Texas WMU board approves staff reoganization, change in its focus_71204

Posted: 7/09/04

Texas WMU board approves staff
reoganization, change in its focus

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS–The Woman's Missionary Union of Texas board of directors has approved a reorganization of the state WMU staff.

The reorganization moves the missions organization from a “program-based” to a “solution-based” focus, said Texas WMU President Kathy Hillman of Waco, adding, “This is a huge change.”

The new plan reduces the Texas WMU program staff from six to five. But since two positions are vacant, one new role will need to be filled, said Executive Director-Treasurer Carolyn Porterfield.

Texas WMU will retain six support staff roles. No current staff member is losing her job.

The board approved the plan unanimously after discussing the changes in closed session. The changes, proposed by the organization's personnel committee, go into effect immediately, Hillman said.

Staff had been organized around age-level designations. Age-level ministries such as Mission Friends, Girls in Action, Acteens and Women on Missions will not be abandoned, Porterfield said. They will be supported through the new organizational structure.

The five new positions will include the unchanged role of executive director-treasurer, plus four others–missions growth, missions involvement, missions leadership and missions resources.

Each person in the four new roles will be referred to simply as program staff, not directors, consultants or any other title–at least for now, Hillman said.

Porterfield continues as executive director. Christine Hockin-Boyd will be responsible for missions involvement, Debra McCammon will lead missions growth and Shelda Reeves will work in missions leadership. The missions resources role is vacant.

Texas WMU wants to “assist and partner and network with churches to help them with their needs and help them accomplish the Great Commission in their setting,” Hillman said.

The new organization reflects a team approach, she said. The staff will form a team, and each staff member will lead a team that may include contract workers and volunteers.

It also will enable WMU leaders to work more collaboratively with other women's ministries in churches, Hillman said.

This provides a way of “building bridges,” Porterfield added.

Responsibilities of the various positions include:

Missions involvement. Develop missions involvement strategies, Christian Women's Job Corps, Baptist Nursing Fellowship, Project HELP, women's ministries and other missions opportunities.

Missions growth. Develop missions growth strategies for use in churches and associations.

Missions leadership. Develop strategies for identifying, mentoring, training and equipping missions leaders, Mission Friends, Girls in Action, Children in Action, Acteens, Youth on Mission, collegiate audience, Women on Missions, Adults on Mission and missions camping.

Missions resource. Develop strategies for marketing WMU and its publications, including resource development and production.

Hillman, in her president's address, said Texas WMU had “taken a leap toward the concept of shared leadership” with the new organization.

“Through shared leadership, sometimes called a team approach, no longer will only one person in the state office be designated to assist a congregation in missions education” for a particular age group, she said.

Depending on a church or mission's need, “a team of program staff, their ministry assistants and volunteers stand ready to offer growth assistance, leadership development, involvement opportunities and appropriate missions resources,” Hillman said. All will collaborate to “design the best plan to meet the need, … not merely to push a program.”

Speaking from the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians, Hillman said the Corinthian conflict sounded like Christians and Baptists today.

“We attach to a particular person or an idea, sometimes for personal benefit without remembering that we must all work together,” she noted.

“How sad that Southern Baptists have chosen not to work with the Baptist World Alliance. How sad that our missionaries have been told which groups they can partner with and which ones they cannot. How sad that some of our states have formed two conventions.

“How sad that many years ago, national WMU leaders chose not to embrace women's ministries as an avenue … to develop women toward a missions lifestyle.

“How sad that in some churches, preschool, children and youth missions leaders see themselves in competition with Sunday school teachers or choir directors.

“Who wins? No one. Who loses? Everyone, especially the lost. We must work through our conflicts and work together.

“I pray that as leaders of Texas Woman's Missionary Union, we will overcome conflict, embrace the concept of shared leadership and connect with each other any way we can to win the lost of our state. May it be said of us, 'Truly Texas WMU labored together with God.'”