| NAMB trustees consider removing agency head |
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| By ABP staff | ||
| Monday, August 03, 2009 | ||
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ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) -- Two months after passing a resolution unanimously praising the direction of the North American Mission Board and affirming President Geoff Hammond for "exemplary, unique leadership and vision," NAMB trustees will meet Aug. 11 to consider removing him from office. Two Baptist state newspapers reported contents of an e-mail listing leadership issues to be discussed at a regular meeting of NAMB's 21-member executive committee. After word of the meeting spread, all 57 board members were polled about calling a special meeting.
Trustee Jason Pettus, pastor of Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Ky., circulated an e-mail July 29 describing a conversation he had with board chairman Tim Patterson. Pettus said Patterson identified several "serious issues" that board leaders wanted to discuss with Hammond. He listed three most pressing concerns as Hammond's failure to meet with an executive leadership coach that had been hired to help him refine his leadership and management skills, his hiring of a chief operation officer without prior approval of the executive committee and staff morale at an all-time low. Pettus told the Christian Index he was not taking sides and had full confidence in the executive committee, but he wrote other board members so they could be praying for the agency. Patterson told the Georgia Baptist paper he would preside over the executive committee meeting but would not bring up integrity or leadership issues, so that no one would perceive the issues were the result of a personality conflict between him and the president. In May NAMB trustees passed a resolution describing the agency as "crucial" to Southern Baptist mission work and expressing unified support for Hammond, who took over as president of the agency in 2007. That came after Patterson, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., was quoted in the Florida Baptist Witness as saying he would support consolidating the Southern Baptist Convention's two mission boards in context of a discussion about a "Great Commission Resurgence" task force appointed by SBC President Johnny Hunt. Patterson apologized to fellow board members May 20 for making it appear he was speaking on their behalf. Trustees elected Hammond in March 2007 to replace Bob Reccord, the former president forced to resign in 2006 amid reports that he mismanaged the agency. Things went well for a six-month "honeymoon" period, the Christian Index reported, until Hammond began to be criticized as an autocratic leader who rejected counsel of trustees and others. The Biblical Recorder said Hammond has chafed under unusual constraints on his office put in place by trustees after Reccord's departure and reported morale at NAMB is lower now than it was during the tumultuous days before Reccord resigned.
Last November the Christian Index published a news analysis questioning Hammond's handling of a national evangelism campaign called God's Plan for Sharing, or GPS. -30-
                Comments (5)
 Firing hammond
written by Slick, August 03, 2009
It is refreshing (not sure that is the best word) to know/read that this is apparently not a doctrinal/political issue. The accounts in both ABP and BP are similar (although BP forbids any comment on its material). If Hammond’s management style is hurting the work of NAMB, he probably should be replaced, particularly if he refuses to take the advice/direction of those who appointed him. I have no personal opinion on whether he should be terminated but I do hope that’s it’s not another doctrinal squabble in the SBC.
Indeed, operational style mismatch has often been at the root of friction in churches and church organizations. Back in 2006, some research was published that pointed to the inability to get along with the rest of the staff as the major reason for termination of people on church staffs. I’ve seen it in practice, often between temperamental ministers of music and pastors who want to maintain control. Hammond
written by Ruth, August 06, 2009
Once again Southern Baptists are embarrassed by behavior that is in consistent with God’s Word. We once again demonize because we will not submit to authority placed over us. The current issues with NMB and the President Dr. Geoff Hammond appear to be little more than individuals who will not submit to a new future. Fueled by hear say and a few e-mails conflict that should have been dealt with a lower level now involves every Southern Baptist.
I continue to be disappointed that Trustees and administration are so easily bested by their inability to deal with each other as brothers in Christ. Aggravated by headline grabbing newspapers the conflict has no way to go except up. The escalation becomes a no win when the lost need to be won. When will the day arrive that we will follow the leadership we elect and allow them the opportunity to lead without being manipulated by those who believe in entitlement those stiff necked change resistant, and inflexible. As Southern Baptist we continue to whine about the poor state of affairs, declining Baptisms and church health. What are doing? Where is the Biblical commitment? Where do we expect to get to when we continue to act as we do? We continue to expose or nakedness to the world building a wall against God and his Spirit. God will not work through a sewer hose and that is all we seem to hold on to. A sewer hose that smellis to every unbeliever who need Christ. Jimmy ...
written by otis16, August 06, 2009
Dr. Lewis was forced out. Dr. Reccord was forced out. Dr. Hammond is getting pressure to leave. Looks like a pattern.
IMB and NAMB written by Swampboy, August 07, 2009
I am opposed to the joining of IMB and NAMB into one agency. The two are not the same. The IMB is very successful in its operations overseas. IMB has its focus squarely before it and is moving forward with God's blessings. It seems to me that maybe NAMB has lost their focus....??? I agree that the trustees should verbally address this to the SBC public in order to keep down rumors.
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I would also recommend that the trustee disavow any intention to merging NAMB into the IMB. If this is not done this will look like a plot to fire NAMB's president so that NAMB and the IMB are easily consolidated. The appearance of such shady political moves needs to be avoided at all cost.