ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–“With great anticipation for the future of missions in North America,” Barry Holcomb, chairman of the North American Mission Board’s trustees, has announced appointment of two committees –- a presidential search committee and an executive level policy committee.
The search committee, necessitated by the April 17 resignation of NAMB president Bob Reccord, will be chaired by Terry G. Fox, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita, Kan., and co-chaired by David Crump of Broken Arrow, Okla.
Other NAMB trustees serving on the search committee are Bill Curtis, Florence, S.C.; Ellie Ficken, Montgomery, Ala.; Greg Faulls, Owensboro, Ky.; Barbara McCormick, Tigerville, S.C.; Michael Palmer, Salmon, Idaho; Ryan Palmer, Baltimore, Md.; and Jeff Shirley, Rockwall, Texas.
Larry Thomas, director of missions for the Little Red River Baptist Association in Heber Springs, Ark., will chair the executive level policy committee, and the vice chairman will be Ron Wilson of Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Additional members of the executive level policy committee are Reva Daniel, Clinton, Miss.; Mack McCarthick, Lovington, N.M.; Tim Patterson, Jacksonville, Fla.; Paul Pope, Bonne Terre, Mo.; David Thompson, Old Hickory, Tenn.; and, Rob Rogers, Rincon, Ga.
In a statement released to Baptist Press, Holcomb said the policy committee “will be tasked with recommending healthy, accountability-focused policies for NAMB’s next executive leader. This group will fulfill the spirit of the recommendations found in the Trustee Task Force Report adopted by the Board March 23, 2006.”
That 19-page report contained the results of a special trustee investigation of concerns expressed in denominational press reports critical of NAMB’s results, relationships and executive leadership.
Holcomb, pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Andalusia, Ala., said he believes the committees represent the great diversity of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“It is my desire that all Southern Baptists feel they have representation on these committees, which are composed of laymen, lay women and pastors from large and small churches, from areas of North America where Southern Baptist work is strong as well as new work areas,” he said.
Holcomb said he agreed with a recent statement by Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee, who said he was encouraged by the process that has resulted from recent events.
“Questions were asked by Southern Baptists,” Chapman was quoted as saying. “Inquiries were made by the trustees of NAMB. Accountability was required of the leadership. Action was taken by the leadership that was ultimately in the best interests of NAMB and of the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Holcomb encouraged Southern Baptists to pray for members of the two committees as well as the entire NAMB board of trustees, which will meet in regular session May 2 near New York City.
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