January 14, 2003

JEFFERSON CITY - A restructuring of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) has begun that will place a greater emphasis on evangelism, missions, church planting and strengthening Missouri families.

David Clippard, MBC executive director, announced Jan. 7 that New Directions -- the program started by former MBC Executive Director Jim Hill that had MBC staffers living and working in the field at sites throughout the state -- would be discontinued. I t is being replaced by a leaner, more focused convention divided into four "teams:" church outreach, church and family equipping, communications and development, and support services (click on above chart to enlarge).

Each team will be managed by four associate executive directors who will report to Clippard once a week to evaluate the effectiveness of MBC ministries and plan for the future. The restructuring and the four new associate executive director positions we re approved by the MBC Executive Board Dec. 10.

"These moves have made our ministries strategic and intentional," Clippard said.

The restructuring will reduce the convention's eight teams down to four, while a reduction in force of personnel will drop the number employed by the convention from approximately 95 to 75.

The four associate executive directors include:

— Kenny Qualls will lead the church and family equipping team. He most recently was pastor of Springhill Baptist Church, Springfield, and immediate past president of the MBC. Qualls served as MBC first vice president in 2001-2002 and was chairman of th e executive director search committee that hired Clippard. He has also served on the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. He earned an associate in science degree from Southwest Baptist University and attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

— Roy Spannagel will oversee the church outreach team. He most recently associate pastor of Riverside Baptist Church, Denver, Colo. (See related story.)

— David Waganer will lead the communications and development team. He most recently served as interim co-executive director for the MBC and ministry resource group leader for the convention. Waganer has also served as stewardship and Cooperative Program specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. He has served as director of church stewardship for the South Carolina Baptist Convention as well as pastor or interim pastor for churches in Oklahoma and Missouri.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, a master of divinity and master of religious education degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

— Larry Thomas will head the support services team. He most recently served as co-interim executive director and ministry support group leader. An MBC Executive Board employee since 1984, Thomas has worked as director-elect for stewardship, then as director of Cooperative Program and stewardship, and later as director of church services. He has pastured several churches in Missouri.

Thomas earned a bachelor of arts degree from William Jewell College and a master of divinity degree from Midwestern.