Leadership bios

Dr. Branton Burleson serves as Lead Pastor for Grace Baptist West Asheville. Prior to coming to GBWA, he was one of the founding pastors of Covenant Baptist Church in Arden. Dr. Burleson is also a professor at Fruitland Baptist Bible College where he teaches Hermeneutics, Gospels, and Paul's Epistles and an adjunct professor for The College at Southeastern.

He is a graduate of Fruitland Baptist Bible College, North Greenville University, Reformed Theological Seminary, and earned the Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a past board member for NC Baptists and served as vice president of the NC Baptist Pastors' Conference. He founded the board of Imago Dei Classical Academy in Mills River and is a regional leader for the The Pillar Network.

Dr. Burleson is a native of the mountains of Western NC. He and his wife, Jessica, have been blessed with four children, Abigail and Isabel (twins), Ruth, and Luke.