Cummings likely to become interim executive director

By Tony W. Cartledge

BR Editor

Mike Cummings, director of missions for the Burnt Swamp Association and a past president of the Baptist State Convention (BSC), will be recommended to become acting executive director-treasurer of the BSC, provided the convention's Executive Committee approves a process for electing a new interim executive during a called meeting on Oct. 27.

Following former executive director-treasurer Jim Royston's surprise retirement announcement, the BSC Executive Committee met July 12 and tapped associate executive director George Bullard to serve as acting executive director. Royston was granted study leave from July 18 until Sept. 15, when his retirement became effective.

Bullard had been associate executive director since July 1, 2003.

The committee elected Bullard to serve until the annual meeting in November. Officials explained that Bullard could be elected to serve another year if no candidate for permanent executive director-treasurer was in place by then, or someone else could be chosen as interim.

An interim will likely serve until the 2006 annual meeting, because the search committee has just begun its work, and BSC policies direct that the executive director must be elected by the convention in session.

The Articles of Incorporation are vague, however, with regard to who has responsibility for selecting an interim to serve beyond the first annual session following an executive director's resignation.

By mid-September, it became apparent that there was considerable opposition to Bullard continuing as interim beyond the annual meeting. On Oct. 11, Board of Directors chair John Butler called a meeting of convention and board officers, along with Bullard and two other invited guests, to discuss an appropriate process for determining who should be elected to serve beyond the annual meeting.

Those persons hammered out a process and received a proposal from Bullard regarding his future role with the BSC, whether he is or is not asked to continue as the interim executive director.

The executive committee will meet to discuss and make decisions regarding those matters on Oct. 27. If approved, a likely scenario has the executive committee choosing a candidate at its regularly scheduled meeting Nov. 14, then recommending that person to the Board of Directors at a called meeting later that day, just before the opening session of the Nov. 14-16 annual meeting. If the Board approves, the convention would be asked to affirm their choice.

Brian Davis, second vice-president of the BSC, said in an Oct. 17 letter to Executive Committee members that he will recommend Cummings for the position. In the letter, Davis cited Cummings' near-three years of service as president of the BSC, and the respect he has gained from N.C. Baptists "on both sides of the issues that seek to divide us."

"My intent is that if someone should come in, he needs to be someone who knows North Carolina Baptists," Davis told the Recorder. Cummings demonstrated his ability to lead during his time as president, earned great respect from both sides, and kept that respect after leaving office, Davis said.

Davis declined to criticize Bullard, whom he said "was gracious to accept the position of acting executive director-treasurer in addition to his other responsibilities." But, Bullard has continued to perform all of his previous responsibilities, too, Davis said. "We were afraid that, if we don't allow George to go back to his regular position, we'll see some of the best things we're doing begin to suffer."

Davis said he didn't think it was fair to ask Bullard to continue in both roles.

Cummings confirmed that he has been asked to consider accepting the position if elected. After consulting with leaders of the Burnt Swamp Association, he said, he agreed to be nominated, providing the process works out as expected. Cummings told the Recorder that both he and the association have a great appreciation for the BSC and "want to be available to help as needed."

The Burnt Swamp association consists primarily of Lumbee Indian congregations. It includes churches in South Carolina and Maryland, as well as North Carolina.