WMU board discusses transition period, plans to select interim executive director

Posted: 11/02/07

WMU board discusses transition period,
plans to select interim executive director

By Teresa Young

Wayland Baptist University

AMARILLO —The Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas board of directors may have started their meeting with uneasiness about the future, but they ended on a positive note about ongoing missions work around the state—and the hope of having an interim executive director-treasurer for the missions organization in place by December.

The board began its business session with words of encouragement from a Baptist General Convention of Texas representative and Texas WMU President Nelda Taylor concerning the Oct. 16 resignation of Texas WMU Executive Director-Treasurer Carolyn Porterfield.

Taylor introduced Wayne Shuffield, director of the BGCT missions, evangelism and ministry area, to provide encouragement during the time of transition.

“We’re both in transition together, but we’re going to be OK because we’re doing God’s work, and he’s still working in the world,” Shuffield said. “We’ll stand hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder with you in whatever we have to do. I pledge to you to continue to work together, because there are people in our Judeas and Samarias who need to hear about Jesus.”

During the transition, Taylor challenged WMU leaders to claim the promises of Ecclesiastes 11:5—“Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, so you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does.”

“God does things differently, but he is always in control,” Taylor said. “WMU of Texas is about the work of God, not any one person. If you feel discouraged during this time, God provides the grace to either endure or enjoy.”

The board learned WMU leaders will form a job description for an interim director, and they hope to have an interim leader in place by December. Board member Nina Pinkston of Fort Worth will help provide direction in the WMU office during November.

Reports from staff members included an update on the Texas WMU partnership with Texas Baptist Men for water purification efforts and disaster relief in terms of e-mail prayer alerts. Other updates included a report on a partnership with Montana Southern Baptist Women for leadership training.