By Bob Allen
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has retired one of its top leadership positions in a new structure aligned with priorities identified by the 2012 Task Force.
Connie McNeill, coordinator for administration at the Atlanta-based Fellowship since March 2005, posted on Facebook that her position would be eliminated as of July 31.
“I enjoyed my eight years at CBF,” wrote McNeill, who previously worked as chief operating officer and vice president for development at Central Baptist Theological Seminary and in leadership development and campus ministry assignments at the Missouri Baptist Convention.
“I’m letting my Facebook community know that I am looking for my next meaningful employment,” McNeill posted. “Thanks for your prayers and any networking you can help me do.”
Suzii Paynter, elected in February as the Fellowship’s new executive coordinator, said in a staff memo July 15 that coordinators in a new structure will align with tasks that are directly related to priority areas of mission, ministry and partnerships.
“The result is that the Coordinator for Administration position will be retired,” Paynter said. “This has an effect on everyone in our organization, but most significantly on Connie McNeill, who will be leaving CBF because of this decision.”
“Connie has been an integral and important part of the top leadership of CBF,” Paynter said. “She has made many important contributions to this organization and has demonstrated her love for CBF and her leadership on behalf of CBF for years. She will be leaving CBF this month and will take our fond wishes and prayers with her.”
McNeill’s departure continues a period of transition for the group formed in 1991 that undertook a two-year study to retool for the future beginning in 2010. McNeill was a member of the 2012 Task Force led by Huntsville, Ala., pastor David Hull and also has served on the implementation team.
Two members of former Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal’s leadership team stepped down last year. Terry Hamrick, coordinator of missional visioning, retired June 30 after 15 years. Ben McDade, coordinator of Fellowship advancement, resigned July 31 to join the staff of Baptists Today.
McDade’s former job was reconfigured and Jeff Huett, formerly with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, began work as associate coordinator of communications and advancement at the CBF General Assembly in June.
Veteran missionary Jim Smith serves as interim global missions coordinator. Rob Nash vacated that position after six years to teach and serve as associate dean at McAfee School of Theology.
That leaves Bo Prosser, coordinator for missional congregations elected in 2002, the only executive-level employee from the old structure.
McNeill was an early and strong supporter of CBF. Before joining the Atlanta staff she served on the CBF Coordinating Council and as moderator in Missouri.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., in 1975, she worked as a public school teacher in two Missouri school districts, where she developed district-wide arts programs. In 1980, she began studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., earning a master of religious education.
Her administration career started in 1982 when she joined the Missouri Baptist Convention as program coordinator of collegiate ministries. Later becoming metro coordinator and then regional coordinator of collegiate ministries, she oversaw the development of many new campus ministries, including MBC’s first ministries for African-American and international college students in Kansas City.
In addition to her later service as MBC’s leadership development consultant, she also directed a Belarusian medical mission. In 1997, she graduated summa cum laude with a master of science in administration from Central Michigan University.
Paynter, who formerly worked as executive director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, acknowledged that in her responsibility to implement changes and transitions “there are inevitably a few difficult decisions.”
“While this is a decision which is made to advance the structure of the organization, be assured that Connie has my respect and affirmation,” Paynter said. “She has been a true friend and colleague for many here and throughout CBF life.”
Paynter said McNeill will be missed, “but there are fine people in place to take up the mantle of responsibility in the areas of finance, human resources and IT.”
“The structure of our staff will be reordered to add the directors serving under Connie in these areas to the leadership team,” Paynter reported. “The responsibilities of other administrative staff will be realigned to continue support of the new governing boards, councils and committees, the General Assembly and other administrative needs of CBF.”