Two long-time staff members retire
May 30, 2008
By Barbara Denman
JACKSONVILLE, FL—Two long-time Florida Baptist Convention employees, Hugh Cater and William Montgomery, retired during the first half of 2008, after giving a combined 38 years of service to the Florida Baptist Convention.
A third employee, Andrea Hall, associate in the Women’s Missions and Ministries Department, resigned her position earlier in the year, to accept another ministry opportunity.
During his 28 years of service, Cater held a number of Convention posts. He was brought to the Convention as associate director of the Brotherhood Department, serving from 1984-1990. He was named marketing manager of camps of assemblies from 1990-1992 and then as volunteer coordinator for the Brotherhood Department from 1992-1995. In 1995, he was promoted as director of the New Work Assistance Department, where he served until his retirement.
In the new work department, Cater administered the Convention’s loans and grants program to help new churches acquire loans and grant.
“Hugh's work with the loans and grant program has been quietly and effectively accomplished across his ministry with us,” said Cecil Seagle, director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Missions Division. “He equipped himself as a realtor, appraiser and as a denominational liaison related to property, loans and grants. He is a man of integrity and a genuine caring minister in an assignment that does not lend itself to ministry easily.”
Throughout his ministry with the Convention, Cater was an integral member of the Convention’s disaster relief team, becoming “one of the most effective disaster relief leaders in Southern Baptist life,” said Seagle. “He led efforts in Florida and beyond when we had little equipment to work with and he did it with grace and skill.”
In recognition of his contributions, Cater was awarded the Joel Phillips Outstanding Service Award from the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief during the National Training Conference April 22.
Prior to coming to the Convention, the Augusta, Ga., native served as minister of education in churches in Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky. He holds the master of arts degree in Christian education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ken., and a master in education and bachelor of arts degree from the University of Florida.
His retirement was effective April 30.
Montgomery has served with the Convention since 1998. In this role, he assisted church and association leaders in stewardship education and development, money management and church budget promotion and with resources for development campaigns. In his retirement, which was effective March 28, he will continue to serve as a stewardship consultant.
Prior to coming to the Convention, Montgomery served as pastor of Downtown Baptist Church in Orlando and St. Andrew Baptist Church in Panama City, as well as churches in Alabama and Louisiana.
“Dr. Montgomery brought to the convention staff not only the heart of a pastor—but the mind of a business man,” said Glen Owens, associate executive director and director of the Church Services Division. “He possesses a keen understanding of dollars and cents in the non-profit arena, as well as the business world. This combination is valuable in helping churches in the capital funding area, as well as, the budget and non-budget area of church finance.”
During his tenure, Montgomery served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention Stewardship Development Association and wrote several resources used widely among Florida and Southern Baptist churches.
Clarence Hackett, director of Florida Baptist’s Stewardship Department, credited Montgomery as a “proven leader, excellent preacher and creative communicator, a wise and compassionate counselor and friend to so many pastors and church staff.”
He holds the master of theology and doctor of ministry degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
