Bonner supports new college relationship proposal

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor

Messengers to the Baptist State Convention's annual meeting Nov. 12-14 will consider a proposal from the Council on Christian Higher Education to enable the colleges to elect their own trustees in exchange for relinquishing the approximately $6 million they share from Cooperative Program Missions Giving.

The proposal, which would become effective over a period of four years, requires passage at two consecutive annual meetings. It is endorsed by the college presidents, including Frank Bonner, president at Gardner-Webb University.

Bonner said the proposal will "protect academic freedom," although, he said, "that has never been threatened by our association with the Convention since I've been president, nor am I aware of it anytime in the past."

"But looking way into the future," he said, "it's just safer for the university to have the proposal that we're working on."

Additionally, the proposed change in trustee election will give Bonner the ability "to find trustees who are really engaged with Gardner-Webb."

"To this point it's been fine and it's been a great group of trustees," he said. "We have been enormously fortunate.

"We've never had a trustee imposed on us since I've been at Gardner-Webb. But as we look into the future with the possibility of arguments of church membership and church affiliation and all this, it's the future of trustee selection that concerns me. We've never had a trustee with an agenda, but I want to be sure we never have a trustee with an agenda."

Some observers wonder if the colleges will be able to make up lost funds. Bonner said Gardner-Webb has had an "extremely strong" financial experience the past two years, and has "set back significant funding for such an event."

"As our financial strength grows, I'm convinced we'll be able to deal with it," he said.

"The schools do not regard this as a severance" of relationship with the Convention, Bonner said.

Bonner said the presidents view the proposal as win-win.

It relieves the Convention's financial obligation, and lets the schools elect their own trustees, removed from potentially negative influences stemming from whatever debates embroil the Convention in succeeding decades.

But he emphasized the colleges' strong desire to remain affiliated with the Convention and to be considered Baptist schools and an integral part of the North Carolina Baptist family.

The difference their proposal will make, he said, is in making the relationship voluntary on both sides, rather than obligatory, which can only lead to a healthier affinity.

The schools' relationship to North Carolina Baptist churches remains "extremely important" to their ongoing health, Bonner said. The schools both serve the churches' students and need the opportunity to serve to fulfill their own purpose.