DALLAS (ABP) — An investigation that uncovered evidence of mismanagement and misuse of Texas Baptist church-starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley presents major challenges for the Baptist General Convention of Texas — and especially Executive Director Charles Wade, some state convention leaders agreed.
“Anytime a leader makes a mistake which proves significant, his or her leadership is called into question. The investigation clearly indicated that Dr. Wade's response to concerns expressed several times over a period of years was inadequate,” said Bob Fowler of Houston, chairman of the Executive Board. “That was a failure of his leadership as to that particular part of his overall job. He apologized for it and took responsibility for it at the meeting” of the board.
However, failure at one point does not mean an administrator has failed overall, Fowler said. Wade's annual review already was scheduled for the February 2007 Executive Board meeting, and his performance will be evaluated then as part of the board's annual duties.
Fowler voiced his personal support for Wade and indicated his hope Wade will continue as executive director.
“I believe he has been an effective leader who made the mistake of taking on faith the inaccurate and incomplete responses of certain staff,” he said. “He is a very trusting person, but he has indicated that he cannot be as trusting in the future. That's a shame, but that is a right decision, and, I believe, a realistic approach for a manager of a business — faith-based or otherwise.”
Baptist convention president Michael Bell agreed Wade should be judged by all he has accomplished and not by a single failure that occurred in his administration.
“I don't think in the midst of this that all the good Charles Wade has done should be shoved aside, dismissed and not considered,” said Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth. “When Charles Wade decides the time is right to end his tenure, I'd like to see it happen under better conditions and not tied to this painful affair. I'd hate to see him have to leave under the shadow of this situation.”
It would be “Pollyannaish” to pretend Wade doesn't face serious challenges, Bell said. The executive director must work hard to help the BGCT restore trust and rebuild confidence, he said.
“But I believe he can lead us through this,” he said. “We're going to have to work hard to restore the trust of all our constituents.”
One key group to whom the BGCT must reach out is church leaders in the Rio Grande Valley, Fowler said. Some believe the convention failed to heed their concerns for several years. Others may feel their own ministries have been smeared — even though they were not at fault.
“We must be careful to relate to the churches in the Valley,” he said. “We need to help them understand this is not an indictment of all the churches who are doing good work for the kingdom in that area of the state.”
BGCT leaders need to work closely with officers of the Hispanic Baptist Convencion of Texas — both in developing church-starting guidelines and in relating to Hispanic churches, said Convencion president Baldemar Borrego.
“To tell a group of Hispanics — especially people from Mexico or Central America or South America — that home cell (groups) or a home church is not considered a church or mission — they will be offended by that,” Borrego said.
Regarding what occurred in the Valley, Borrego asserted Hispanic Baptist Convencion officers “never were informed or invited to be part of the solution. We could serve as intermediary or mediators to solve this problem in a Christian ethical proceeding.”
Relationships need to be healed, and Texas Baptists must not be distracted from their God-given missionary task, Borrego said.
“It is time to let the healing begin,” he said. “We must move on to concentrate and focus on a better vision the Lord is giving us to respond to the great challenges we have in front of us.”
Moving ahead won't be easy, but it is essential, Bell added.
“At a time when denominationalism is in decline, something like this doesn't help — and that's a huge understatement,” he said.
Now the BGCT must move decisively and not “lose momentum,” he insisted.
“This is a crucial moment in the life of our convention,” Bell said. “But every critical moment always is permeated with the opportunity to do good and to move beyond the present pain and difficulty. I am convinced that we must not miss the moment, even now.”
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