Wade announces plans to retire as BGCT executive

DALLAS — Charles Wade, who led the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) through major changes in its governance and a reorganization of its staff, announced plans to retire as executive director Jan. 31, 2008. Wade told BGCT employees of his plans at an April 11 staff meeting after he informed convention President Steve Vernon and executive board Chairman Bob Fowler.

During Wade’s tenure, the BGCT went through its most thorough reorganization in more than a half century. Governance changes vested more authority in the executive board, which was reduced from 234 to 90 members. Staff changes included placing congregational strategists in regions throughout the state.

In his retirement announcement, Wade made no mention of a scandal that emerged during his tenure involving the mismanagement of BGCT church-starting funds in south Texas. Independent investigators discovered 98 percent of the 258 new churches reported by three church planters in the Rio Grande Valley between 1999 and 2005 no longer exist, and some never existed — except on paper. Those churches had received more than $1.3 million from the BGCT.

Wade pledged to "clean up the mess," and a special oversight group reported significant progress to the BGCT executive board at its February meeting.