By James Porch
James Porch
My season of ministry with Phyllis Bates (18 years) was a continued learning experience. The “classroom settings” included day-by-day office agenda and hours of preparation for annual meetings and numerous committee meetings, accompanied by her ever present wisdom during the many occasions of interruptions. I cannot overplay Phyllis’s initiative of insight with a long view of how our decisions could influence and/or affect the future of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
My first and last day show immediate credence to the value of Phyllis’s insight and dedication. I carried to the first day at least normal anxiety for the magnitude of the task. Once behind “the desk,” I noticed a tall stack of pink forms immediately in front of me. “Pink slips? Who fired everybody except me and the executive leadership staff?” Quickly Mrs. Bates rescued my emotions. “Those are purchase orders needing your review.” Way past 11 a.m. and still in review, I launched a wonder, “Is this the essence of this job?” Following lunch, a staff member (now deceased) wandered unannounced into the office, sat down on the front right corner of the desk, and quickly announced, “I came to tell you I’m going to buy a forklift.” The short conversation aided him in understanding his intention would not be approved. He left in a huff, and the next morning, resigned to retire due to “inability to work with the new executive director/treasurer.”
Other “highlights” continued throughout the afternoon. Phyllis, of course, was alert to all elements of my heavy first day. Leaving the office after day one, I stopped by my executive assistant’s office. She posed a more than essential question, “Are you coming back tomorrow?” I did, and kept returning over a season encompassing 6,580 days, including four leap years.
My final day included taking my grandson for his last trip to the building. Actually, he wanted one more visit to the honey bun machine. Following goodbyes, opening and closing cabinets, assured everything was cleaned out, I heard Aaron cry out, “Paw Paw, don’t forget your name.” Sure enough, right beside my office door on that final day, my name still appeared with the title. That fixed name in place happened greatly due to Phyllis Bates. Along the way, her daily candor, occasionally blunt by necessity, kept me focused. Her decades of earlier service OFTEN provided corrective insight, spoken with a measure of grace. She maintained a consistent perception that the road yet to travel of what we as Tennessee Baptists are about is Kingdom of God stuff.
During times of intense struggle and stress, she consistently reminded our staff, “This too will pass.” Phyllis considered all Tennessee Baptists to be on level ground. She could spot a phony really quick, and only a few attempted to disguise their intention by selfish ambition.
Personally, she helped me balance keeping faith with my TBC responsibilities while providing supportive care during my Lynn’s lengthy bout with cancer before she succumbed to the disease. Shortly after meeting Kelly, I was scheduled for a trip to Scotland to begin dialog for a missions partnership. As I left the office, Mrs. Bates offered a kind word of counsel, “You be real sure you bring Kelly something nice from Scotland.” I did. Four months later, we were engaged and married in December of 2001.
Each of us of the Christian faith can write a definitive good news chapter. A few serve day by day with the intention to make a difference through kindness, integrity, loyalty, and lifelong dedication to their God calling. Thank you, Phyllis Bates, for traveling your own road to bless the people called Tennessee Baptists. You continue to write your chapter of good faith.
— Porch is retired executive director of the Executive Board of the TBC (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board).
