Updated Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007

BSC loosening school ties

By Norman Jameson

Editor

Greensboro - North Carolina Baptists approved a proposal from their universities and college that over four years will give the schools the right to choose their own trustees in exchange for relinquishing the funding they receive from the Baptist State Convention.

Discussion of the proposal, which had received extensive pre-meeting exposure, was more extended and passionate that many observers expected.

Finally, the vote passed clearly in favor of the schools after Campbell University President Jerry Wallace asked messengers to "please, support us in this."

The proposal must pass on second reading at the 2008 meeting. Theoretically, the vote Nov. 13 "severed" the relationship between the schools and the BSC. The vote in 2008 will be to establish the new relationship.

In actuality, those details have been worked out already and were a part of the discussion. Most discussion centered on two issues: assets and Baptist identity.

David Martin, from First Baptist Church Cary, said the proposal would "let go over a billion dollars" in assets and he is, "against giving what is ours away. That is not being a good steward of what God has entrusted us with."

Allan Blume, president of the BSC Board of Directors, reminded messengers that, "We never really owned these institutions." Instead, "We have a trustee relationship in which they own the institutions."

The proposed changes create "a new kind of relationship with the trustees," he said. "We feel it will be a win-win in the best interests of everyone."

Tommy Tripp, pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Colerain, said North Carolina Baptists have given "hundreds of millions (of dollars) to support the cause." He said the Convention has elected "the most capable and committed North Carolina Baptists to serve as trustees of these institutions."

It is the institutions, not the Convention, that is seeking a severance of the relationship, he said. "If they plan to remain distinctly Baptist, then why would there be a need to choose their own trustees, save for the reason of money, power and authority?"

Wallace said the institution presidents "wholeheartedly support" the proposal and "pledge continued fidelity to our Christian heritage and to the Baptist churches of North Carolina."

Chris Hilliard, pastor of Newell Baptist Church in Charlotte, asked if the Convention had failed in the past to elect quality trustees. He said the schools want "a relationship but without any accountability."

This proposal "is a divorce, a severance of the two," he said. "Trust me. Autonomy without accountability, we will lose these institutions."

Jesse Croom, president of the Council on Christian Higher Education, assured messengers that college presidents have no desire to "sever relationship" with the Convention, but that Convention Articles and Bylaws use that terminology to describe the process required to change the relationship.

Reference was made to Wingate University's list of trustee nominees which included a member of Myers Park Baptist Church, which had been declared that morning to be "not in friendly cooperation" with the Baptist State Convention. Wingate's nominee slate this year is self-nominated, because it initiated the change process a year ahead of the other schools.

Don Taft, chairman of the Wingate board of trustees, announced that the Myers Park member was no longer a nominee. Although Taft did not announce it, the woman actually had withdrawn her nomination several weeks earlier for health reasons.

Todd Blake, from Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Fayetteville, said he was "nurtured at Campbell." He referred to other Baptist conventions which have parted ways "in fashions less than amicable."

"This gives us a chance to do so in different directions but in ways that allow us to be partners in the kingdom of God and to further the gospel in unique ways," he said.

While all the college presidents stood on the stage during the discussion, only Wallace addressed messengers. Most of those speaking against the motion mentioned Campbell ties.

By the end of discussion, Wallace grew passionate and said it is a mistake to assume that just because Campbell "needs to elect its own trustees" it will "turn its back on its 120 year-old-purpose."

"The trustees you elected feel it is in the best interest of their Christian purpose and mission (for Campbell) to elect its own trustees," he said. "To assume when a school elects its own trustees that it's going to go wayward is a wrong assumption."

In addition to electing their own trustees and relinquishing cooperative program funds, the proposal commits the institutions to "a significant portion of trustees who are members of churches in friendly cooperation with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina," and asks BSC to establish and administer a scholarship fund for North Carolina Baptist students at the schools.