Our Church Leadership

Our Church thrives because of the energy and style of the people who lead it.  Here are a few of the people that make our church community special:

John Turner Salley, Pastor 

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, John Salley earned his BA in Christian Education from Bryan College in Dayton Tennessee.  He next earned his MDiv. degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois, where he met his future wife Betty. 

After graduation, John returned home to Atlanta to enter the ministry as the Assistant Pastor of Rehoboth Church.  Then in 1986, he was asked to join the faculty of Oak Hills Christian College in Bemidji, Minnesota, as an instructor and librarian. There, he taught courses in Christian Education, Evangelism, and  Discipleship, while expanding the library to meet collegiate accreditation standards.  There also, their two children Megan and Forrester were born.  In 1997, the growing family moved to the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where John became the Pastor for Center United Presbyterian Church.  And in 2007 they relocated here to Bedford Presbyterian Church. 

Rev. Bill Rutledge- Minister of Music

Reverend Bill Rutledge is a native of Tennessee.  He attended Union University, a Southern Baptist liberal arts college in Jackson, TN.  There he received a bachelor’s degree in music. He did his graduate work at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary School of Church Music where he earned a Masters of Church Music Degree with emphasis in piano performance.  In 1979 Bill and his wife, Deanna moved to Kona, Hawaii where he served as worship leader alongside Integrity Hosanna!  Worship Leader, Bob Fitts at University of the Nations.  While on the Big Island he also served as minister of music at Kona Baptist Church.  After 9 years in Kona, the Rutledges moved to Honolulu where they ministered for another 18 years at Kalihi Union Church.

The Rutledges moved to Bedford in 2014 when Bill was brought on staff as minister of music at Bedford Presbyterian.  Besides his ministry to the church, he, along with his wife, Deanna, direct the Bedford Singing School, a ministry to elementary and high school children, mostly homeschoolers, in the Bedford area.  For 5 years, Bill has been singing with the Roanoke Symphony Chorus and for the last 2 years has been their principal accompanist.  Bill and Deanna have one son who lives in Crozet, VA with his wife and two children.

Lana Thaxton - Office Administrator

After working for Verizon for 31 years, Lana retired and spent her time quilting and knitting.  While it was nice being retired, it was a little boring and she needed to be active, so she took the position of Office Administrator at BPC and it has been a blessing ever since.

Lana is also a published author of 30 books and counting. From mysteries, Christian Adventures, Thrillers and a little paranormal, she found that she has an active imagination and can tell a good story, and now a loyal following.

Robert Morris - Sexton