Highlighting that focus was a unanimous vote to affirm the commissioning of Kelli Jane Foreman as a “missionary of Jesus Christ for ministry at Kodiak Baptist Mission” by American Baptist Churches of Alaska. A member of Community Baptist Church of Kodiak, Foreman serves at the mission as public education director and children’s program administrator.

In remarks before offering a prayer of support for Foreman’s work, Rev. Edwenia Brown of Anchorage, Alaska, pointed out that Foreman ministers to the children of a population that experiences some of the highest drug and alcohol abuse as well as domestic violence rates in the country.

National Ministries’ Executive Director Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III addressed the current economy and its implications for National Ministries in his remarks, suggesting to board members that “the context for our contemporary witness is the wilderness.” He continued: “We engage in ministry more concerned than we have been in a very long time about the availability of ministry-sustaining resources.”

Wright-Riggins reported steps the organization is considering to address financial challenges with prudent and careful stewardship that will assure its future strength, including:

• Offering special retirement incentives to eligible staff;
• Implementing strategic travel reductions;
• Freezing salaries and implementing a six-day furlough;
• Identifying and reducing or eliminating non-core activities and expenses; and
• Negotiating cost reductions where possible.

Michaele D. Birdsall CPA, National Ministries’ treasurer and chief financial officer, assured board members that even in the context of the current economy, National Ministries is not at a financial “crisis point.”

Because the organization has used reserve funds to balance past budgets, however, $1.3 million needs to be cut from the 2010 budget to begin the process of aligning income and expenses. This alignment will require strategic reductions in the work force. A combination of normal attrition, job elimination and early retirements has already trimmed National Ministries’ current workforce by approximately 21% this year.

Birdsall reminded members of the biblical passage from John 15:1-2: “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more” (NLT).

“National Ministries has consistently borne fruit for God,” Birdsall said. But, “God prunes us so we can bear more fruit. Even though we have to go through the pain of pruning, we will be positioned to grow over the long term.”

In other business, board members considered a draft of proposed changes to National Ministries’ bylaws and standing rules developed by the Design and Transition Task Force, chaired by the Rev. Douglas Stowers. Task Force recommendations for board restructuring include:

• 15-19 members;
• Three-year terms;
• Three-term service limit with one-year break between second and third terms;
• Three board meetings a year;
• Committee work outside of meetings;
• Two-year officer terms;
• Board election of recording secretary; and
• Reduction in number of standing committees.

Members will vote on final proposed changes at the November meeting.

At Tuesday’s board and staff dinner, Rev. Mark A. Stauffer—pastor of Highlawn Baptist Church in St. Albans, WV—received the Rosa O. Hall Rural and Small Town Award from Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III.

Stauffer was recognized for previous ministry as pastor of Old Greenbrier Baptist Church in Alderson, WV, a town of 1,000 where almost half of the population lives below the poverty line. His work there included starting a food pantry and a thrift store, along with setting up work teams that repaired buildings and homes.

Board President Dr. Annie Marie LeBarbour reminded members of the challenges of the last year: “This board stands at the moment of change. We are looking at structure changes, financial changes and missional changes...These changes will come together as a brilliant future. We are strong and we are moving. God bless us in this work.”

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.