Lonnie Stout

Lonnie Stout is currently an active Elder and serves as Clerk of Session. This is his fourth term as Clerk. He has also chaired the Christian Education Council, the Resources Council, and the Denominational Issues Committee. Lonnie had the privilege of chairing the Pastor Nominating Committee that called Todd Jones (Senior Pastor, 2002–2017) as well of the Pastor Nominating Committee that called Ryan Moore in 2019.

Lonnie Stout had a lengthy career with J Alexander’s Corporation (formally Volunteer Capital Corporation). He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 1986. In 1989 he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. He held those roles until 2020 when he became Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. The company was sold in 2021. Lonnie said, “I am not retired just looking for the next great opportunity.”

His service to the greater church includes having served as a Trustee of the Columbia Theological Seminary. He has been active in the Nashville community as well where he has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Harding Academy and a member of the Board of Trustees of Harpeth Hall.

He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) as well as a Chartered Global Management Accountant and a graduate of Tennessee Technological University. He started his career in public accounting with Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young LLP).

Stout said that First Church and his family are the greatest blessings in his life. He and his wife Jean have three adult daughters, three sons-in-law and seven grandchildren.