Carter Conlon Steps Down as Pastor of Times Square Church to Focus on Prayer Ministry

Pastor Carter Conlon is stepping down as senior pastor of Times Square Church to focus on his prayer ministry, according to a recent post on his Facebook page.

Conlon, who has served at the church for 26 years, will transition to a new position: chairman of the board and general overseer of Times Square Church.

Conlon asked the church to consider Pastor Tim Dilena as his successor. His nomination was approved, and on May 5, Dilena will assume the role of senior pastor.

According to the post, Conlon has felt the Lord lead him to call the nation to pray for the last decade. His Time to Pray ministry includes a nationwide radio ministry, conferences, various leaders and a book, It’s Time to Pray, published by Charisma House.

David Wilkerson, founder of Teen Challenge and author of The Cross and the Switchblade, started Times Square Church in 1987 in New York City. Since then, the church has grown to be an interdenominational congregation of more than 8,000 people representing over 100 nationalities.

Conlon joined the church staff in 1994 and was appointed senior pastor in 2001.

Read Times Square Church’s full announcement below:

Announcement of Times Square Church Senior Leadership Change

After 26 years of faithful service, Pastor Carter Conlon is transitioning his role from Senior Pastor of Times Square Church to Chairman of the Board and General Overseer of Times Square Church, Inc.

Over the past decade, Pastor Carter has felt a mandate of the Lord to call the nation to pray. This call to prayer, “It’s Time to Pray,” has grown to include a nationwide radio ministry, pastors and leaders, conferences, a book, and the Times Square Church Worldwide Prayer Meeting which has participants in 204 countries. God has placed a sense of urgency in Pastor Carter’s heart to dedicate this next season of his life and ministry to continuing this imperative message.

In early 2020, Pastor Carter asked the Board of Directors to consider the nomination of Pastor Tim Dilena as the new Senior Pastor of Times Square Church. The nomination was accepted and unanimously approved. We are pleased to announce, effective May 5, 2020, Pastor Tim Dilena will assume the role of Senior Pastor of Times Square Church.

With over 30 years of pastoral leadership and experience, Pastor Tim Dilena joins Times Square Church as the third Senior Pastor in 33 years since the founding of the church by Pastor David Wilkerson. Pastor Tim has been a frequent and well-loved speaker at Times Square Church. He has a love for this church body and for New York City, his hometown. We are excited to welcome him, his wife Cindy and their four children to the Times Square Church family. We look forward to his leadership and vision for the future as he carries on the rich legacy of Times Square Church.

Pastor Carter is committed to stand in unity with Pastor Tim, as he and Pastor David Wilkerson once did, to usher in a Christ-honoring transition that ensures the continuing health, mission and future of Times Square Church.

Times Square Church
Board of Directors