A Texas Baptist History Sourcebook: A Companion to McBeth's Texas Baptists

Chapter 14. CONTINUITY AMIDST CHANGE, 1982 - 1998

502 14.1 William Pinson, Jr. In 1982, Bill Pinson, Jr., replaced James Landes as Executive Secretary of the BGCT. In the history of the BGCT, Bill Pinson may have been the most qualified man to hold the office. After receiving his M. Div. and Ph.D. from Southwestern Seminary, he had been a professor of Christian Ethics at Southwestern Seminary, Associate Secretary of the BGCT Christian Life Commission, President of Golden Gate Seminary in San Francisco, and along with Clyde Fant, he authored Twenty-Centuries of Great Preaching. Along with his academic and administrative training, Pinson was also known as a deeply spiritual man. He would need all of these traits to lead the BGCT through one of its most controversial periods. A. The Unanimous Selection of Bill Pinson Bill Pinson is perhaps the finest urban strategist we have in our Convention . He took his sabbatical to work with the Home Mission Board in the area of urban strategy. His mission zeal is second to none. He is remarkable, fair, obviously brilliant and unquestionably committed to Scripture. Our nominee and his lovely wife were invited back for a meeting with the full committee on April 28, 1982. The formal vote was in their presence. The motion was made, the chair noted thirteen seconds to the motion, and the vote was unanimous. Presley summarized Pinson’s accomplishments, as outlined in the Resume distributed to the Board members. C H A P T E R 14 Continuity Amidst Change, 1982–1998 Our recommendation is that the Board elect Dr. William Pinson, Jr., Executive Director effective July 1, 1982, through December 31, 1982. This will give him opportunity to serve with Executive Director James H. Landes for a period of six months, as which time Dr. Pinson can review the policies, programs and procedures of the Convention, visit and become reacquainted with our institutions, commissions and boards and their leadership. It will afford him time to meet with pastors and lay leaders in different areas of the state, and a period to attend a management seminar as a refresher for new management and executive skills. Then effective January 1, 1983, our proposal calls for Dr. Pinson to be the Executive Director following Dr. Landes’ formal and official retirement . Dr. Landes will be the Chief Executive for all of 1982. He and Dr. Pinson are in harmony on the manner in which they would serve together. For example, Dr. Landes has advised Dr. Pinson that no decisions regarding professional personnel will be made without joint consultation . They will make an excellent team during the interim period, and the result will be that the Baptist General Convention of Texas will benefit because there will be no loss of momentum in this change of leadership. Presley asked Judge Oswin Chrisman to present a formal resolution: Executive Board Resolution Employment of Executive Director-Elect Whereas the Executive Director Search Committee of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas has been duly constituted and Whereas the said Search Committee has prayerfully and carefully sought the appropriate person for the Executive Leadership of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Be It Therefore Resolved That: 1) Dr. William M. Pinson be elected Executive Director-Elect of the Baptist General Convention of Texas effective July 1, 1982. 2) Dr. William M. Pinson will become Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas January 1, 1983. 3) The Executive Director-Elect’s compensation will be $41,788.00 and a housing allowance which, when combined with WILLIAM PINSON, JR. ⁄ 503 504 ⁄ CONTINUITY AMIDST CHANGE, 1982–1998 the said salary, will equal the compensation (including housing allowance) and deferred compensation of the present Executive Director of the Baptists General Convention of Texas, plus the following benefits. a) Convention related life and health insurance premiums. b) A 15% of total compensation contributed by the Baptist General Convention of Texas to retirement program of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Pinson must match the 5% beyond the basic 10% in order to reach 20%. The maximum contribution from the Convention is 15%. c) A car and actual expense. Judge Chrisman moved that this resolution be adopted. Ed Rogers seconded the motion. Winfred Moore, James Draper and Ed. B. Bowles, members of the Executive Committee, spoke to the motion. Chairman McIver opened the meeting for discussion. The following Board members spoke the motion: Charles Kemble, Mrs. Earl Johnston and Charles...