Updated Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007

Messengers adopt BRH study report

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor

With one amendment, messengers adopted the Baptist Retirement Homes Study Committee recommendations during the annual session Nov. 14.

Messengers earnestly discussed the recommendations, but without benefit of representation from the Baptist Retirement Homes. Although given the opportunity at the start of discussion to have a representative on the platform to respond to questions or claims, no one from BRH came forward.

Study committee chair Joan Mitchell, told messengers that unilateral decisions to "change their governing documents in 2005," meant that the Baptist Retirement Homes "will no longer be a ministry of the Convention because the Convention will no longer have a voice in choosing the leadership."

Mitchell, a Durham attorney and member of Bethesda Baptist Church, said the study committee was not empowered to act as an agent of either the Convention or BRH, but was tasked by BSC President Stan Welch to, "interview, research, study and report our findings. Nothing more."

The report concluded with four major recommendations, the first of which was that BSC should not sue the retirement homes to reverse any decisions.

"Brothers and sisters in the church of Jesus Christ must settle their disputes in the context of mutual accountability and respect of biblical directives," the report said, referring to I Cor. 6:1.

The other recommendations are that:

BRH be asked to follow the process outlines in the BSC bylaws "to officially sever its relationship with the Convention and then seek to establish a new relationship.

BSC give BRH one-half of the 2005 Cooperative Program allocation, now being held in escrow. That is the amount BRH would have received had its 2005 proposal come to fruition.

BSC begin to explore other ministry options for senior adults beyond those services BRH provides.

An amendment initiated by Phil Addison, of Stoney Point Baptist Church, was approved to insert at the beginning of recommendation No. 2 the introductory phrase, "Upon BRH completion of requirements outlined in No. 1." That means that if BRH does not initiate the process to sever its relationship according to BSC bylaws, it will not receive the escrowed funds.

BRH indicated more than a month ago it will gladly relinquish Cooperative Program funds, including those currently escrowed. But it would cherish a continued relationship, including a sanctioned special offering.

A host of messengers spoke in favor of the amendment, including C.J. Bordeaux of Village Baptist Church in Fayetteville, who suggested, "severing ties effective immediately."

"It's over with as we sit here today," Bordeaux said. "Why give them money for two years after they are no longer a part of us?"

Dale Robertson, of North Main Baptist Church, Salisbury and a Board of Directors member, said the Baptist Retirement Homes is "not going to talk to us, not going to enter into another relationship with us."

He also said the BRH appeal for funds from churches to "help the indigent" residents was a "straw man" because it has reserves sufficient to cover those costs.

The recommendations were voted on separately, but other than the amendment to No. 2, there was little discussion and each vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the recommendation.

In her opening remarks, Mitchell said the committee wondered during its work, "What brought these two great institutions to an impasse?" The committee found "turf wars and anxiety that something is being taken away that is precious."

By the end of its work, however, the committee came to several other conclusions.

Committee members feel "we have come a long way as a convention of churches." While "the problem is large, "at least our questions today are how to best care for the elderly in our churches and communities and that's a very good thing," Mitchell said.

The committee realizes elder care is a looming crisis. "As baby boomers retire," she said, "their needs will be committed to a younger generation who has little patience with denominational bickering."

"Churches will never have a voice in any leadership the Baptist Retirement Homes," Mitchell said, "because they have determined it is their ministry to do with as they choose."

Tim Jernigan, of North Star Fellowship in Concord, said partnership in ministry is based on trust.

"Walk through the report and see that is just not occurring," he said. "Even if it ends sadly - let's do this as partners and end as well as we can."