CARY, N.C. (ABP) — With income trailing last year's gifts by 3.2 percent or $647,000 through seven months, the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina has laid off three people and eliminated six positions, effective immediately.
Two of the positions will be combined with related work currently being conducted by two persons each carrying dual responsibilities. Those persons will have the option to apply for the redesigned positions, which will be opened for application by others, as well.
The convention has maintained positive cash flow even during the income decline, but careful handling of resources is no longer enough, said Brian Davis, executive leader for administration and convention relations.
Three persons whose positions are being eliminated are Eddie Hammett, senior consultant for discipleship and deacon ministry; Wendy Edwards, senior consultant for spiritual formation; and Rosanna Strickland, resource center manager.
The Learning Communities coordinator position at Hollifield Leadership Center is being eliminated. It was currently unoccupied, although Kim Duncan, who had held the position, was laid off in May.
The role of senior consultant for preschool ministries position, held by Cathy Hopkins, is being combined with children's ministries. Before the retirement of Janice Haywood, Hopkins was the pre-school consultant but has been doing both jobs.
The senior consultant for western regional resources, held by Lester Evans, is being combined with the associational partnerships director position. He had been western regional resources consultant before assuming the additional role of associational partnerships.
Job descriptions that will combine the four roles filled by Hopkins and Evans into two will be presented for consideration by the Position Evaluation Committee of the BSC Executive Committee at its September meeting.
Hopkins and Evans will continue to fill their current roles until the newly combined positions have been filled and they may apply for the new positions.
Davis estimated an annual savings of approximately $500,000 in the staff and position reductions.
Norman Jameson is editor of the Biblical Recorder.