FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB) announced today a series of staff changes as part of a restructuring plan aimed at better addressing ministry needs affirmed through the Acts 2:17 Initiative.
The restructuring involves phasing out some legacy positions, leading to layoffs allowing the reallocation of resources toward roles needed to support the initiative’s mission.
“These are important days of transition for Tennessee Baptists and the TBMB as we begin to implement the Acts 2:17 Initiative,” said Randy C. Davis, TBMB president and executive director. “However, such change brings difficult decisions. We’ve had to say goodbye to coworkers, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ who have served Tennessee Baptists and the TBMB faithfully. It’s been a privilege to serve the Lord alongside them, and we owe them a great debt of gratitude.”
To align organizational structure for future ministry demands, the positions of Baptism-Discipleship Team Leader, Emerging Generations Specialist, Training and Volunteer Coordinator, Childhood Specialist, Youth Ministry Specialist, Childhood / Women’s Ministry Specialist, Graphic Designer, and other positions have been eliminated. Several positions were held open during the last two years and some positions were eliminated that were budgeted but never occupied.
“Much of this work done through these positions will continue,” Davis said. “But it will continue in a new way and within the larger context of a new strategy that puts more resources closer to local churches.”
Other transitions made that reflect filling roles within the new TBMB organizational structure are:
- Ryan Keaton will assume the new role of Strengthening Evangelistic Discipleship.
- Jay Barbier has been reassigned as Harvest Field 3 Team Leader.
- Joe Sorah will assume the new role of Strengthening Gospel Leaders.
- Josh Franks will assume the new role of Multiplying Gospel Leaders.
- Phillip Smith, former pastor in Lenoir City, will become Harvest Field 5 Team Leader, replacing Sorah.
- Russ Wilkins, former DOM will become Harvest Field 2 Team Leader, replacing Franks.
- Jon Hawkins was promoted to be TBMB Human Resources Director following the retirement of Shelia Darden. His previous role has been eliminated.
More organizational alignment will be incorporated in the coming weeks and months.
Randy C. Davis
The staffing adjustments follow a two-year discovery and visioning process that began during the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s (TBC) 2022 annual meeting at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova. Data points gathered from hundreds of ministers, laypeople, interviews, focus groups, and surveys across the state were analyzed by work groups representing churches throughout Tennessee. The findings shaped the Acts 2:17 Initiative, which received affirmation from messengers in both the 2023 and 2024 TBC annual meetings. The 2024-25 budget, which includes a 2.5% increase in TBC budget allocation for convention ministries, was approved in support of the initiative.
“Tennessee Baptists have set a direction where they want our network of churches to focus on multiplying gospel leaders, evangelistic disciples, and healthy churches,” Davis said. “Over the last several months, we have been working to align with this new paradigm where practitioners in the field will be engaged in our mission to serve churches
“Through this avenue of pushing more human resources into our harvest fields, TBMB will greatly expand the effectiveness and scope of our work to strengthen and multiply gospel leaders while reducing personnel costs.”
Davis went on to say that days of transition are challenging, and often difficult, but that he believed “great days” were ahead for Tennessee Baptists.
“I believe God has truly given Tennessee Baptists a vision for a preferable future,” he said, “And I believe TBMB will help TBC churches get there. Please be in prayer as we navigate the coming months.”
