Columbia – The Baptist General Convention of Missouri board initiated a strategic planning process, named H.K. Neely executive director emeritus and set its 2004 state missions offering goal June 4 at BGCM headquarters in Columbia.
"I am excited about this organization," said Jim Hill, who officially began his interim role as executive director on June 1.
"I think the convention needs to think strategically about the future. If you were 20 years old instead of two years old, I would say the same thing. Denominations and conventions have to think about their work in new ways."
At the recommendation of Hill and the board's administrative committee, the directors authorized the executive director and officers to nominate a leadership team that will guide the strategy planning effort.
The leadership team — which will include strategic partners, pastors, lay leaders and BGCM officers, board members and staff — is to be presented at the board's next meeting on Aug. 6.
The board also authorized Hill to prepare a proposal for a strategy planning process for consideration at their August meeting.
One of the driving questions of the evaluation and planning process will be, "What does God want us to be and what does God want us to do," Hill said.
The board designated H.K. Neely, who served the organization as executive director during its first two years, as executive director emeritus.
The formal presentation to Neely will be made at a future event or meeting, and the recognition will be displayed in BGCM's office.
Neely served in the role through May as a volunteer.
The board set its state missions offering goal at $35,000 at the recommendation of its church relations and missions committee. The breakdown of distribution for the September offering has not been determined.
In other action, the board or directors:
— Voted to give $1,000 apiece out of its ministry and missions line item to assist two new congregations, Sanctuary Church in St. Louis and Crossover Fellowship in Jackson.
— Authorized Hill to explore potential co-sponsorship of a Purpose Driven Ministry Conference being planned for Windermere Baptist Conference Center either in late 2004 or early 2005.
That conference will be held in partnership with Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., where purpose-driven materials originated.
— Authorized Hill to explore expanding the frequency of BGCM's special page in Word&Way from one per month to two per month.
— Approved the preparation of a bulk mailing to churches in August or September outlining the strategic planning process.
