North Carolina Baptists serving as trustees for the North American Mission Board (NAMB) had little to say about the resignation of NAMB president Geoff Hammond and three of his associates.
Hammond, who had led NAMB since March 2007, and the three staff members resigned Aug. 11 after trustees met all day in closed session. The others who resigned were Dennis Culbreth, senior assistant to the president; Steve Reid, senior associate to the president for strategy development; and Brandon Pickett, communications team leader.
Todd W. Garren, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Lincolnton, came on the NAMB board in 2006. He said he was appreciative that Hammond “saw the handwriting on the wall” and spared NAMB any further embarrassment.
“It was a tough situation with no good ending,” Garren said.
He said Hammond is a missionary at heart with a wonderful spirit.
“In that regard he served NAMB well and served the kingdom well,” he said.
Bruce L. Franklin, a layman and member of New Sandy Creek Baptist Church in Henderson, is starting his second year as a NAMB trustee. He said he thinks the board’s process “worked exactly as it should have.”
“It was a long meeting, but ultimately God’s will was done,” he said.
Franklin said the board is moving forward.
“We want to be focused on the real objective that is reaching this continent for Christ,” he said. “One of the things we want to do is reassure our Southern Baptist churches that we believe we’re on track.”