Hunt still on for Texas Baptist Men executive director_111703

Posted: 11/14/03

Hunt still on for Texas Baptist Men executive director

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

LUBBOCK–Texas Baptist Men continues looking for a permanent executive director.

Outgoing President Andy Andreason announced Nov. 9 that the search committee has made significant progress but is not ready to nominate someone for the position. He made the report during the organization's annual meeting, which preceded the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session in Lubbock.

Kevin Walker of Fort Worth, chairman of the personnel and search committees as well as the newly elected president of Texas Baptist Men, reported during the organization's Nov. 8 executive board meeting that the search committee has surveyed Texas Baptist Men to learn their desires for a leader, sifted through resumes and interviewed five people.

Garland Clark (left) and E.D. Morgan receive Silver Hammer awards from Texas Baptist Men for outstanding service as retiree builders.

Although Andreason and Walker indicated they would like to see someone nominated at the organization's February board meeting, they said they are awaiting God's lead.

“It is imperative to have God's man,” Andreason said. “God willing, we will present that man at the February meeting.”

Meanwhile, Texas Baptist Men is re-evaluating when is the ideal time to hold its annual meeting. The event historically has been held in conjunction with the BGCT annual session.

Earlier this year, the autonomous BGCT-funded ministry entered into a “fraternal relationship” with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention while affirming its “unique relationship” with the BGCT. The SBTC was formed by former BGCT churches that desired a closer relationship to the SBC.

Andreason expressed concern that some members of Texas Baptist Men who affiliate with SBTC churches might be reluctant to attend a meeting so closely tied to the BGCT annual session. He suggested it might be better to convene prior to the SBTC annual meeting, because it falls earlier in the year.

The SBTC annual meeting typically falls in the latter half of October, while the BGCT typically meets in early November.

Andreason appointed a committee to study when Texas Baptist Men should hold its annual meeting.

Andreason said the committee would attempt to meet with Charles Wade, BGCT executive director, and Jim Richards, SBTC executive director, before making a recommendation.

Executive board members also were told the SBTC had sought to retain the identification of its unique disaster relief units. SBTC churches currently have constructed two chainsaw clean-up units.

However, those units will move into action when called upon by Texas Baptist Men.

Executive Director Emeritus Bob Dixon of Dallas pointed out during the meeting that more members of SBTC churches were in leadership positions than BGCT church members during the relief effort related to Hurricane Claudette.

Nevertheless, Andreason reaffirmed the unique relationship with the BGCT in comments after the board meeting.

“We will always be wed to the BGCT,” he said. “We will never separate from the BGCT in my lifetime.”

In other business, Texas Baptist Men presented Silver Hammer awards, given to outstanding retiree builders, to E.D. Morgan of Trinity and Garland Clark of Gary.

This year's Parabaloni Award, granted to a member who risks his life to spread the gospel through the organization's ministries, was presented to Dick Talley of Dallas, logistics coordinator, who helped develop water purification systems in war-torn Iraq during the past year.

Talley then recognized Interim Executive Director Leo Smith for his leadership during the past year.