Texas WMU interim leader advises caution, prayer in search for director

DALLAS—The Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas board of directors must step forward and be guided by prayer in their search for a director, Nelda Seal, interim executive director-treasurer for the WMU of Texas, told the board’s October meeting.

“I feel that I must address the need for some caution at this particular time,” Seal said as she addressed the board of directors. “It is urgent that you pray daily for the personnel committee to have discernment, wisdom and an overwhelming sense of God’s leadership.”

Politics and pressure must not direct the decision of the board’s search, she stressed.

“The committee must have the freedom to follow God’s leadership and not be unduly pressured by any group or individual who has an agenda or interest in a particular candidate,” she said. “Trying to pressure the committee for a specific candidate can become political. Politics in God’s work is never acceptable.”

Leticia Rodriguez, chair of the personnel committee, reported the committee had reviewed seven applicants but still came short of finding the proper woman for the job. To help refocus the search, she reminded the board of the necessary and non-negotiable characteristics that must be present in applicants. 

“We must find a person who has a strong call to missions education,” Rodriguez said. “She must have a passion for missions and strong people skills to work with personnel, volunteers, churches and multicultural groups. And she needs to have administrative skills and financial acumen.”

In other business, the board, after much discussion, unanimously voted for a revision of the organization’s bylaws, which has been in review during the past year. One amendment brought to the floor and unanimously passed states officers of the board of directors must have served on the board within the last 12 years in order to be eligible for the position. The amendment will provide officers who are connected and knowledgeable about issues and workings of the WMU of Texas in its most current state, board members said.

The revision of the bylaws, which were last modified in 2006, updated wording and procedures to fit the every-changing organization, Seal said.

“This will give us an orderly plan of operation,” Seal said. “The bylaws had not been revised in several years, and because WMU is an evolving organization, changes needed to be made to meet needs in ministry.”

Kate Leong of Houston, Mary Watson of Harlingen, Leticia Rodriguez of McAllen and Bea Mesquias of Harlingen discuss ways Texas WMU board members can connect more effectively with the churches and women in their area. (PHOTOS/Texas Baptist Communications)

The most significant change in the bylaws will not allow for the executive director-treasure to have a vote on board matters, preventing a conflict of interest and allowing for a balance of power. The executive director-treasurer will be allowed to consult the board on voting matters but will not be able to participate in the vote.

The board voted unanimously to elect Earl Ann Bumpus of San Angelo, Edwana Lee of Winnsboro, Diane Marshall of Seagoville and Mary Lou Serratt of Amarillo for board membership.

Board members also approved a proposal to make the 2010 Week of Prayer for Texas Missions theme “Called to Care,” with a focus on 2 Corinthians 5:14.

Seal also encouraged the board members to remain involved in Texas Hope 2010 efforts, mentioning that WMU is spearheading an effort to pray daily for the county leaders leading Scripture distribution in all 254 Texas counties. Volunteers are still needed to pray for the remaining 19 leaders.

Carolyn Porterfield also encouraged the women to use the new 30-day multicultural prayer guide created by the WMU office in conjunction with Patty Lane, director of intercultural ministries for Texas Baptists, as part of their Texas Hope 2010 efforts. The guide helps readers understand the multicultural people groups living in Texas while praying that their live would be impacted by the gospel. 

“We hope that this will be a piece that our churches will use in praying for the nations who live in our state,” Porterfield said. “We know how to pray for the nations because we have been doing it since 1888. But I cannot recall in my time in WMU that we have been given this much specific information about the people in the state.”

WMU is promoting the guide as a tool to be used during January, leading churches towards the day of hope and prayer on Jan. 31 to lead churches and ministries in the last evangelistic stretch towards Easter 2010.

“The ultimate thing that we do is to introduce people to Christ, and I think that this prayer guide does that,” Porterfield said. “On Jan. 31, we hope that in every church there will be an emphasis of prayer for the lost and hungry, and we want to use the prayer guide for that purpose.”