Southern Baptist Board for Missions Cuts Jobs

A shortfall in contributions has forced the Southern Baptist International Mission Board to cut 61 jobs, a week after the Richmond-based agency said it was limiting the number of new missionaries it would send overseas through next year.

The board said it notified 37 staff members that their jobs were being eliminated. The board said it also planned to cut some positions that were vacant.

Before the cuts, the agency had about 500 jobs.

“The decisions to reduce staff and hold back new missionaries were extremely difficult to make,” board President Jerry Rankin said in a statement. “As much as it hurts, we must remain fiscally responsible.”