MIDDLETOWN, Md. – Kevin Smith, executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D), announced his resignation and return to pastoral ministry at a meeting of the convention’s General Mission Board (GMB) at Skycroft Conference Center Tuesday (Sept. 14).
“This is a wonderful position of denominational service and I enjoyed this work tremendously … I simply miss the local congregation,” said Smith, who has held the position since June of 2016. He emphasized there is no “back story.”
In a conversation with Baptist Press, Smith declined to identify the name of the Southern Baptist church he would be pastoring because details had not yet been finalized.
In his final report as executive director, he encouraged board members to continue their congregations’ focus on the state missions offering and week of prayer.
The GMB has appointed Mark Dooley as interim executive director. Dooley has been an active figure in convention life for decades and has served as the BCM/D’s state director of evangelism and Church Services team leader since 2019. He began serving as the interim executive director Wednesday (Sept. 15).
“Brother Dooley has done several things that Maryland/Delaware Baptists value – equipped and sent out a church planter, supported the Cooperative Program, and led the GMB. He will be an effective interim leader,” Smith said.
GMB President Frank Duncan said continuity during transitions is “vitally important” and that “Mark Dooley will do a fine job of ensuring continuity for the BCM/D by providing interim leadership while the convention seeks its next executive director.”
“It has been a joy to serve almost three years on the staff of the BCM/D,” Dooley said. “I am grateful to Smith and his confidence in me that led him to extend an invitation to me to serve the churches of our convention.”
BCM/D Associate Executive Director Tom Stolle called Dooley a “wonderful leader.”
“He possesses many years of pastoral experience, has high energy, and deeply loves the pastors, BCM/D staff, and our churches,” Stolle said.
Under Dooley’s leadership, the BCM/D will continue in its mission to “intentionally assist in both the strengthening and multiplying of churches [to fulfill] Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8.”
“It is with anticipation that I look forward to leading this work as the interim executive director,” Dooley said. “I’m thankful to our Administrative Committee and the GMB for extending this privilege to me and am ready to lead the effort to serve our churches so they are more effective in kingdom service.”
Rosalie Chesley serves as the assistant to the interim executive director and as the managing editor of BaptistLIFE. It was published on baptistpress.com.