Florida Baptist Convention reduces staff by 47 percent

LEESBURG, Florida — A reorganization of the Florida Baptist Convention staff that reduces the number of employees statewide by 47 percent — from the 115 currently employed to 61 employees — was approved by the Florida State Board of Missions on Sept. 18.

The reorganization and downsizing was the fulfillment of a promise made by Executive Director-Treasurer Tommy Green on May 29 after being elected to the post. He stressed the need to have a responsive, lean missions organization that is decentralized, regionalized and personalized.

The downsizing will make it possible to send 51 percent of the proposed 2016 Cooperative Program budget to the Southern Baptist Convention — a nearly 10 percent increase — and ultimately “put more missionary families on the field,” he said.

Four new staff persons were elected to fill vacancies within the restructured organization. The board eliminated 36 ministry staff positions, some of which were vacant, effective immediately.

(BP)