TOGETHER: Convention needs to be reorganized_101804

Posted: 10/15/04

TOGETHER:
Convention needs to be reorganized

This year, the Baptist General Convention of Texas has taken a close look at itself. We've looked at what we're doing and what we can, by the grace of God, do in the days and years to come.

It has been a productive process, leading to development of new statements regarding our mission, vision, values and priorities. These will guide us.

Those statements, however, will be worthless if we do not become more effective and intentional as a kingdom enterprise. With that in mind, in coming months we will restructure our staff and the way we do our work. Everything will be geared to serving churches better.

Churches do not exist so there can be a strong convention, associations or institutions. The convention, associations and institutions exist to help the churches be strong and effective in reaching and discipling people in their communities and in touching Texas and the world.

But reorganizing our staff is not our only need. While developing our guiding statements, it became clear we need to look at governance issues.

Since the time I served as an Executive Board member while a pastor, I have believed something needed to be different about the way we govern ourselves as a convention. My concerns were simple: First, the Executive Board was not involved directly in shaping proposals and recommendations that it was asked to vote upon. Second, the Executive Board was too large to allow for extensive discussion. Third, board members had little interaction with each other or with the Executive Board staff.

After I became executive director and worked closely with the Executive Board, I realized more fully the responsibility of the board for governance of convention work between annual meetings. Therefore, the Executive Board needed to be more involved in shaping the recommendations and policies they vote upon. They are the ones who must hold the executive director accountable for fulfilling the goals and carrying out the decisions of the Executive Board through the work of the staff.

In a time when the actions of boards of directors have gained increasing public attention and liability issues have grown, governance has become a very important and critical responsibility of the Executive Board. Thankfully, we always have had men and women of great integrity serving on the board and on the staff; and, so far as I know, we never have been put at risk.

We look, however, for a better way. A subcommittee of our Strategic Planning Committee has worked with me to propose a governance model that is both reflective of our Texas Baptist family and able to provide guidance and governance to the work of our great convention.

The Executive Board will consider this matter Oct. 26. If the board approves the constitutional changes required to bring a new governance model into being, then an amended constitution will be brought to the convention in San Antonio. If approved by a two-thirds majority, it will be brought again in 2005 to the convention for another vote, since it takes two years for changes to the constitution to be approved.

Please be in prayer for these important meetings of the board and the convention as we all seek God's will for how best to do his work. Challenging and exciting times are upon us. With God's direction and power, we will do things beyond our own imaginings.

We are loved.

Charles Wade is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas