[1]WASHINGTON (BP)–A joint statement addressing the end of Willene Pierce’s employment as executive director of the Baptist World Alliance’s women’s department has been issued by the department’s eight-member executive committee and Pierce.
The statement, read to Baptist Press by Pierce July 15, notes that Pierce has resigned, opposed to “premature reports of her firing.”
A BWA news story from its general council meeting July 3-9 in Vancouver, British Columbia, had stated that Pierce had been fired by the women’s department executive committee.
The women’s department is a separately incorporated auxiliary to the BWA. Its executive committee consists of the department’s director, Mercy Jeyaraja Rao of India; the secretary-treasurer; and six continental vice presidents.
Pierce’s resignation, effective July 14, resulted from “differing perspectives regarding ministry philosophy and leadership style,” the statement says.
Otherwise, it says, “Any further comment regarding the nature and substance of these differences would disserve the women’s department ministry, the individuals involved and the cause of Christ.”
The statement makes no mention of any search process to seek Pierce’s successor.
The statement concludes: “Both the executive committee and Miss Pierce remain committed to the ongoing ministry of the BWA women’s department and we will mutually pursue a transition that will honor God. We covenant to uphold each other in prayer as the women’s department continues to support women around the world in their ministry and as Miss Pierce pursues other ministry opportunities.”
Pierce, 54, joined the BWA women’s department staff in February 1995. Previously she had been executive director of Maryland/Delaware’s WMU from 1982-95 and, with Arkansas WMU from 1975-82, she had been Baptist Women/Baptist Young Women director.
Pierce holds a master of religious education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas and an undergraduate degree from Oklahoma Baptist University. She is a native of Belle Plaine, Kan.
No mention was made of Pierce’s end of employment when Rao and other women’s department leaders, minus Pierce, gave a 20-minute report Monday, July 7, during the general council meeting in Vancouver. And no mention was made of the situation until a general council business session July 9, when BWA General Secretary Denton Lotz read a statement acknowledging Pierce’s departure from the women’s department, and stating: “While the women’s department is an auxiliary of the BWA, we are part of the one family and are therefore very concerned about the development. We are called to a ministry of reconciliation and will work with and pray for both the women’s department and Willene Pierce.”
Pierce said July 15 she has not had adequate opportunity to contemplate future employment.
The full text of the statement by the BWA women’s department executive committee and Pierce follows:
“We, the executive committee of the BWA women’s department and Willene Pierce, are saddened to announce the resignation of Miss Pierce as director of the women’s department. Contrary to premature reports of her firing, Miss Pierce has resigned, and the executive committee has accepted her resignation because of differing perspectives regarding ministry philosophy and leadership style. Any further comment regarding the nature and substance of these differences would disserve the women’s department ministry, the individuals involved and the cause of Christ.
The executive committee is thankful for the contribution Miss Pierce has rendered the BWA women’s department. Both the executive committee and Miss Pierce remain committed to the ongoing ministry of the BWA women’s department and we will mutually pursue a transition that will honor God. We covenant to uphold each other in prayer as the women’s department continues to support women around the world in their ministry and as Miss Pierce pursues other ministry opportunities.”