By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD – The Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board unanimously approved a change in its organizational structure during its March 25 meeting held at Brentwood Baptist Church here.
The Executive Board will now be structured around the Five Objectives adopted by messengers at last year’s annual meeting held during The Summit in November.
The Five Objectives are:
(1) Seeing at least 50,000 Tennesseans annually saved, baptized, and set on the road to discipleship by 2024;
(2) Having at least 500 Tennessee Baptist churches revitalized by 2024;
(3) Planting and strategically engaging at least 1,000 new churches by 2024;
(4) Realizing an increase in local church giving through the Cooperative Program that reaches at least 10 percent by 2024; and
(5) Realizing an increase in annual giving for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions that reaches at least $3 million by 2024.
The new structure was proposed by an Organizational Task Force that was appointed in September of 2014 and charged with “designing an efficient and effective committee structure that facilitates the work of the revised staff structure in light of regionalization and the Five Objectives.”
TBC Executive Randy C. Davis told Board members that he has “sat where you sit” on three different boards during his ministry. “I learned a great deal in serving on those boards. It stretched my imagination, my mind, and my walk with the Lord. It was a rich and rewarding experience most of the time,” he said.
He noted, however, that at times he was “frustrated” by the structure of the board meetings. Basically the board members sat through the meeting, heard reports, and affirmed or rejected recommendations presented by leadership, Davis observed.
“That may have been good for its day, but the challenges of our day require a different type of governance. We must move to promoting and encouraging robust dialogue, even if it means suspending the rules and changing the agenda,” he said.
“We desire that our Executive Board does not merely certify policies, goals, and strategies, and you will do that, but that you help construct them on the front end, long before they are presented.”
Davis said that future Board meetings must include more time for discussion, debate, and passionate prayer. “We must schedule committee work sessions where reports are not given, votes are not taken, and Robert’s Rules of Order are told to take a hike.
“In these collaborative sessions, problems are solved, possibilities are envisioned, priorities are determined, and the will of the Father is discovered by all of us,” he continued.
Davis acknowledged that it will take awhile to “shift an old paradigm” and ingrain a new culture. “But I believe it will be a great and highly effective change for the better,” he said.
Under the new structure adopted the Board will be organized into 10 standing committees:
(1) Baptism Objective Committee (evangelism, discipleship);
(2) New Churches Objective Committee (church planting, church engagement);
(3) Revitalized Churches Objective Committee (church revitalization);
(4) Resource Development Committee (Cooperative Program, Golden Offering, and other sources);
(5) Convention Coordinated Ministries Committee (Disaster Relief, partnership missions, compassion ministries);
(6) Partner Ministries Committee (SBC and TBC partners);
(7) Collegiate Ministries Committee (collegiate ministries, student missions);
(8) Budget and Ministry Committee (TBC budget and Executive Board budget administration);
(9) Properties Committee (maintenance, management, and development of properties and facilities);
(10) Conference Centers Committee (strategic planning, program development, accountability).
The standing committees will focus on one ministry area or related ministry areas, collaborate with TBC executive leadership and staff to develop goals and strategies for ministry areas, develop and recommend to the Board policies to direct the work of the ministry area, and serve as advocate for ministry area to TBC churches.
The number of members on each committee will vary based upon need.
The Executive Board will continue to have an Administrative Committee comprised of the chair of the 10 standing committees, the board chair, the board chair-elect, and the president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Board members approved a change in the board chair and current vice chairman which previously were elected at the September meeting. Current officers will finish out this year. In September the Board will elect a chair and a chair-elect. The chair-elect would then automatically become the next year’s chair. A new chair-elect will be elected in September of each year. The chair-elect also will serve as the chair of the Administrative Committee.
Executive Board members adopted amendments to the bylaws of the Executive Board and to the Organization, Policy, and Procedures for the Executive Board to reflect the new structure.
The new structure became effective upon adoption. Executive Board chair Roc Collins of Kingsport appointed a nominating committee after the meeting to make recommendations for the new committees.
