of Pastor Search Committee;

– Reverend Dennis Griffin and Reverend Al Woods, Associated Pastors at FBC;

– Rev. Col. Larry Jones (US Army Force, Ret): Retired Army Chaplain and Transition Team Consultant;

– Rev. Carlos Camacho and Rev. Mirian Bruno: Pastors of Iglesia Bautista El Buen Pastor (Latino Church, which also meets at FBC);

The Children of First Baptist Church with “This Little Light of Mine”, and:

Reverend Williams gets to know some of the church’s younger membership during ‘Children’s Time’. The newly installed pastor gave us this quote from U.S. historical figure Frederick Douglas: ‘It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men.’

– Nancy Thompson, member of the Pastor Search Committee, and Reverend Williams alerted us, the woman who sewed his new Red Stole with images of Peace (Dove) and Love (Heart) on it.

Pastor Search Committee member Nancy Thompson presents Rev. Williams with a hand-crafted stole she made featuring references to Peace (dove) and Love (heart).

Our apologies if we missed anyone.

Many moments reflected, not only Williams spiritual commitment to the Church’s pastoral role he is taking on, but also a sense of humor that may be useful in navigating harsher moments of his pastoral duties.

It is a sense of humor that has served him well through employment stints in the dual role of Administration and Teaching World Religions at Randolph-Macon Academy, and Student Services at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School, the latter in Warren County’s Public School system.

It was noted during the Installation ceremony that when the pastoral search committee decided to offer the job to their Interim Pastor, it was by a unanimous 100% of the committee membership. And when presented to the congregation for approval prior to the ordered public contractual signing by Williams, it was approved by that same 100% majority vote.

Several photos of Reverend Michael Williams addressing the FBC membership early and later in his installation service.

Following the emotional seating of First Baptist Church’s new pastor, we asked Williams about the evolution of the Lay Pastor’s role he had embraced for years, and factors leading him to reverse his initial notice to the First Baptist Pastoral Search Committee that he would not be a candidate for the job on a permanent basis. This is what he told us:

“It was never in my wheelhouse to pastor a church. I went to seminary to teach, not preach. I did enjoy doing some lay preaching here and there, to help out friends who were in a bind or were taking a vacation. When the position opened, I was approached by several members about applying for the position. I eventually spoke with my wife, Sherry, who suggested that we pray about it. After a few days, I reached out to the chair of our Personnel Committee and shared that I would be willing to serve as the interim for a couple of months to help leadership put together a full search committee for someone else.

“This was supposed to last from October until December. December rolls around, and I was asked if I would be willing to extend the interim position until May. I agreed. During this period, I fell in love with being the Pastor and shared with the leadership that I would be interested in applying as the permanent Pastor. I made it clear that my seminary degree was in theology, not in ministry or divinity.

“Subsequently, the Pastor search committee was nominated, selected, and formed. I formally applied and was eventually offered the full-time position, to begin June 1, 2026.

“In many ways, I felt like I had been interviewing since October 2025.  It is rare that a member of a church — Sherry and I have been members for over five years — becomes that church’s pastor. Add to that the fact that I’m ordained as a Welsh Anglican priest, and this is even more of a hoot.

“I have often said if you ever want to give God a good chuckle, just tell God your plans. After 34 years in education, I was ready to hang up my professional hat and call it a day. Apparently, God had other plans and/or one heck of a sense of humor.”

Williams brings a history of community involvement and outreach to his new position. Those include a number of roles tied to his involvement with local Rotary, including: Youth Services Chair with the Rotary Club of Warren County; Youth Services and Early Act Chair Rotary District 7570; Past President 2023-24 of the Rotary Club of Warren County, VA; as well as Board Member Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center; Board Member the Hike Kidz Foundation; and Treasurer of the Great North Mountain West II HOA (Home Owners Association). And those are in addition to the above-referenced administrative and student services work at both R-MA and EWM schools in Front Royal.

To close our coverage of the Installation ceremony of the 24th Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church (FBC) of Front Royal, Michael S. Williams, below are additional photos of involved church personnel:

Other event participants included a/ Deacon Board and Search Committee Chair John Hensley, (b/) Associate Pastor Rev. Al Wood, (c/) Associate married Pastors Carlos Camacho and Mirian Bruno of Iglesia Bautista El Buen, which also meets at FBC, and (d/) Rev. Dennis Griffen, who initiated the event’s ‘Call to Worship’.