DALLAS (ABP) — Ron Gunter, chief operating officer for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, has resigned.
His Oct. 18 announcement came two days after Carolyn Porterfield announced her resignation as executive director-treasurer of the Woman's Missionary Union of Texas. The resignations are unrelated but represent ongoing turmoil in BGCT leadership.
Gunter, a former foreign missionary, joined the BGCT Executive Board in 2002. He became chief operating officer in 2005 and will leave the post Nov. 30.
During his time in the role, Gunter implemented the executive board staff reorganization and created a service center, a research and development office, and a congregational leadership section.
But the reorganization has drawn criticism, as did Gunter's role as part of the executive leadership team who recently eliminated 29 positions on the BGCT executive board staff.
“What we have achieved in these years [of Gunter's tenure] is really phenomenal, though it has been difficult,” said Charles Wade, executive director of the BGCT.
In his Oct. 18 letter of resignation, Gunter alluded to the need for a new executive director to have the freedom to enlist his own associate. Wade has announced plans to retire Jan. 31, 2008.
“Significant, and at times difficult, adjustments have been made, which have positioned the convention for further growth and greater service to the local church,” Gunter said. “As the transition is made to a new executive director, he will now have the opportunity to select his associate and assemble the team that will best serve the convention under his leadership.”
After Gunter leaves his position, BGCT directors will report directly to Wade. Dan McGee will become interim director of the congregational leadership section. Gunter had been serving an interim director of the area.
Before he went to the mission field, Gunter was pastor of churches in Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee. He also was a volunteer hospital and police chaplain.
Porterfield, who joined the Texas WMU staff in 1992, became executive director-treasurer in 2001. She said she is resigning because her “gifts are more in the area of leading and speaking and being with people,” while the “executive director job requires a great deal of management skills.”
“I have come to realize that the skill sets required for the position that I now hold do not match well with my gifts and abilities,” she said in a letter to WMU directors. “It is time for me to step aside in order for the next leader to come who can most effectively lead this wonderful organization into her future.”
A member of Lakeside Baptist Church in Dallas, she said she hopes to be involved in missions after taking some time off for rest and rejuvenation.
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— With additional reporting provided by Ferrell Foster and John Hall.