Clippard, new board discuss staff reorganization
By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer
November 1, 2005
SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) is moving forward with a plan for staff reorganization through MBC Executive Director David Clippard, who is working with a new Executive Board led by newly elected MBC President Ralph Sawyer, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wentzville.
The reorganization drew the most interest as the new board met for the first time following the conclusion of the MBC’s annual meeting at Second Baptist Church, Springfield.
Part of the staff reorganization involves leaders like Clippard, Sawyer and Jay Scribner, the recently retired pastor of First Baptist Church, Branson and the new chairman of the MBC Administrative Committee, discussing how to best utilize the skills of Jim Austin, the new MBC associate executive director whose first day on staff was Oct. 24. Austin and Roy Spannagel are currently serving on staff as associate executive directors.
The plan calls for the staff reorganization to be presented to the full Executive Board at its December meeting.
In other business, board members voted to:
- Expand the Executive Board’s line of credit with Exchange Bank from $1 million to $1.5 million;
- Give a one-time gift in 2006 of $100,000 for the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary undergraduate program, with a second one-time gift in the same year of $100,000 to be given to the seminary’s endowment fund. The $200,000 will come out of reserves;
- Direct the Inter-Agency Relations Committee to investigate the teaching of evolution at Southwest Baptist University and bring a report to the December meeting;
- Ask Clippard to send letters to LifeWay, Guidestone and the Missouri Baptist Credit Union asking them to discontinue advertising in the Word & Way.