| BAPTISTS TODAY
News Release www.baptiststoday.org |
November 30, 2004
ATLANTA — Trustees of the Georgia Baptist Developmental Disabilities Ministries (GBDDM) amended their bylaws in October so that newly elected trustee do not need the confirmation of the Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC).
GBDDM operates 14 group homes or apartments around the state serving adult residents with mental retardation. Financial support comes from churches, individuals and foundations.
GBDDM does not receive funding from the GBC. Trustees voted to continue forwarding names of new trustees to the GBC but confirmation by their nominating committee and messengers is not necessary.
According to a press release, GBDDM wishes to “cultivate progressive and caring leadership” and seek “trustees with an understanding about adults with mental retardation and the challenges and opportunities of service.”
Richard C. Davis is president of GBDDM that was formed by the Georgia Baptist
Children’s Homes and Family Ministries in 1981 and reorganized as a separate
agency 1999.
(John Pierce is executive editor of Baptists Today, an autonomous,
national news journal based in Macon, Ga.)