Texas WMU changing staffing approach

DALLAS – Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas is moving to a staffing approach that will involve several contract consultants rather than paid full-time program staff, at least during the interim executive leadership of Nelda Seal.

“All organizations need to evaluate processes, programming and personnel positions from time to time,” Seal said. “In order to be viable in today’s world, WMU of Texas is taking this proactive approach to the task of teaching missions and promoting missions.”

When Seal became interim executive director June 16, 2008, WMU of Texas had four paid full-time program staff members. All have since left the organization as WMU moved toward the new approach.

“Several contract consultants already are being employed in order to service the churches and associations,” Seal said. “We believe this approach will better serve our membership. Exciting days are ahead for WMU of Texas as we accept responsibility for mission education in all of our churches.”

WMU of Texas also is focusing on training, she said. A Leadership Development Institute is being planned in which there will be “specialized training all areas of our work.” A bus trip to the Smoky Mountains will be a training event called Training Wheels. “It will be fun and a learning experience.” A bus trip to National WMU’s Annual Meeting is planned for June.

WMU now has six areas of mission focus — praying for missions, supporting missions, learning about missions, engaging in mission action and witnessing, developing spiritually toward a missions lifestyle, and participating in the work of the church and denomination.

“WMU of Texas accepts the challenge these areas represent and looks forward to fulfilling them with excitement and dedication,” Seal said. “WMU of Texas is focused on the future.”