IBSA to focus on church revitalization in 2020
Restructure of staff will focus on three key areas
The process of preparing IBSA’s 2020 strategy and budget has led to some structure and staffing adjustments for the coming year. These adjustments are necessary in order to fund a new and much-needed church health and revitalization strategy, with two full-time employees and a supporting ministry budget.
As is true throughout the nation, at least 80% of IBSA churches are plateaued or declining. IBSA churches are asking for help in making the necessary changes to increase their health and effectiveness, and to reach the people of their communities. IBSA feels it can better meet these needs for church health and revitalization if it structures its staff less along the lines of church ministry specializations and more along the lines of transformational processes. IBSA’s future structure focuses on the processes of church health and revitalization, leadership development and training (still to include ministry specializations such as Sunday School, worship and technology, student ministry, etc.), and church mobilization (i.e. missions, church planting, and evangelism).
IBSA’s investment in its new church revitalization strategy will exceed $300,000 in 2020. In order to pursue this new initiative with relatively flat income, IBSA will eliminate two current positions, the worship/technology director position and one of two full-time missions positions. Other positions may be shifting roles or changing supervisors. When possible, sincere efforts have been made to find appropriate roles for existing staff in the new structure. When those roles have not been accepted, generous separation agreements have been provided.
In addition to the above changes, IBSA has one employee who has moved to long-term disability this year, another who has announced his retirement at the end of 2019, and two other unfilled vacancies. The organization is seeking to incorporate all these changes into its overall reorganization effort, and to staff for the future in a way that will most effectively meet the needs of IBSA churches.
Change is almost always difficult, especially if you are not the one choosing the change. The two employees affected by these changes have responded with professionalism and grace, and IBSA is grateful to be able to work generously with them in transitioning to their next place of fruitful employment.
There are of course many more details to IBSA’s planned strategies and structuring, and these have been shared with the IBSA Board during their August 13-14 committee meetings. The goals, plans, and budget related to these emerging strategies were approved unanimously by those board committees, who of course have the responsibility and stewardship of overseeing IBSA’s Executive Director and the organization’s strategies and resources. Some IBSA churches or leaders may understandably have questions or concerns about the effects of these structural and staffing changes, though many have already expressed strong support of the planned church revitalization strategy. IBSA welcomes feedback, and continues to value the trust and support of all IBSA churches as we partner together to penetrate the lostness of our Illinois mission field.
Nate Adams
Executive Director, Illinois Baptist State Association