Michael C. Blackwell, longtime president and CEO of the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, has taken a voluntary leave of absence for an indefinite period of time, according to a statement released on the BCH on Friday (May 26).
Blackwell informed the executive committee of the BCH’s board of trustees of his decision on Friday, the statement said, but it did not give any reason for the decision. Blackwell’s decision came the same week that the chairman of the board of trustees for the organization resigned.
The executive committee later clarified that both developments are unrelated.
Following Blackwell’s announcement, the Biblical Recorder reached out to him and multiple BCH representatives for additional details. One BCH spokesperson told the Recorder in an email that there was “No additional information.”
Shifting responsibilities
In Blackwell’s absence, BCH Chief Operating Officer Keith Henry and Executive Vice President for Development and Communications Brenda Gray will assume the organization’s executive leadership responsibilities.
The full statement posted to BCH’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts reads as follows:
“On Friday, May 26, 2023, Michael C. Blackwell, President/CEO for the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) informed the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees that he would be taking a voluntary leave of absence for an indefinite period of time. In the interim, as outlined by BCH’s board-approved policies and procedures, Chief Operating Officer Keith Henry and Executive Vice President of Development and Communications Brenda Gray will assume the organization’s executive leadership responsibilities. As supporters and friends of the BCH ministry, we wanted you to be aware of this important information. Thank you for your continued support.”
Blackwell, 81, is the longest-tenured president in BCH history, having led the organization for nearly 40 years. A native of Gastonia, Blackwell became the eighth president of the children’s homes on July 1, 1983, following a unanimous selection by BCH’s board of trustees.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was was written by Chad Austin and originally published by the Biblical Recorder, news service of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The Baptist Paper contributed to this story.
