BSC to promote conference on Christian schools
By Tony W. Cartledge
BR Editor
ASHEBORO - The Baptist State Convention (BSC) will help promote a "Christian School 101" conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS), to be held at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary August 27-28.
Promotional materials say the conference will provide "All the basic tools and information you need to plan and start a Christian school." The SBACS vision is "to advance a nationwide system of Christian schools to reach and disciple America's children for Christ."
BSC Executive Director-treasurer Milton Hollifield
Hollifield said he would be more comfortable receiving the materials from SBACS and then mailing them out on the organization's behalf.
When he received the request, Hollifield said, his first question was whether the conference is part of an organized effort to get people to leave public schools and move into the arena of private schools, a strategy the SBC has rejected multiple times. The SBACS representative told him "no," he said, that the purpose of the conference was just to provide information on how churches can start private schools.
Hollifield said he is an advocate of both public and private schools. "I don't want Christian representation out of public schools," he said, partly because not everyone can afford private Christian schools: "I favor Christian schools, but not a movement to pull everyone out of public schools."
The group also asked the BSC to provide some money to assist pastors who otherwise could not afford the $99 registration fee. "I don't have a problem with doing that, but want you to have opportunity to respond," Hollifield said.
Executive committee member J.C. Bradley said he did not object to the BSC assisting with the promotion, but was concerned about the expense. He made a motion that any assistance be on a cost recovery basis so there would be no expense to the BSC.
Committee member Terry Larsen said "I think we'd be doing churches a disservice if we don't send it, even if it costs us something."
Business services director John Butler estimated that the mailing would cost about $2,000.
Hollifield said approving Bradley's motion would be tantamount to voting not to distribute the material, "because I don't think they'll come through with the money."
Bradley's motion failed by a large margin, in effect authorizing the BSC to mail the promotional materials at Convention expense.
