Faith-Based Engagement & Church Relations

Dr. Todd Lake serves as Vice President for Faith-Based Engagement & Church Relations at Belmont University in Nashville. Prior to coming to Belmont, he served as the dean for university life at Baylor University in Texas.

As Belmont strives to become the leading Christ-centered university in the world by 2030, this office works to connect Belmont with leading Christ-animated organizations, individuals, and congregations. The goal is to enable Belmont students, faculty, and staff to engage with ministries that can help them fulfill Belmont’s Aspirational Aim through the five Strategic Pathways by utilizing the skills they are gaining in their majors. The VP for Faith-Based Engagement & Church Relations works with the University Mission Committee to help assess and advance the university’s overall progress toward fulfilling our Aspirational Aim. 

Todd received his bachelor's degree in German studies magna cum laude from Harvard University and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He studied at Princeton Seminary before earning his master of divinity degree from Southern Seminary, along with his wife, Dr. Joy Jordan-Lake. They served as chaplains at Harvard and co-pastors for nine years of an interracial Baptist church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which was deeply involved in community ministries to the poor, immigrants and prisoners.  He earned his doctorate in systematic theology with a minor in church history from Boston College, and has served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, a legislative aide in California working on bills to protect migrant farm workers and as a summer missionary in Austria and Los Angeles, his hometown.

Benita Walker came from her position as executive assistant for the vice president of university advancement at Belmont University to become the new executive assistant to the vice president for spiritual development in August 2005. She is a native Arkansan.

Benita served as assistant to the vice president of university advancement at Arkansas State University before moving to Nashville.  She has been at Belmont since July 2001. She serves as co-advisor to the Black Student Association and is a member of the Nashville Chapter of IAAP.  In 2004, she earned her certification as a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) through the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). She also serves on the MLK Committee.

Benita recognizes that she has a God ordained responsibility to speak the love of Jesus Christ in the life of others and she does not hesitate to comply. 

Along with her husband, Rev. Roosevelt Walker, Sr., they are the founders of  Walking In Agreement Ministries. A ministry rooted in serving and saving marriages through Jesus Christ.  She and her husband have two sons: Roosevelt Jr. (Kristen) and Zachary (Dorinda). Her husband is the Senior Pastor at Faith United Baptist Church in north Nashville, where she serves as the Co-Director of the Couples & Married Ministry and Women's Ministry Director.