The number of International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries and staff members who chose to accept IMB’s invitation to “transition” away from IMB is not only surprising, it is shocking and disappointing. In one fell swoop, 20 percent of the international missions force and one-third of the stateside staff stepped away.
The exact numbers are 983 missionaries and 149 staff members who accepted offers by IMB to find other ministries (see IMB missionaries cut by 20 percent, staff by 40 percent). IMB also eliminated an additional 30 staff positions meaning the staff has been reduced by 40 percent.
Speaking to Baptist state paper editors Feb. 16, IMB President David Platt said IMB needed at least 600 missionaries and staff members to leave IMB in order to achieve a balanced budget. He added that some projections placed the needed number closer to 800.
But when Platt spoke to editors during a news conference shortly after releasing the final numbers Feb. 24 he confessed surprise at the number of missionaries and staff members who opted out. The number was nearly twice as many as the 600 target.
Platt said, “The last thing I wanted to do when I stepped into this role 18 months ago was to see hundreds less people on the field. I want to see thousands more people on the field.” Few, if any, doubt Platt’s passion to see the gospel preached and churches planted among the nations for the glory of God.
It is important to remember that missionaries and staff members who accepted “transition” offers did so voluntarily. Platt emphasized that no missionary was forced to leave his or her field of service.
‘The reality’
Still, he added, “I know the reality of so many IMB missionaries making transitions will set in and frustrate (people)” across the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). He is right. Southern Baptists care about international missions and about international missionaries. Alabama Baptists, for example, are working through their state convention and in other ways to assist returning missionaries as they move back to the United States and as they find new ministries.
Despite the concern for missionaries, the frustration is already finding outlets. Some blame churches for inadequate support of missions. While giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions has been at record highs — in 2015, Southern Baptists gave the second highest amount in history — the receipts have missed the offering goals by several million dollars for a number of years.
Some point a finger at past IMB administrations for deficit spending that resulted in a $210 million financial hole during the past six years that threatened IMB’s long-term financial future.
Some question the wisdom of trying to solve the financial problem in a single step. Beginning in 2017, IMB may have a balanced budget but it will be minus 20 percent of its missions force including many of its most seasoned missionaries. “Is that a real advantage?” they ask.
Others ask about the present culture of IMB. “What is there about an organization that causes such a large percentage of its seasoned leadership — both missionary and staff — to step away when they are offered an opportunity?” they ask.
Still others raise questions about the missionaries. “Were 20 percent of the missionaries anxious to leave the field?” they want to know.
For some missionaries the Voluntary Retirement Incentive (VRI) may have been a God-send. Platt shared stories of missionaries for whom the VRI seemed to be an answer to prayer.
Other missionaries talk about the uncertainty of the process. Originally a second round of cuts was envisioned if enough people did not accept the VRI. Officials said a second offer would not be as generous as the first if that happened. Some missionaries felt that if they declined the VRI they could still get fired.
Others said they took the VRI to protect the educational benefits for their children. Others needed assurance of medical insurance.
Most missionaries remain silent saying that to talk about the process or their decision could jeopardize their severance agreements. Missionaries had to agree not to “disparage” IMB as part of the VRI agreement.
When editors asked Platt if he would “release them (missionaries) to speak to us (state papers) with truthful statements” about IMB, the VRI process and/or their decision, Platt said, “So for the protection of the IMB — and I am confident that this is for the good of not just the IMB but the SBC — and I am going to encourage our missionaries to do everything that legally they’ve agreed to do.”
Already some who signed the statement are asking what “disparagement” means and to whom is a remark disparaging. “Is truth disparaging?” they ask. One who accepted the VRI recently contacted this writer offering to do an article on his experiences and observations with IMB. But after being reminded of the disparagement clause decided he could not risk a possible court battle and loss of benefits.
What is done is done
Personally I am at a loss to describe my feeling when Platt declined to affirm his support of “transitioned” missionaries and staff speaking truthfully to fellow Southern Baptists about their experiences. I hope he misunderstood the question but it was asked two different times and each time drew a similar response.
The bottom line is what is done is done. It cannot be undone and few have the stomach for more controversy. God in His providence will reveal if this is a blessing or a blunder.
In the meantime Platt was correct when he told state paper editors, “I know there’s an adversary who’d love to use that (the returned missionaries) to bring discouragement and division and disunity.” To allow that to happen would be to compound the tragedy of losing 20 percent of our international missions force.
The blame for what happened stretches from the smallest Baptist church to the highest SBC entity leader. It starts with tithes and offerings of church members and goes all the way through entity priorities, policies and personnel decisions.
But so does the responsibility for salvaging the floundering ship of international missions. It cannot be done by a president alone, no matter how gifted. It cannot be done by more missions volunteers alone or by simply putting more money in an offering plate.
As we have said before, like interlocking parts, Baptists must partner to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. That means all parts working together — more money in the offering plates, more missions volunteers, more Cooperative Program giving. It also means conventions and entities honoring the faithfulness of their constituents with wise and prudent leadership.
If we fail to work together in trusting and transparent ways, then we are likely to have more hand-wringing, finger-pointing, heartbreaking situations like this announcement from IMB.
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