DALLAS (ABP) — With the departure of Randel Everett, the Baptist General Convention of Texas is searching
for a new executive director for the second time in three years.
Everett, 61, accepted a unanimous call Dec. to serve as the permanent pastor of First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas, where he had been interim pastor for several months.
BGCT leaders will name a 15-member search committee to find his successor as chief executive of the largest state group affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Seven members will be named by BGCT Executive Board officers and eight members by convention officers, and the Executive Board then will vote on that committee and initiate the search, according to BGCT Executive Board Chair Debbie Ferrier.
Convention leaders are recommending to the Executive Board that Associate Executive Director Steve Vernon be empowered to assume all authority and responsibilities related to the executive director’s role while the position is vacant.
The board elected Everett as executive director in February 2008, and he assumed the post several weeks later. Everett came to the position from First Baptist Church in Newport News, Va.
In addition to serving as president of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington, Va., his previous places of service include Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, Va.; First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla.; First Baptist Church in Benton, Ark.; University Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas; Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas; and First Baptist Church in Gonzales, Texas.
The BGCT began several new initiatives under Everett's leadership,
including Texas Hope 2010 — a wholistic evangelism-and-social-service
program aimed at sharing Christ with every Texan by Easter 2010 — and
an effort by the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission and the Baylor
University School of Social Work to end hunger in the Lone Star State by
2015.
But his successor will deal with significant challenges. Under Everett's tenure, the BGCT faced stagnating revenues, controversies over
gay-friendly member congregations and continuing competition from a
rival state convention more closely aligned with the conservatives who
dominate the Southern Baptist Convention's leadership.
-30-
This story includes information compiled by John Hall of Texas Baptist Communications and the Texas Baptist Standard.
Related ABP stories:
Everett to leave BGCT for pastorate (12/7/2010)
Texas exec considering pastorate (11/21/2010)
Broadway Baptist Church informs BGCT it will 'discontinue' relationship (9/13/2010)
BGCT eliminates 13 staff positions, reduces some to part-time (8/11/2010)
Board distances BGCT from gay-affirming Dallas church (5/25/2010)