Gerald Harris has served as editor of The Christian Index since May 2003. Prior to joining the staff he served for nine years as pastor of Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta. Harris came to Georgia in 1990 as pastor of Peachtree Corners Baptist Church in Norcross, where he served for four years. He has served as pastor in North and South Carolina, and Mississippi. He is a native of Hickory, N.C.

Harris is well known to Georgia Baptists as a pastor and denominational leader. He served as president of the state convention in 1999 and has been an active member on a variety of committees, including the GBC Executive Committee, Administrative Committee, and chairman of the Nominating Committee. He is a trustee of Mercer University.

On the national level he has served on the SBC Executive Committee and on the Resolutions Committee, as well as on the board of the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources).

Harris has written for a variety of denominational publications, including devotions for Open Windows and HomeLife magazines. He has also authored two books, Pardoned to be Priests and Olympic Heroes: World-Class Athletes Winning at Life. He has a master’s degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary.

He and his wife, the former Martha Jean Maxwell of Newnan, are parents of a daughter, Miriam, who is married to Billy Godwin, pastor of Ephesus Baptist Church of Douglasville; and twin sons John Mark and Gerald David.

Joe Westbury has served as managing editor of The Christian Index since August 2003. Prior to assuming that role he had served for five years as associate editor of the paper.

Westbury, a career journalist with the Southern Baptist Convention for 32 years, has served in a variety of writing positions since he graduated from Union University in 1974. He served twice as public relations director for his alma mater, as well as serving as a religion editor and news reporter for The Jackson Sun newspaper in Jackson, Tenn.

He also served as editor of World Mission Journal published by the former Brotherhood Commission in Memphis and as associate director of the news department of the former Home Mission Board. Westbury later served as associate editor of MissionsUSA,the flagship magazine for the Atlanta-based agency. Prior to joining The Index he produced missions education materials for the HMB as well as for the North American Mission Board.

He has traveled to 40 states and eight nations as he covered stories on Southern Baptist career missionaries and volunteers. He is a native of Orlando, Fla.

Westbury and his wife, Jan, are parents of two young daughters–Charlotte and Elena. They live in Lilburn and are members of Mountain Park First Baptist Church in Stone Mountain.

Scott Barkley joined The Index as production editor on Jan. 2, 2004.

A native of Centre, Ala., Barkley graduated from Jacksonville (Ala.) State University with a degree in secondary education, concentration in English and History. While in college he worked as a sports correspondent for The Gadsden Times in Gadsden, Ala., and submitted pieces to JSU’s student newspaper, The Chanticleer.

Upon graduation Barkley and his wife, Amy, established a collegiate ministry in Cheyenne, Wyo., as US/C-2 missionaries through the North American Mission Board.

In 2001, the couple moved to Cartersville, where Amy taught Language Arts at Cloverleaf Elementary School and Scott taught English at Woodland High. In addition, he freelanced pieces to both The Christian Index and The Alabama Baptist.

Scott and his wife are the parents of a daughter, Rylee Grace, born Aug. 23, 2002, and Jackson Reese, born Nov. 3, 2006. They are members of Cartersville First Baptist Church.

Kelly Durham, design editor, is an alumnus of Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina. Since joining the Index staff in May of 2000, her creative energy has driven the innovative layouts of The Christian Index.

As design editor, she is in charge of the paper's layout and design, including advertising, photography and copy.

Kim Griffin joined the Index as circulation coordinator in Dec. 2004. Her responsibilities include maintaining the Index’s mailing list of 50,000 subscribers and supervising billing and accounts receivable. Before coming to the Index, she served as administrative assistant in the office of Ethics and Public Affairs with the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Born in Orlando, Fla., and raised in nearby Titusville, Griffin is a graduate of Brevard College in Cocoa, Fla., where she earned a degree in medical technology. She and her husband, Anthony, have three children: Jessica, and twins Keith and Eric. Griffin is a member of Blackshear Place Baptist church in Flowery Branch, GA.

Lisa R. Dudley joined The Christian Index as receptionist and secretary to Editor Gerald Harris in February 2008.

Dudley is a member of First Baptist Church of Atlanta where she is involved in the sanctuary choir and CROSS ministries. She formerly taught in the church’s preschool ministry. Dudley has a leadership role in Bible Study Fellowship, an interdenominational ministry that meets at Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

Dudley comes to The Index from First Atlanta, where she served as receptionist and assisted the pastor in charge of the church’s crisis ministry. She previously served in the corporate world and worked for a government agency.

Dudley, who has a background in communications and public relations, is a graduate of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. She grew up in Warner Robins and lived in several cities due to her father’s career as an Air Force officer.

Donna J. Ward coordinates advertising and handles financial matters for The Index. She also oversees the production calendar and coordinates other tasks. Ward has a strong background in banking and came to The Index from the Employees Credit Union of the former Home Mission Board, where she was a loan officer and assistant manager.

Ward is a native of Dallas, Georgia. She and her husband, James, have two daughters–Jennifer and Michelle.