Carolyn Porterfield resigns as Texas WMU chief

Posted: 10/17/07

Carolyn Porterfield
resigns as Texas WMU chief

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS—Carolyn Porterfield announced her resignation as executive director-treasurer of the Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas in an Oct. 16 letter to the organization’s board of directors.

“I have come to realize that the skill sets required for the position that I now hold do not match well with my gifts and abilities,” Porterfield said in the letter. “It is time for me to step aside in order for the next leader to come who can most effectively lead this wonderful organization into her future.”

Texas WMU is an auxiliary of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, partnering with the state convention but governed by its own board of directors. Porterfield’s resignation was effective immediately.

“Carolyn Porterfield has given deeply spiritual and passionate leadership to WMU of Texas,” said BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade.

“She has provided many moments of spiritual insight and blessing as she has led the BGCT staff in worship through prayer, message and song. I am very sorry that the new BGCT executive director will not have the chance to serve Texas Baptists with her.”

In an interview, Porterfield explained the executive director job requires a great deal of management skills, but said, “My gifts are more in the area of leading and speaking and being with people.”

Serving with Texas Baptist women has “been a great joy,” she continued. “They have been a personal blessing to me. I see God at work in their lives, and that inspires me. I see women who persevere for the sake of God’s kingdom.

“I pray that they will just stay committed to reaching teaching and discipling all the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Porterfield joined the Texas WMU staff in 1992, and was named executive director-treasurer March 1, 2001.

During her time of leadership, WMU redesigned its promotion materials for the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions, which funds the WMU of Texas and many critical ministries of the BGCT.

Texas WMU is “positioned better for the future as a non-profit organization because of governance changes that are being put into place, ” Porterfield said.

In 2006, WMU launched multiple regional events called Awakening to replace the long-established statewide Texas Leadership Conference. Attendance at the 2006 events reached 3,600, compared to 750 at the last statewide conference in 2005.

Porterfield, a member of Lakeside Baptist Church in Dallas, is unsure about the specifics of her future but said she hopes to be involved in missions in some way after taking some time off for rest and rejuvenation.

“I know my future is sure because it’s in God’s hands,” she said.