Eddie Hammett, who was laid off in August from the staff of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) in a cost cutting move, will begin a part-time role with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBFNC) Nov. 1.
Hammett, a popular speaker, seminar leader, coach trainer and author, was elected as CBFNC church and clergy coach during a Coordinating Council meeting Sept. 17.
Hammett served 19 years with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, most recently as western regional discipleship and leadership consultant.
Hammett will work with CBFNC staff, churches and elected leadership in the areas of clergy coach training, lay leadership and church staff team development, spiritual formation, transitioning issues for churches, discipleship and deacon ministry.
“Eddie brings to the table a unique awareness of the challenges and needs of congregational life in the 21st century,” said Larry Hovis, CBFNC executive coordinator. “His background as a staff minister in local churches, coupled with his experience and expertise in coaching and consulting, will be an invaluable asset.”
Hammett, a founding partner of The Columbia Partnership whose purpose is to help churches “pursue and sustain vital Christ-centered ministry,” said he looks forward “with excitement and openness” to serving among “very capable CBFNC leaders and congregations.”
He wrote following his layoff from the BSC that he felt less a victim than “one being launched into new aspects of ministry to churches, leaders, conventions/conferences and judicatories of many denominations.”
Hammett, a graduate of North Greenville College, Furman University, and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is a professional certified coach and national conference leader and has written six books. His Reaching People Under 40 while Keeping People Over 60 is a part of the TCP Leadership Series and is the best selling book published by Chalice Press.
His newest book, Making Shifts Without Making Waves: A Coach Approach to Soulful Leadership written with Randy Pierce and Steve DeVane, will
be released in November.