Waganer leaves service with convention staff
By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer
April 5, 2005
JEFFERSON CITY – David Waganer, associate executive director for the Communications and Development Team of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), resigned, and his office responsibilities ended March 31, according to MBC Executive Director David Clippard.
Waganer was asked to assume new responsibilities in the MBC. After some days of prayer and consideration, he instead concluded it was time for him to seek a new place of service outside the MBC staff.
“I’m stepping out into an unknown that’s refreshing right now,” Waganer said.
Waganer, 53, has been doing Southern Baptist denominational work within three different state conventions since 1990. Before coming to Missouri in July of 2000, he served as director of church stewardship for the South Carolina Baptist Convention and stewardship and Cooperative Program specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. On staff in the Baptist Building, he served with Larry Thomas as interim Co-Executive Director of the MBC from Oct. 4, 2001, to Sept. 8, 2002.
“He’s a caring person for all of his team and to the whole organization,” said Kay Robertson, who was his administrative assistant from start to finish at the MBC. “He definitely is a man of integrity and honesty. He was easy to work with, because he never really considered himself that much above. I’ve enjoyed working with him very much.”
Vivian McCaughan, MBC WMU / women’s missions and ministry specialist, was under Waganer in the previous MBC administration and reflected on their strong working relationship.
“I’ve certainly appreciated him as our group leader,” McCaughan said. “He was very sensitive to all of us in the group. He was good about staying in contact with us. I felt like he had confidence in my work and he was very on top of communicating with us and helping us feel a part of his group and team.”
MBC Biblical Stewardship Specialist Spencer Hutson felt a special bond with Waganer through their common concern about money matters.
“He’s an encourager and he’s very creative,” Hutson said. “He causes us to think outside the box and to dream about how we can make something happen in the association or the church. He thinks about them first. He doesn’t think about top down. He thinks from the pew up.”
Waganer declined an offer to be interviewed by The Pathway, saying he preferred to let others talk about him. Robertson said that is true to his character.
“He doesn’t want the focus on himself,” she said. “He’s never been one that it needs to be my way, only my way, or needing to be out in front of others.”