By Tim Lubinus, BCI Executive Director/Treasurer
Tim Lubinus, BCI Executive Director/Treasurer
In order to better steward state convention ministry funds, focus on church planting, support churches, and reach our state for Christ, the Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI) executive board recently approved the closure of the convention office to become a mobile office by April 30, 2016. Instead of being based in one central location in the state, BCI staff will be able to spend more time with churches and pastors, work from home offices and public places, and increase the use of digital means of communication and collaboration.
With the digital revolution many organizations have already discovered that their office facilities are not being used as they once were. In the case of the BCI office, most of the convention staff now spends most of their time outside of the office, interacting with pastors and other leaders in the state. The current office space is much larger than what is required by the organizational support staff. Several offices in the BCI office suite are currently vacant.
In the last few years we realized that interaction with people where they live is more important than a having a centralized meeting location. We now connect more directly with people throughout the state, personally through digital means, or for general information through our website. In some ways, a highly centralized office location can hinder the BCI’s ministry.
While we expect the closure of the office to help expand our ministry, we will also realize a cost savings of around $40,000 per year. The BCI purchased the office space in 1980. The convention will decide on a proposal to sell the current building at a specially called convention meeting during the Pastor and Wife’s Retreat on April 2. The office building has been appraised at more than $100,000.
We will communicate office transition information as needed over the next several weeks. The new BCI phone number is 515 809 2819 (the 2819 reminds of the reference to the Great Commission in Matthew). The current phone numbers will remain active through April 30. With this change, we intend to be more available by phone than our current office hours.
Let me know if you have suggestions, comments, or questions.
Tim Lubinus
TLubinus@BCIowa.org
