Parting Words From Keith Burden

Interview by Eric Thomsen

Friday, September 27, marked Keith Burden’s final day in the Executive Office. Before he left, the ONE Magazine staff gave him an opportunity to share a few parting thoughts and words with the denomination.

As you look back over your time as executive secretary, what do you see as the highlights or milestones for the denomination?

I would say three things, although not necessarily in order of importance:

• First, as a denomination, I believe we are as unified as we have ever been. This doesn’t mean we don’t have controversy. You can’t avoid that in a group as diverse as ours. But as a general rule, we are more unified than we have been in years. I think this has much to do with my predecessors who worked hard to bring the departments and the denomination together. We genuinely like one another. I think some members of previous generations thought you hadn’t had a good convention unless you had a heated debate on the floor of the business session. I do not think this is the case. It is not a sign of apathy that we no longer have controversy on the floor of the convention. It shows we have learned to work together, to reach agreement on difficult issues. It shows we have grown as a denomination.
  

• Second, I am glad for the financial stability of the office. Maybe I have “ridden this horse in the ground,” but I keep reminding folks that 17 years ago, we found ourselves in a precarious position financially. It was the result of a historic convergence of events: the national economic situation, changes in our funding structure, unexpected expenses, and so on. All these things came together to create a tough financial situation. I am grateful that right now, the Executive Office is on solid, financial footing. While our financial situation is still not ideal, it has improved significantly. The denomination has been faithful in giving through some very difficult years. I am grateful.
  

• Third, ONE Magazine has proven to be a tremendous asset to the denomination. It was a significant accomplishment for the denominational departments to work together, in spite of some disagreements, to produce a high-quality magazine for our people. Rather than protecting our “turf,” we banded together. As a result, I think the magazine has unified us and helped build our identity. The denomination has embraced the magazine, and everywhere we go, it continues to be well received.
  

What will you miss the most about serving as executive secretary?

The short answer: meeting and building relationships with Free Will Baptists across the nation and around the world. This position allowed me to develop friendships with people I would not have met otherwise. A couple of notable examples: in my wildest dreams, I never would have imagined I would be in Robert Picirilli’s Sunday School class, invite him to my home for dinner, and develop a deep and lasting friendship. I am also grateful for my time with Bert and Dianne Tippett, both as fellow church members at Cofer’s Chapel and later as dear friends. And, who would think that William Smith would have become one of my closest friends. We are as different as daylight and dark, but we just clicked. He helped me through some difficult times as my encourager and confidante. It has been a blessing to meet Free Will Baptists across the world and learn to appreciate the breadth and diversity of the denomination.

Can you share a humorous story from the life of an executive secretary?

The ones that are most funny, I can’t share. It would incriminate folks...and I might even lose some friends [said with a broad smile]. Just understand, for all the difficulties of this job, it has given me some incredibly humorous moments, many shared with other denominational leaders. Few things are more contagious than chuckles over something that happens in a church service or business meeting.

I remember flying into Chicago with David Williford, Terry Forrest, and Ron Hunter. We got to the baggage claim area, and I stepped away to the restroom, leaving the other guys to watch for my bag. When I came back, they pretended they hadn’t seen my bag. I stood for about five minutes waiting for my suitcase to come around the belt. Nothing. With sinking heart, I began to think my luggage had been lost (again). Just when I was ready to head to the claim office, Ron Hunter pointed. My bag was sitting on the floor behind me. Those rascals had removed my bag while I was gone. I’m not sure how they kept from laughing while watching me sweat.

I also remember a trip I made in 2010. I had boarded my plane for the return trip to Nashville. As the boarding process neared completion, it looked like there might be an empty seat next to me. I had just stowed my carry-on bags and fastened my seat belt when I heard a commotion at the front of the plane. I glanced up to see a large man approaching my row. He had two bags and a large cup of Starbucks coffee in his hand.

You guessed it! His seat was right next to mine. Seat 14-D. I'll never forget it. I stood to let him into his seat as he mumbled an apology. He started to cram one of the bags in the overhead storage bin, when, without any warning, the bag slipped. Instinctively, he reached with his other hand to catch the bag. As a result, he sloshed scalding, hot coffee all over me—suit, face, glasses,
and hair.

Using every ounce of self-control I had, I took a deep breath, took my handkerchief out, and wiped off the coffee, cream, and sugar mixture. As we took our seats, the man, now bright red, apologized profusely. I simply said, “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

Once we were airborne, as soon as the captain turned off the fasten seat belt sign, the man in 14D excused himself to use the restroom. He never came back. I assume he found an empty seat at the back of the plane or was too embarrassed to return to his.

Speaking of flights, how many plane rides have you taken over 18 years in the office?

I haven’t documented them exactly. But based on my annual schedule, I have flown roughly 100 times a year—1,768 segments (one-way flights between cities) as best I can tell. That is just under 900 round trips during my time in the office. I can’t even begin to imagine the number of miles I have driven. Let me just say, GPS has been a great addition to my life. I hate to admit how many times I navigated by roadmap and dome light after a late flight!

What was your greatest challenge during your time in the office?

I have to go back to finances. Those difficult years had such a profound impact on our staff. We had to downsize the office and some people lost their jobs. We all tightened our belts and learned to “live on less.” It changed the way we did ministry. We turned off the spigots and plugged the holes in the budget. The financial challenges would have happened to anyone who came into the office. It just happened to be me. And it was difficult. We had to borrow $150,000 my first year in office, just to pay the bills. It was a rough way to start! If I had known the financial challenges I would face, I would probably still be pastoring a church in Oklahoma. I’m grateful God didn’t share all the details. I might not have had the courage to take the job.

On the other hand, the financial crisis and the way I handled it let people know I was serious about running the Executive Office. In retrospect, I see it gave me credibility with the denomination. But I can tell you the loss of jobs and salaries gave me many sleepless nights.

Can you name some of your greatest encouragers as executive secretary?

Obviously, my wife and family top the list. They have encouraged me in those moments when I wasn’t sure I was doing the right thing. I am blessed with a wife with a lot of common sense and practical wisdom. I have learned not to ask her opinion unless I really want to know it. But at the end of the day, when I was exhausted or my morale had reached a low point, my wife and my family kept me going.

I would be remiss if I did not mention one other person: Philip Taylor was a member of a California church I pastored in the mid-1980s. Not long after I became executive secretary, he asked if he could do anything for me in my new role. I asked him to pray. He told me he would, and he has taken that promise seriously. Hardly a week since has gone by without an email, call, or text from Philip to let me know he was praying. That has meant so much to me.

What are your plans for retirement?

First, I look forward to returning to the great state of Oklahoma. I’m going home. That’s where my children and grandchildren live, and I look forward to spending time with them. At the convention when I was approved as executive secretary, my namesake Keith was four weeks old. He recently turned 17. Obviously, I have missed many years with my family. I look forward to being a grandpa—going to ballgames, fishing, and just enjoying time with them.

The most urgent item on my list is to build a retirement home. But, I can also tell you that getting some rest is high on the priority list as well.

I want to write—whatever opportunities come my way. I’m no theologian, and I can’t even imagine writing a paper to be read at the annual symposium. But I look forward to writing about the things

I do know. I want to be an encourager, not a detractor, for the rising generation of fine, young leaders. Whatever doors the Lord opens, I will walk through. While I’m not looking to go into a high-demand, high-pressure ministry, I want to stay involved. I have no plans to sit on the sidelines and wither away. I want to be active in my local church.

What do people still not know about Keith Burden?

As a child, I had a speech impediment—stuttering. It wasn’t as bad for me as it is for some, but it was tough to overcome. My high school speech teacher once told me, “You’ll never be a public speaker.” I can’t help but wonder what she would think today of what I became. I know it is because the Lord helped me.

What one thing would you like to say to the denomination as you leave the Executive Office?

First, thank you for honoring me by placing your confidence in me to fill this office. When I think how few people have had this opportunity, I consider myself singularly blessed that I was chosen for the position. It has been one of the greatest honors of my ministry. Free Will Baptists brought the gospel to me, ordained me to ministry, educated me, and gave me an opportunity to serve from the local church to the denomination. Outside of the grace of God, I can say the people of this denomination have been the greatest influence in my life.

Second, I encourage the denomination to stay true to the Word of God. In a day when many denominations have grown liberal, we must remain anchored to Scripture and sound doctrine.
Finally, Free Will Baptists must always keep the Great Commission as our primary focus. Taking the gospel to the lost should be the reason behind everything we do as a denomination. Every effort should point to sharing the Good News with a lost world that needs it desperately.