Comments

So, let's get this straight, Bob Reccord had to resign because of mismanagement, and now so does Goeff Hammond. I don't know either one of these men, but I'm beginning to wonder if anyone can correctly manage NAMB. Hmmm...... Is it that NAMB is mismanaged or simply not managed the way others want? Those are two totally different statements.

Nespotism and mismanagement are and have been rampant at SBC for a long time and gotten away with it. Indiviguals have stolen over a million dollars without hardly a slap on the hand.

Let's see; Trustees and Larry Lewis have a problem, Trustees and Bob Reccord have a problem, Trustees and Geoff Hammond have a problem. Hmmm seems like the trustees have a problem!

The SBC has turned itself into a Club instead of a Church organization that dislikes either democrats or republicans, masons either black or white, public schools and those who are associated and other large groups and would rather we believe they are in Africa or some other land spending great sums trying to win souls. If people already believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit then we need to recruit them right here in the USA. Nespotism, stealing and kickbacks have been rampant within the SBC for years. Another sermon or more money is not the answer now. The crooks are dug in!

I can't speak to nepotism or mismanagement. So maybe Geoff should have resigned. However, as a NAMB missionary in the field I respected and admired Dr. Hammond. Nothing in my experience with him warrented this resignation. Some of the posts I have read come from bitter people who do not know Geoff nor do they know the facts. Geoff may not have the management skills to effectively run NAMB, but he is a man of character and integrity. He does not deserve the speculative nonsense that some of you are posting.

Integrity and arrogance was an internal issue that perhaps missionaries in the field did not recognize on a daily basis.

Also, lack of administrative abilities in overseeing a major organization. Hiring assistants to perform his responsibilities was not the answer. Especially, when their actual job was to please Dr. Hammond even if integrity and ethics were thrown out the window.

Hmmm, "nespotism" ... Is that the deadly combination of nepotism and despotism? Yikes!

It pains to see Geoff and others being subjected to such heartless and baseless accusations. I have worked and known Geoff for several years and has proved himself a man of integrity and reputation. He has a big heart for missions and missionaries. How comes the trustees endorsed his leadership a few months ago, only to wake up one morning and realized that he is surrounded by his “cronies”? When Geoff assumed office, he immediately hired Steve, Brandon and Dennis who have been part of his staff for all this time. This is a campaign by some people who did not like the good changes that have been going on at NAMB. Now the trustees have voted to go back to the old days, the familiar days, the comfortable days instead of moving the agency to a higher level where the mission is to lead Southern Baptists to conquer the world for Christ. The next President and his team, be wary for the same axe which fell Geoff is still swinging.

In early 2007 as senior pastor at River Oak Church in Chesapeake Virginia and President of SBC of Virginia, Dennis Culbreth influenced Hammond’s hiring at NAMB. Shortly after that Dennis walked out of his church before completing a six year church building project in which he started, only to be hired by Hammond at NAMB. Nepotism at NAMB is a valid complaint. I cannot speak about Hammond’s leadership, management skills or qualifications. However, as for Dennis’ leadership at River Oak it was his way or the highway. That’s all I will say about my tenure at River Oak. Perhaps there is truth as to why those men were forced to resign. It is a sad day for Christ Followers!

For those of you on the outside, you should be very troubled. As a former employee of NAMB, I witnessed firsthand how terribly inefficient this agency is and how money was wasted. If you're going to continue attending an SBC church, you should ask the hard questions and find out where your money is being spent. Much of it is being spent on exorbitant salaries and useless programs. You need to look no farther than the "Senior Leadership Team." What on God's green earth will keep 13 "ministry assistants" busy for 40 hours per week, 52 weeks out of the year? In the business world, especially in this economy, it's not uncommon to see 1 secretary or admin support 10 or more associates. They have 250 or more employees in that building and only need about a fourth of them. I say sell off that multi-million dollar building and property, merge with IMB and use the money to help spread the gospel. One last thing: How does this agency expect to grow with a name like "Southern Baptist?" I'm sure there is good reason 91% of all membership is in the Bible belt with a name like that. 130 million per year is just going to complete waste until this agency makes a change. Wait, I forgot one last thing. 57 trustees?!??! While I agree that Reccord and Hammond mismanaged the agency, how can one manage at all with 57 people breathing down your neck? Southern Baptists, just remember, you just paid for 57 hotel rooms, 57 plane tickets and 57 * 3 or more meals with your tithes and offerings. It's so darn wasteful and inefficient at that place, it makes me sick... Say what you want, but it's true!

When will it end?