Tim Patterson, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, has announced his plans to retire, effective December 31, 2024, completing nearly 10 years of service.
“I have no doubt that we are poised for a remarkable future as we take our next steps to accelerate Gospel movement,” he told messengers at the close of their annual meeting, Nov. 3.
Immediately following the announcement, the convention’s president Ed Emmerling shared, “Our intention, if God allows, is to bring to next year’s annual meeting a recommendation for the next executive director of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan.”
Two other BSCM leaders also have announced their imminent departures from convention ministry roles. Mike Durbin, the state’s church strengthener and director of evangelism, plans to retire on Dec. 31. Mick Schatz, the state’s director of spiritual enrichment and retreats, has announced his resignation plans, also effective at the end of the year.
Additional reports
Meanwhile, during the state’s annual meeting, officers and trustees of the state convention started the annual gathering with a motion to sell the state’s camp and retreat center to another Christian camp association. But an amendment to the original motion asked for the postponement of the sale and for up to three additional years for volunteers to manage the retreat center with a limit of no more than $100,000 from Cooperative Program dollars contributed from Michigan churches. The amended motion was adopted by a margin of approximately 20 votes, the BSCM reported. The officers, the trustees, the state executive director and supporters of the amendment will work together to create a working expression of the amended motion and annually report back to the churches on progress.
An annual state convention budget of $2,454,701.00 was adopted for 2024. “Due to the increasing demands of the camp and retreat center’s costs, plans to raise the amount of the Cooperative Program by an annual amount of 5% this year (from 35% to 40%) until we reach 50% of all church contributions to be sent on past the state convention to the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, the six seminaries, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and SBC Executive Committee were postponed by the officers and trustees,” the BSCM reported.
To read full report, click here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Tony Lynn and originally published by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan.
