SBC's Ambassador to the Galaxy comes back to earth...

[William Thornton]

Welch joins TBC, will have limited GER role

The Baptist Press story above explains it. Basically, Bobby Welch, one of the SBC's outstanding figures, will leave the Executive Committee, SBC, from the role of Global Evangelical Relations guy (sometimes called "Global Ambassador" or to me Ambassasor to the Galaxy, why restrict him to just the world?) and be an assistant Executive Director for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He will retain some GER functions, says Frank Page.

The peripatetic Welch could see the handwriting on the wall back when the SBC's GCR suggested cutting the EC's budget.

[Timothy Bonney]

William,

It has been too many years now since I followed SBC structure and polity. What exactly does a "Global Ambassador" do? It seems like an awfully broad title. Are their specific duties?

[Tim Dahl]

My memory is a little foggy, but I think his "position" began about the same time that the SBC withdrew from the BWA. I thought he was supposed to start an SBC version of the BWA, but then again I haven't heard much about his ministry since it began.

Maybe he just needed a place to land for a while, sorta like Dr. Hemphill?

Tim

[William Thornton]

William,

It has been too many years now since I followed SBC structure and polity. What exactly does a "Global Ambassador" do? It seems like an awfully broad title. Are their specific duties?

Ah, you're onto it, my UMC friend, as is my astute Texas Baptist friend Tim.

After the SBC withdrew from the BWA, they made up this job and Welch filled it. The idea was to build relationships, apart from the BWA, with global Baptist groups. I'm guessing that the Executive Committee thinks now that this plan hasn't worked so well, although you will never hear anyone say that.

The job for KH was completely manufactured, seems to me, for 'a while', er, the rest of his life. At least in theory you can make a case for the GER position.

[Timothy Bonney]

I guess the SBC still has more money to toss around than United Methodists do. The UMC is talking about combining of agencies for efficiency. The General Conference, which only meets every four years, is going to be voting on proposals for what is being called a "Vital Church Initiative" which is all about finding ways to promote evangelism, church growth, and church vitality. I think any job that looks like it doesn't have a real purpose in doing that could be on the chopping block.

[William Thornton]

I guess the SBC still has more money to toss around than United Methodists do. The UMC is talking about combining of agencies for efficiency. The General Conference, which only meets every four years, is going to be voting on proposals for what is being called a "Vital Church Initiative" which is all about finding ways to promote evangelism, church growth, and church vitality. I think any job that looks like it doesn't have a real purpose in doing that could be on the chopping block.

Not anymore, I'm afraid. The net loss of state and denominational jobs has to be in the hundreds if not thousands. The Georgia Baptist Convention went from 168 employees to 103 or so. NAMB just cut 100 or so. Seminaries have been cutting.

The only way the SBC slims down is when the beast is starved.

[Dave Roberts]

Welch seems to be on the chopping block. What about the other created job for Ken Hemphill?

[William Thornton]

Doubt it, don't know. Hemphill is doing an event in my association tomorrow.