Continuing Review recommends changes
JEFFERSON CITY – In a May 29 meeting at the Baptist Building, the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Committee on Continuing Review recommended several changes and/or additions/deletions to the MBC Nominating Committee Rules and Procedures based on the work of the MBC Ad Hoc Investigating Committee. These changes (identified in bold) will be voted on by messengers to the annual meeting Oct. 29-31 at Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach.
In order to do their work in an orderly and fair manner, the Nominating committee shall:
1. Obtain from the executive director’s office a list of vacancies on each governing board and commission on which the committee is to make a nomination.
2. The newly formed Nominating Committee shall meet immediately following the state convention, at which time all members shall receive orientation of the committee’s work, and will be given a list of known vacancies on all boards, agencies and commissions that will need to be filled at the next convention. Those members not present at said meeting are to be sent the same list.
3. Obtain from the chief administrator of each institution, and in coordination with the executive director, confirmation of each vacancy and request communication about any changes that may occur during the time of the committee’s work.
4. Consult with the chief administrator of each institution and/or chairman of each governing board concerning the particular needs which the committee should seek to meet as it recommends individuals to fill each vacancy.
5. Inform Missouri Baptists through the official news journal of the Missouri Baptist Convention about the procedure they may follow in recommending person(s) for the committee’s consideration and ask anyone making a suggestion to provide information which the committee needs (name of person recommended, address, church membership, activity in the church and/or association, occupational or professional credentials, board or commission for which suggested, reason for thinking that the recommended person would serve well in this capacity, etc.). The publication of known vacancies that will need to be filled shall be advertised no later than January 31 of the new year in The Pathway and on the MBC Website.
6. Prepare a biographical data form to be completed by each person nominated and, upon this person’s election by the Convention, deliver the completed form to the executive director for filing in Convention records.
7. All sub-committee members of the MBC Nominating Committee shall receive in a timely fashion the names and biographical data of all nominees to various vacancies of said sub-committee as they are received by the Chairman of the Nominating Committee and Missouri Baptist Building personnel responsible for said information.
8. That at least one copy of all sub-committee and full committee minutes be sent to and kept by the executive director’s office.
9. Give equal consideration to all recommendations made to the Nominating committee. Persons nominated shall be Christians of good reputation with a record of strong church involvement and support and from churches that support generally show strong and ongoing support, including financial support for the work of the Missouri Baptist Convention (or Southern Baptist Convention in the case of out-of-the-state trustees). Cooperative Program support should be an important consideration. Persons nominated shall have special experience or expertise which he or she can bring to the board or commission to which nominated.
10. Nominate persons giving due regard to age, sex, and geographical location to insure proper balance on all boards, so as to adequately meet the needs of the institution or commission.
11. Contact all nominees to determine their willingness to serve.
12. Maintain a file of all persons recommended to the Nominating Committee for the future work of the committee should a vacancy occur between annual meetings.
13. Honor the Missouri Baptist Convention Constitution and Bylaws for major procedures for the committee’s actions.
14. Follow the policy that no person will be eligible to serve on more than one of the MBC boards or commissions at a time.
15. Follow the policy that no immediate family members (spouse, child, parent) of a current Nominating Committee member shall be eligible for nomination on any board, agency or commission of the MBC.
16. Follow the policy that each MBC church shall be limited concerning the number of persons serving on the boards of the Convention. Churches with a total membership of 1,000 or less may be represented by a maximum of two (2) persons serving on Convention boards and commissions simultaneously. Churches with a total membership of more than 1,000 may be represented by a maximum of three (3) persons serving on Convention boards and commissions.
17. Follow the policy that Missouri Baptists serving on the various boards and commissions of the Convention be supportive of both the Missouri Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.
18. Complete the work of the Nominating Committee provided for in paragraphs 1-8 12 not later than 30 days prior to the annual meeting of the Convention.
19. Identify persons eligible for a successive term not later than April 1 of each year; and determine if such persons continue to be willing and otherwise eligible to serve.
20. Follow the policy that no person currently serving on a Convention board, agency or commission shall be nominated to serve on another board, agency or commission until at least one year has passed since said person has served on a board, agency or commission. This shall not apply to those who move from one area of MBC representation to another, or MBC elected offices.
The Committee on Continuing Review also is recommending two related changes to the MBC Bylaws:
1. Change to the Bylaws of the Missouri Baptist Convention, Article VIII. Representation on Convention Committees, Boards, and Commissions, Section 2. New wording …
2. No person who has resigned from one agency’s board a board, agency, or commission before the expiration of the term to which elected shall be eligible for nomination or election to the same or any other board, agency, or commission in the same classification until the term has expired. (Classifications are set out in Article VII.). That person shall not be eligible to be nominated to serve on another board, agency or commission until at least one year has passed.
2. Change to the Bylaws of the Missouri Baptist Convention, adding a Section 4 to Article VIII.
The rules concerning terms of service should not apply to persons who have served on the boards of the following entities during the time when those agencies were involved in litigation with the Convention: The Missouri Baptist Home for the Aged; Missouri Baptist (College) University; Word & Way; The Missouri Baptist Foundation; Windermere. Those trustees that have served the above mentioned agencies during litigation will be allowed to serve new terms following a verdict in favor of the Convention.