BGCT employees notified about layoffs

Posted: 10/04/07

Update: BGCT eliminates 29 staff positions by end of October

By Ken Camp

Managing Editor

DALLAS—Twenty-nine Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board employees—almost 10 percent of the workforce—received notice Oct. 1-2 that their positions are being eliminated effective Oct. 31.

Of the 29 affected employees, 12 are program staff and 17 are in support and clerical roles.

Five program staff in missions, evangelism and ministry are being cut: Cecil Deadman, director of LifeCall missions; Debra Hochgraber, women’s ministry specialist; Russell Maddox, associate director of church architecture; Tom Robuck, specialist in Texas Partnerships; and Debbie Smith, music and worship special events coordinator.

Other program staff whose positions are being eliminated include: Susan Ater, camp specialist in associational missions; Glenn Majors, manager of Cooperative Progam Services in communications; Josie Flores, church administration specialist, and Mary Johnson, leadership project strategist in congregational leadership; Jim Furgerson, congregational strategist based in San Antonio; Linda Cross, director of the Baptist Laity Institute; and Tom Ruane, ministry relations and shared resources associate in institutional ministries.

The BGCT Executive Board staff administration did not release the names of the 17 support staff members who lost their jobs. Three support staff positions were cut in missions, three in evangelism and three in congregational strategists. Two positions were eliminated from research and development. One position was cut from each of the following areas—associational missions, building and facilities, communications, ministry, controller’s office and executive director’s office.

Of the 29 eliminated positions, 11 affected employees have been on the BGCT Executive Board staff 10 years or longer, including two who each have more than 30 years’ experience.

“The BGCT is blessed to have such a quality staff, so any reduction in that staff means that gifted servants of our Lord are affected,” Executive Director Charles Wade said.

“I deeply appreciate the work of these men and women, and I’m praying God will raise up new places of service for them. Our staff will be available to them in making this transition.”

The BGCT Executive Board voted last month to recommend a $50.1 million budget for 2008—a $473,644 reduction from the 2007 budget—to messengers at the BGCT annual meeting Oct. 29-30 in Amarillo.

Operations in 2007 were supplemented by about $1.1 million in funds allocated but unspent in previous years, Wade explained. At the same time, the board and its executive leadership committed last year to begin to reduce dependence on off-budget funds by drawing down a smaller percentage of earnings from investments, wills and trusts.

“All together, we needed to find $1.6 million,” he said.

After considering options, Wade rejected the idea of reducing all staff salaries rather than reducing the size of the workforce.

“Frankly, it would have been an abdication of managerial responsibility on my part,” he said.

Wade, Chief Operating Officer Ron Gunter and Chief Financial Officer David Nabors examined positions and personnel to make recommended cutbacks on the basis of several criteria.

“First, we had a target amount we had to reach—$1.6 million. Second, we looked at the whole organization and tried to identify jobs that could be combined,” he said.

“We looked at whether, with improved technology and a different set of skills, one person could cover two assignments,” particularly in the area of support staff, he explained. They also considered where functions in program leadership could be consolidated or where staff could take on additional tasks.

“We also looked at those areas where we felt we could transition and involve other partners—such as our institutions—to help us,” he said.

The executive leadership also explored areas where tasks could be performed by contract workers rather than full-time staff.

“We went to our team leaders with the names of specific people” whose jobs the executive leaders recommended eliminating, Wade said. “They were free to recommend alternatives, as long as they were within the ballpark financially.”

Gunter and Nabors took the recommended names and positions to the people who report directly to them, including the staff’s operations team. Executive leaders considered their suggestions and made some adjustments, Wade noted.

Next, the operations team talked to staff who report directly to them to review the names in their specific areas, and further adjustments were made. After the executive leaders approved the final decisions, supervisors talked individually to staff affected by the cutbacks, Wade reported.

Personnel who lost their jobs were notified Oct. 1-2 rather than after the BGCT annual meeting when the 2008 budget will be considered because “these reductions were based on anticipated income for 2008,” Wade said. “The budget and how it is allocated is the responsibility of the messengers to the annual meeting. But the executive staff is responsible for personnel matters.”

The BGCT constitution leaves the matter of recommending a budget and electing the executive leadership team to the Executive Board, and other personnel matters are delegated to staff leaders, he explained.

“We’ve done exactly what the executive director is supposed to do and what the Executive Board is supposed to do. We’re bringing a solution, and not just a problem, to the convention at the annual meeting,” Wade said.

“If the messengers don’t like it (the budget), they can vote it down. They have that right. But in lieu of them having a better idea, I hope they will sustain the decision of the Executive Board and that all of us will be able to pull together and get behind this.”

While 29 positions are being eliminated, four other posts are being created that will combine the functions of eight of the reductions, and employees affected by the cuts will be able to apply for those new roles, Gunter said. Three positions in evangelism and congregational leadership have been restructured into contract roles.

Earlier this year, three positions in the Service Center were eliminated, Gunter added.

Baptist Laity Institute leadership will be transferred to Royce Rose, coordinator of vocational theological education on the Institutional Ministries Team. Lindsay Cofield, director of multihousing/Key Church, will assume leadership of LifeCall missions.

Cooperative Program services will be moved into a position combined with stewardship. Terry Austin resigned earlier this year as stewardship director.

For several years, two congregational strategists had been assigned to the service area that includes San Antonio—Fred Ater and Jim Furgerson. Ater will take on full responsibility for this area.

Each person affected by the cuts will be eligible for financial assistance, insurance continuation, outplacement services and counseling services, said Casey Bailey, senior consultant for HRHouston Group, which handles the BGCT Executive Board staff’s human resources functions.

The severance package consists of two weeks pay for every year of service, with a minimum of four weeks of pay and a maximum of 12 weeks, Bailey said. The BGCT also will pay the full premiums for medical, dental and/or life insurance during that time. All other accrued benefits will be provided, as well, including a payout of unused vacation time.

Human Resources will assist with transition into new job opportunities with the BGCT or with other organizations, and will provide resume assistance and search strategies, Bailey said. The Information Technologies office will make computers available for employees to conduct Internet job searches and prepare resumes. Counseling services will be available with the BGCT staff and through referral networks.

With additional reporting by Ferrell Foster and John Hall