ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Robert E. Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board, announced his resignation April 17 from the Southern Baptist entity he has led since its creation nine years ago.
By Martin King
NAMB Staff Writer
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Robert E. Reccord, president
of the North American Mission Board, announced his resignation April 17
from the Southern Baptist entity he has led since its creation nine
years ago.
Speaking to nearly 200 NAMB staff members at NAMB’s
Atlanta-area offices, Reccord said he made the decision, which was
effective immediately, with “mixed emotions.”
“I am thankful for the countless numbers of people
we have seen come to Christ and the thousands of churches we have seen
planted and nurtured,” he said. “On the other hand, I regret we were
not able to complete a number of things we have started or dreamed
about. I regret that events of recent weeks have created an environment
which makes it difficult to lead the organization and to stay on
mission.”
The events Reccord referred to resulted from a
lengthy article two months ago in The Christian Index, newsjournal of
the Georgia Baptist Convention. The article led to an investigation by
NAMB’s board of trustees.
During his announcement, Reccord told employees he
has found it increasingly difficult to be an entrepreneurial leader
within a denominational structure.
“I believe that honest philosophical and
methodological differences have brought us to this point of separate
directions,” Reccord said.
He added he hopes he has “demonstrated my love for
and commitment to Southern Baptists and all for which we stand.”
“I also hope I have demonstrated a Kingdom heart and
mindset,” Reccord continued. “It is this mindset and my entrepreneurial
bent that have led us to explore more effective applications of
technology and media; strategies for reaching a wider range of
demographic groups; and creative evangelism initiatives.”
Barry Holcomb, chairman of NAMB’s board of trustees,
read a statement to the mission board’s employees, acknowledging
Reccord’s accomplishments, integrity and visionary leadership style.
“I stand here today with Dr. Reccord to say thank
you for nine years of tireless service to the North American Mission
Board,” Holcomb said. “As an agency, we’ve seen growth in many areas,
including increases in our church planting efforts, a significant
increase in mission personnel and the dramatic increase and impact of
our disaster relief work.”
Holcomb said Reccord had “sought to provide
leadership that was both consistent and visionary,” and he emphasized
that neither a special focused financial audit nor an investigation by
the trustees themselves revealed “evidence that Dr. Reccord had done
anything unethical in his role as president. … Dr. Reccord’s
integrity is strong and solid today, and I want to emphasize [that]
clearly.”
“Dr. Reccord is in no way being asked to resign, let
alone forced to resign,” Holcomb continued. “He is taking this step for
what he feels is best for Christ’s Kingdom…. I believe that this is
one of the strongest evidences of his personal character and integrity.”
Holcomb is pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Andalusia, Ala.
“Dr. Reccord has aptly noted that in [Southern
Baptist] Convention life, entrepreneurial leadership and denominational
requirements may be at odds with one another. This is no one’s fault -–
it is simply a reality. There is no question God has some special
things in store for the next chapter of this ‘out-of-the-box’ thinker,”
Holcomb said.
To that end, Holcomb announced that Reccord will
serve as a liaison between NAMB and Promise Keepers as he speaks at 19
PK events across the country from June through October.
“NAMB and Promise Keepers entered into an agreement
earlier this year to work together to mobilize workers for the rebuild
that continues along the Gulf Coast following last year’s hurricanes,”
Holcomb said. “I’m thankful that Dr. Reccord has the opportunity and
the desire to challenge Christian men across America to invest their
time and talents alongside Southern Baptists.”
Holcomb announced NAMB’s trustees will consider
naming an interim president at its upcoming May 2 meeting as well as
begin the search process for a new president.
In the meantime, Carlos Ferrer, NAMB’s chief
financial officer, who was named the previous week as the interim chief
operating officer, would assume all executive leadership
responsibilities, Holcomb said.
“Carlos is a man of great giftedness and integrity,
and he will provide outstanding leadership during this time.” Ferrer, a
native of Cuba, joined the former Home Mission Board in 1992 as
controller.
Reccord closed his remarks to the employees affirming his own confidence in the SBC’s domestic mission board.
“Southern Baptists everywhere can be proud of their
North American Mission Board’s effectiveness and efficiencies. They can
be proud of their missionaries,” Reccord said. “They can give with
confidence that tremendous financial efficiencies have been achieved as
a result of the denomination’s restructuring and a conscientious
staff’s diligent efforts.”