NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — The Alliance of Baptists has agreed to work with Hewett Consulting of Charlotte, N.C., to design a development strategy to help strengthen its financial situation as it moves forward with a new administrative structure.
The progressive Baptist group's board of directors met March 27-28, just prior to its 2008 convocation at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. John Hewett, interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Monroe, N.C. and the principal in Hewett Consulting, met with the board to discuss what he could do for the organization. A 10-person task group was named to work on the project with Hewett.
The Alliance, a small body of about 120 affiliated churches and 1,500 individuals, has a 2008 budget of $542,685 with a projected deficit of $71,000. But the group also has an additional $200,000 on hand, thanks to two major bequests it received in the past two years.
Much of the projected and expected deficit is the result of a new partnership-staffing plan implemented a year ago when Jeanette Holt, the group's longtime associate director, retired. Under the new plan, former executive director Stan Hastey became the Alliance's minister for missions and ecumenism. He was joined on the staff by Chris Copeland, minister for congregational life.
A third position, minister for stewardship and development, was in the original staffing structure but has been put on hold until the board and current staff can decide exactly what it should entail.
That is what led to the board's contracting with Hewett, at a cost not to exceed $30,000, to develop a fundraising strategy.
“The board struggled with the issue of transition and the need for development,” said outgoing Alliance president Jim Hopkins, pastor of Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Oakland, Calif. “We want to continue to move forward with putting a plan in place that will ensure a vibrant future for the Alliance.”
Board member Ann Charlescraft of Richmond, Va., said she has been advocating for a “practical development plan” for the Alliance.
“John Hewett understands and exhibits the dynamic nature that we need,” she said. “He will give us a structure. The rest of us will do the work.”
During the full group's annual meeting March 29, Alliance supporters adopted a resolution presented by Ken Sehested of Asheville, N.C., and endorsed by the board that calls on churches and members to practice “community investing.” Specifically, the resolution suggests that a minimum of 10 percent of each Alliance church's discretionary funds be placed in community investments that focus on serving those on society's margins. The funds could be used for small loans for business development or housing development.
In other action, the body elected new officers and board members.
Brooks Wicker, a member of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., will serve as president for 2008-2009. Mike Castle, pastor of Cross Creek Community Church in Dayton, Ohio, was elected vice president. Secretary will be Jeff Sims, a chaplain with the New Orleans district attorney's office.
New members of the Alliance board are John Boyd of Halifax, Nova Scotia; Melody Chartier of New York; Amy Jacks Dean of Charlotte; Lee Hill of New York; Cliff Johnson of Clinton, Miss.; Leah Lonsbury of Madison, Wis.; and Ann Quattlebuam of Greenville, S.C. Carole Collins of Stone Mountain, Ga., a returning board member, was elected to a special three-year term.
The 2009 Convocation and Annual Meeting is scheduled for April 17-19 at Park Road Baptist Church in Charlotte.
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