General Board takes stands on social issues

By Tony W. Cartledge

BR Editor

ASHEBORO - The Baptist State Convention's (BSC) General Board adopted positions on three social issues but declined to weigh in on the convention's Cooperative Missions Giving plans during its spring meeting May 18-19 at Caraway.

The General Board adopted a statement affirming Christian involvement in public schools, and approved a dual motion to oppose same-sex marriage and a North Carolina lottery.

Public schools

The statement regarding public schools came in response to a highly publicized attempt by Virginian T.C. Pinckney and Texan Bruce Shortt to have the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) approve a resolution encouraging Christian parents to pull their children out of public schools. Their proposed resolution, which has been submitted to the SBC resolutions committee, describes "a dark and decaying public school system" that is "godless" and "anti-Christian," and "run by the enemies of God." It urges parents to put their children into private Christian schools or home-school them to ensure that they have a "thoroughly Christian education." Many observers do not expect the proposal to make it out of the resolutions committee in its present form.

Citing publicity surrounding the proposal, however, Marvin Gold of Shallotte urged the Executive Committee to speak out in defense of public education, and the committee asked the BSC's Council on Christian Life and Public Affairs to draft a statement for the General Board to consider.

The statement affirms "the ultimate responsibility of all parents for their children's education, and their right to choose alternatives to public education."

"We also affirm the historic value of our public schools, which have contributed positively to the culture and society of our country, giving all children equal opportunity to better themselves," the statement said.

The statement concluded: "We affirm those who strive to bring salt and light into our public school systems, and encourage all Christians to exercise responsible citizenship by participating on the local, state and national levels to bring positive influence to bear on the lives of our public school students, teachers and administrators."

The statement was approved on a voice vote, with some opposition.

Same-sex marriage, lottery

Near the close of the meeting on May 19, during a time for miscellaneous business, Coy Privette of Kannapolis said that the board should also express concern about the issue of same-sex marriage and about a possible lottery in North Carolina. He said there are rumors that the N.C. legislature may adjourn in July, but then be called back into session in August or September for the purpose of considering a lottery.

The General Board approved a strong resolution opposing the lottery when it was an open issue two years ago.

Privette offered a dual motion that the General Board send letters to N.C. legislators and to N.C. members of the U.S. House and Senate, opposing a lottery in N.C. and urging support for state and national bills opposing same-sex marriage, including a proposed constitutional amendment.

The motion passed on a voice vote, with scattered opposition.

Cooperative Missions Giving plans

The Board voted to table a motion asking the board to express affirmation of the BSC's four giving plans to the budget committee.

Earlier, BSC comptroller Robert Simons had reviewed the history and composition of the convention's four giving plans, sharing the same information that was presented during six previous listening sessions around the state.

When asked what was learned in the listening sessions, Simons said "my sense is that the majority of the people - perhaps 70-80 percent of those we heard from - like having the options and think we should keep the current system because it works." Budget chairman Leroy Burke of Whiteville affirmed Simons' assessment.

In a meeting with budget committee members the previous day, representatives from the BSC's colleges, social service institutions and agencies also affirmed the giving plans and encouraged the budget committee to recommend that they be retained.

During a time allotted for miscellaneous business, Kay Simpson of Dunn noted the many positive comments about the giving plans, as well as the importance of the BSC's Partnership Missions efforts, which are funded through Plans B, C, and D. Simpson made a motion that the General Board affirm support for the four Cooperative Missions Giving plans as a matter of input for the budget committee.

General Board president John Butler, who was presiding, cautioned against giving the appearance of instructing the budget committee before it completes its work and reports to the Executive Committee and the General Board.

Butler deferred to Executive Director-treasurer Jim Royston for an opinion. Royston said the General Board could vote to advise the committee if they wished, understanding that the budget committee is free to accept or reject the information, just as the General Board is free to approve or disapprove the budget committee's ultimate report.

Simpson said she still wished to offer the motion as a way for the General Board to express its thoughts on the matter.

After the motion received a second, Butler expressed concern that the discussion could become extensive and counterproductive, suggesting that a motion to table the matter until the budget committee makes its report in September would be in order.

A motion to table quickly followed, and was seconded. Debate is not allowed on a motion to table.

On a voice vote, the motion to table Simpson's motion passed, with substantial opposition.

Incorporation

The General Board also heard a proposal for incorporating the BSC, which currently functions as a non-profit association. The BSC's three trustees are incorporated, but Business Services team leader Glenn Harder explained that the current arrangement does not provide sufficient legal protection for the convention.

Harder said the BSC is one of only three large state conventions that have not yet incorporated.

Incorporation will require changes to both the constitution and bylaws of the BSC, Harder said, which will need to be approved at the annual meeting in November. The General Board staff is currently preparing recommendations for the constitution and bylaws committee.

The incorporation plan will not affect the way the BSC operates or does business, Harder said. The only exception is a recommendation that the three convention trustees be invited to serve a single four-year term on the Executive Committee as a way of acknowledging their service and facilitating the transition.