The Actions of the Executive Council and the Council of Associations
When the RTF made it's report to the Executive Council in October, the Executive Council took action to begin moving toward the new proposed structure. The following actions were taken by unanimous vote:
- In accordance with the Council of Associations Bylaws, Article 6, the Executive Council directed the Personnel Committee to temporarily consolidate the Congregational Ministries department into the office of the Executive Director. This action allows the Executive Director to begin transitioning resources from the Congregational Ministries department into the more specific Church Revitalization department and to absorb some of the other duties into the office of the Executive Director.
- In accordance with the C/A Bylaws, Article 6, the Executive Council recommended that the Council of Associations establish a Regional Ministries department and a Church Revitalization department to be approved at the next meeting of the General Association in July 2021.
- The Executive Council instructed the RTF to bring recommended changes to the constitutions and bylaws of the Council of Associations and the General Association to the May meeting of the Council of Associations to fulfill the proposed model.
At the November meeting of the Council of Associations, the RTF also made a presentation of its findings. The Council of Associations took the following actions by unanimous vote:
- The Council of Associations established a Regional Ministries department and a Church Revitalization department to be approved at the July 2021 meeting of the General Association.
- The Council of Associations endorsed the Executive Council’s instructions to the RTF to bring recommended changes to the constitutions and bylaws of the Council of Associations and the General Association to the May meeting of the Council of Associations to fulfill the proposed model.
Next Steps
The RTF has begun work to complete the task of revising the constitutions and bylaws of the two bodies and will be prepared to make the recommendations for those changes to the Council of Associations in May. The RTF also plans to present the documents to the Executive Council at its March meeting and to present the documents to the larger General Baptist family for input prior to the Council of Associations’ meeting in May.
The following items are planned for the agenda of the General Association meeting in July 2021 for approval:
- Permanent creation of the Regional Ministries department and the Church Revitalization department.
- Approval of changes to the constitution and bylaws of the Council of Associations.
- A first vote on approval of the changes to the Constitution and Bylaws of the General Association (those changes would not become final until a second vote at the 2022 General Association meeting).
As opportunities arise for you to provide input on the reorganization, you are encouraged to participate. Please be in prayer for General Baptists as we move through these transitions!
General Association Constitution and Bylaws Draft
Board of Overseers Constitution and Bylaws Draft