By Bob Allen
A number of jobs at the headquarters of the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board in Richmond, Va., will be eliminated in a restructuring of stateside operations announced Jan. 14.
According to multiple sources, changes include outsourcing work now done by the IMB communications department. That affects an estimated 30 to 40 jobs.
An IMB press release described “the difficult decision” to eliminate the Richmond communications center, effective April 29.
“These are some of the kindest servants and leaders in the Richmond office,” said IMB President David Platt. “IMB is indebted to them on many levels. In the days to come, we want to express our honor and appreciation for the countless ways these brothers and sisters have served Christ through the IMB.”
In August Platt announced plans to cut personnel by 600 to 800 jobs in order to balance the agency’s budget. Sources say about 700 veteran missionaries and 50 home office staff have accepted a Voluntary Retirement Incentive offer.
The IMB release said enough workers took the offer so that no international missionaries will be required to leave the field but the actual number won’t be released until completion of a second-phase “Hand Raising Opportunity” to “redeploy” missionaries and staff currently on the payroll to some other form of service.