[1] ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–Trustees of the North American Mission Board will consider changes to the agency’s organizational structure in May which will bring that framework “more in line with the agency’s strategic plan,” according to Bob Reccord, NAMB president.
“NAMB’s organizational structure was created last year almost in a vacuum, knowing that some adjustments would be necessary,” Reccord told NAMB employees April 13. “Now that we have developed a solid strategic direction, we must have a structure that allows us to be more effective. That’s what these proposed changes are all about.”
NAMB was created last year as part of the Southern Baptist Convention’s restructuring of its national agencies. The resources and most of the ministry assignments of the former Home Mission Board, Brotherhood Commission and Radio and Television Commission were assigned to the new mission board.
Reccord assured the nearly 200 employees gathered in Alpharetta, Ga., as well as the agency’s approximately 70 staff in Fort Worth, Texas, who participated in the meeting via live teleconference, that internally the proposed changes are “minor tweaks.” Only about 10 people will even change their immediate supervisor, Reccord said.
The proposal, which will be presented to the agency’s trustees at their meeting May 5-6 in Fort Worth, calls for three primary changes:
— The media technology center located in Fort Worth will be elevated from department level to that of a vice presidential group.
— The volunteer mobilization team will be moved to the vice presidential group led by Nate Adams called Mobilization and Mission Education.
— The agency’s business services, including financial affairs, will be under the supervision of Michael Day, vice president of strategy and business services.
Reccord announced he will recommend David Clark, currently executive director of NAMB’s Fort Worth media operation, as vice president of the new broadcast communications group. Clark headed a Christian media consulting firm prior to joining NAMB last June.
And, Ernest Kelley, formerly vice president of business services, will become special assistant to the president with assignment to enhance partnerships in new work areas, particularly Alaska, the Northwest and Canada. Kelley, with nearly 25 years experience in home missions, served as the interim president of the former Home Mission Board prior to its dissolution.
Carlos Ferrer, formerly NAMB’s comptroller, will assume additional responsibilities as NAMB’s chief financial officer. Ferrer joined the HMB in 1992.
Reccord also assured the staff this would not be the last organizational change for Southern Baptists’ newest agency. “We cannot allow ourselves to get in comfort zones that are unproductive,” he said. “We must be willing to constantly change in order to meet the changing needs of our partner churches, associations, state conventions and sister agencies.”