The Bi-Fork Association ascribes to a non-traditional governing structure. It is overseen by a Leadership Council made up of pastors and lay people from its member churches. An Executive Director (part-time) serves to implement the decisions of the Leadership Council. To provide further assistance, 3 standing committees organize and manage particular aspects/ministries of the Bi-Fork including "Missions, Evangelism, and Training"; "Fellowship and Coordination"; and "Institutional Support". Finally, due to the sheer geographical size of our Association, area representatives provide local support to the member churches in their particular area.
The Leadership Council governs the Bi-Fork Association. It is made up of volunteers from Bi-Fork member churches. Each church may elect up to two council members, and at least one of them must be a lay person. (i.e. A member church may elect one lay person to the council, one lay person and one staff member, or two laypersons, but not only one or two staff persons). The Leadership Council nominates Standing Committee members and Area Representatives for election by messengers at the Annual Meeting. It may appoint Ministry Teams for specific purposes and specified periods of time.
Current Officers:
Russell Roberts, Chair
Jeremy Smith, Vice-Chair
Terry Williams, Clerk
David Warren, Treasurer
The Executive Director performs the general administrative duties of the association. He is also responsible for the logistical coordination of the Leadership Council, serves as a liaison to the Standing Committees and Ministry Teams, and supervises the Bi-Fork Area Representatives. The Executive Director may perform other duties as assigned.
Currently the Bi-Fork Association has not hired an Executive Director and has no plans to do so in the immediate future.
The Bi-Fork Association has established 3 standing committees to perform its major functions as identified in the mission statement. These committees are made up of volunteers from various member churches. Committee members are nominated by the Leadership Council and elected by messengers at the Annual Meeting. Committee members are not required to be members of the Leadership Council. They may be nominated from the membership or staff of any cooperating church. No less than 50% of the members of each Standing Committee must be lay people.
Missions, Evangelism, and Great Commission Training Committee
The MET Committee is responsible for organizing Associational missions and evangelism efforts, church strengthening activities, training and educational opportunities, and issues pertaining to the Bi-Fork Life Trailer.
Current members:
Jeremy Smith (FBC Woodson)
Janice Roberts (Calvary Seymour)
Randal Kinnibrugh (FBC Seymour)
Verma Fobbs (FBC Olney)
David Warren (FBC Seymour)
Fellowship and Coordination Committee
The FC Committee is responsible for organizing pastor peer group lunches, lay fellowship events, youth pastor gatherings, and Bi-Fork paticipation at state and national convention meetings and conferences. It also plans the Association’s Annual Meeting, Senior Adult Day, and other events.
Current members:
David Smith (FBC Quanah)
Sharon Carroll (FBC Quanah)
Beverly Kinnibrugh (FBC Seymour)
Haley Warren (FBC Seymour)
Ami Smith (FBC Woodson)
Institutional Support Committee
The IS Committee is responsible for the Vernon College Baptist Student Ministry building and property. It also coordinates BSM ministry with the Midwestern State University BSM leadership and prepares annual BSM budget. Members must include the Bi-Fork representatives on the Camp Chaparral Board of Directors.
Current members:
Wesley Smith (FBC Quanah)
Ronnie Chestnut (Tonk Valley Graham)
Terry Williams (Calvary Childress)
Russell Roberts (Calvary Seymour/Red Springs)
Clay Carter (FBC Chillicothe)
Nancy Ritchey (Vernon Baptist)
Dillon Fox (FBC Seymour)
Nate Roach (FBC Vernon)
The Bi-Fork Association has been divided into separate 3 areas. These areas are overseen by Area Representatives who serve as liasons between the Associational leadership and the churches therein. Area Representatives stay in regular contact with and make occasional visits to the churches/pastors in their assigned group. They inform their respective churches of Associational news and available resources, seek to promote church health, and advocate for cooperation between the churches and the Association. They report to the Executive Director and Leadership Council. Following this leadership model, the Area Represenatives are "the face of the Association".
Area 1 (West) - David Smith
First Baptist Church - Quanah
Bethel Baptist Church - Quanah
Trinity Baptist Church - Quanah
First Baptist Church - Chillicothe
Odell Baptist Church - Odell
First Baptist Church - Crowell
Calvary Baptist Church - Childress
Carey First Baptist Church - Childress
First Baptist Church - Childress
Southside Baptist Church - Tell
Antioch Baptist Church - Paducah
First Baptist Church - Guthrie
Area 2 (Central) - Chad Edgington
First Baptist Church - Olney
Immanuel Baptist Church - Olney
First Baptist Church - Seymour
Calvary Baptist Church - Seymour
Red Springs Baptist Church - Seymour
Calvary Baptist Church - Vernon
First Baptist Church - Vernon
IB Calvario - Vernon
New Hope Baptist Church - Vernon
New Life Baptist Church - Vernon
Second Baptist Church - Vernon
Vernon Baptist Church - Vernon
Western Trail Cowboy Church - Vernon
Area 3 (East) - Mike McKinney and Richard Segars
First Baptist Church - Throckmorton
First Baptist Church - Woodson
Elbert Baptist Church - Elbert
Bethel Baptist Church - Graham
Cowboy Church Gatherin' - Graham
Cowboy Church of Young County - Graham
First Baptist Church - Graham
Oak Street Baptist Church - Graham
Primera IB Jerusalem - Graham
Tonk Valley Baptist Church - Graham
Westlake Chapel - Graham
Jean Baptist Church - Jean
First Baptist Church - Loving
First Baptist Church - Newcastle
First Baptist Church - South Bend
Eliasville Baptist Church - Eliasville