New positions to propel BGCT reorganization_22105

Posted: 2/18/05

New positions to propel BGCT reorganization

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–The Baptist General Convention of Texas took the first steps in reorganizing its staff when its Administrative Committee approved job descriptions for two new positions–associate executive director/ chief operating officer and special assistant to the executive director

“We have begun the process of reorganization, and we started in my office,” Executive Director Charles Wade said. “This will help me to help the rest of it come into being.”

Last year, the BGCT launched a process of revisioning and restructuring that resulted in new strategic plan statements and a proposed new constitution. Reorganization of the Executive Board staff, which includes 204 regular employees, is under way to reflect the convention's new strategy.

If approved by the BGCT Executive Board March 1, the chief operating officer will join Wade, who is chief executive officer, and David Nabors, treasurer/chief financial officer, in the lead roles.

The chief operating officer will plan, direct and administer the BGCT's operations “in accordance with direction, strategy, priorities and policies developed by the executive director and Executive Board,” the job description states.

“This person will help our staff to be more effective in the delivering of services to churches,” Wade said. “This will help our staff to work more quickly to resolve issues.”

The committee also approved a position description for special assistant to the executive director and unanimously approved long-time BGCT staff member Chris Liebrum to fill the role.

His responsibilities include helping Wade work more effectively with external audiences–churches, church leaders, and convention boards and committees.

“The focus is on building relationships with stakeholders outside of the convention staff and convention administration,” the job description states.

Liebrum began in the special assistant role Feb. 15 after six years as the BGCT's director of human resources. Prior to that, he was the convention's youth consultant from 1984 to 1999 and a youth minister from 1969 to 1984.

“Chris has served the BGCT for 20 years in very creative and effective ways as he gave leadership to our youth ministry with churches and as our human resources director,” Wade said. “He was a significant leader in helping youth ministers coordinate our work with churches in starting the True Love Waits initiative.”

Then, in human resources, he has brought a positive and professional approach to the BGCT's relationship with its staff, Wade said.

A member of Casa View Baptist Church in Dallas, Liebrum holds a bachelor's degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood and a master's degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

In other action, the Administrative Committee voted to:

Outsource the convention's human resources functions by contracting with HRHouston Group of Dallas.

The firm will place two or three staff in the Baptist Building in Dallas to guide the convention in its relationship with employees.

Spend $5.5 million to start new churches.

The funds will come from various sources, including the general budget, the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions and New Church Fund interest.

Redistribute Missionary Trans-ition Fund resources “upon completion of current commitments.” Most of the fund's commitments were completed in 2004, Nabors said in his recommendation to the committee.

Leftover funds will be used for international mission efforts such as Texas Partnerships Resource Center, WorldconneX and other efforts that “will be in keeping with the donor's general intent.”

The fund was established to help former Southern Baptist International Mission Board missionaries who resigned or were dismissed after the IMB required them to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message statement.

Elect John Owens of Lubbock to the Baptist Foundation of Texas board of directors. Owens is vice chairman of PlainsCapital and chairman of its West Texas region. He also is vice chairman of both the Texas Tech University Foundation & Lubbock Power and Light Utility Board. He fills the unexpired term of George Cowden, who resigned from the board.