"Dear SBC Family" an open letter from David Platt UPDATED

As a pastor, I always thought feedback was good. David Platt has addressed many of the questions raised and discussed concerning the 600-800 personnel drawdown for IMB.

The full letter is: here.

Executive summary below:

• Recognizing the depth of the deficit, IMB leadership and staff evaluated multiple options for getting to financial health.
• "Board policy did not require an official trustee vote" 
• "There was resolute and resounding recognition" by trustees that such action was "required."
• On the announcement of such deficits being so large, Platt gave quotes from 2008 forward including this from 2014 (emphasis mine):

Just two months before I stepped into my role, one article read: “IMB must soon come to grips with the demands placed on us by years of declining Cooperative Program receipts and Lottie Moon giving. We will be hard-pressed to continue supporting a mission force of our current number, much less see a greatly needed increase in the number of fully supported career missionaries on the field.”

•  Previous leaders implemented a plan to gradually draw down mission personnel by using property sales and reserves in order to keep a maximum number of people on the field for the maximum amount of time. That plan was no longer viable.

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New FAQs here.

The response to questions and discussions since the original announcement is unprecedented in SBC life, in my memory.