Dr. Laudis H. “Rick” Lanford

Regional Vice President

The Rev. Dr. Rick Lanford serves as regional vice president for the Georgia United Methodist Foundation. He is an ordained elder in The South Georgia Annual Conference.

Rick received an associate degree from Oxford College and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and religion from Emory University. In addition, he holds a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology and a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary.

He was born and raised in Rutland Community, just south of Macon, and has lived in South Georgia his entire life. Rick serves on numerous boards and agencies, including The Methodist Home for Children & Youth, Wesley Glen Ministries, the Macon-Bibb County Law Enforcement Foundation, the Georgia’s Peace Officers Association Foundation, and as a local advisory board member for One South Bank.

Rick enjoys teaching, preaching, and motivational speaking to churches, camp meeting services, schools, colleges, and civic groups. He currently serves as the Senior Law Enforcement Chaplain for Homeland Security under the Office of the Governor and as Chief Chaplain for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Bibb/Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Rick is an avid outdoorsman and loves quail hunting and bass/fly fishing. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Kim, and their three daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren.