Updated Friday, Dec. 07, 2007

WMU-NC, BSC differences explained

By Norman Jameson and Steve DeVane

BR Staff

FAYETTEVILLE - Woman's Missionary Union of North Carolina (WMU-NC) plans to continue supporting N.C. Baptist missions efforts despite a looming financial crunch, leaders of the organization said.

WMU-NC leaders participated in nine regional rallies Dec. 4 organized across the state by Friends of WMU, a small group of WMU-NC supporters organized by Steven Fitzgerald of First Baptist Church, New Bern.

Fitzgerald said the rallies typically had 60-70 in attendance. "Our goal was to say we are willing to create some space in the middle of a busy Christmas season, for WMU to talk to their women if that's what they need to do," he said.

"If WMU is going to survive they are going to have to figure out what they're going to do," Fitzgerald said.

Ruby Fulbright, WMU-NC executive director, spoke to about 75 people at First Baptist Church in Fayetteville. She addressed a number of questions regarding WMU-NC's relationship with the BSC, since WMU-NC decided in August to move its offices out of the BSC building in Cary and assume responsibility for its own operations and finances.

At each of the nine locations, a WMU-NC representative discussed events that led to that decision.

WMU-NC has always been an autonomous, non-profit organization working alongside the BSC, Fulbright said.

At Oakmont Baptist Church in Greenville, Beverly Butler told 100 participants that WMU had to make the move "to be able to continue doing what we've always done."

Prods from a staff retreat in August 2004 and an Executive Board retreat in January 2005 led WMU-NC to seek ways to reach younger women by focusing on hands-on missions projects, networking among professional women and helping hurting people. WMU declared the final year of this three-year visioning process "a year of prayer."

At their annual meeting in 2006, WMU members voted to change their bylaws to reflect that WMU is a "cooperative partner" with the BSC rather than an auxiliary.

"That wording didn't set well" with BSC leaders, Fulbright said.

BSC officials said the terminology "partner" had legal definitions that increased the BSC's liability. During ensuing discussions, WMU-NC's hiring process became an issue, she said.

As an autonomous body, Fulbright said WMU-NC had always hired its own staff. But during discussions with BSC leaders, WMU-NC leaders were told that the BSC executive director-treasurer reserved the right for a final interview with a potential WMU-NC staff member before approving that person's hiring, she said.

BSC spokesman Doug Baker said later that Executive Director-Treasurer Milton A. Hollifield Jr. has no interest in "reviewing, vetting, or interviewing" WMU staff candidates before WMU makes a decision on their final recommendation.

As BSC employees, however, Hollifield reserves the right of final approval on the selection of any staff member, a responsibility he says is assigned him in the Convention's bylaws.

Fulbright said in an interview that she has an e-mail from a BSC leader outlining the hiring process. The message says Hollifield would have to review information about a candidate, have assurances that BSC employee procedures are followed, meet with the candidate and have a follow-up conversation with Fulbright to discuss any concerns about the candidate, she said.

The e-mail says that if BSC procedures were not followed WMU-NC would not be allowed to hire the person, according to Fulbright.

The WMU-NC Executive Board felt that hiring impasse threatened the organization's autonomy, Fulbright said at the Fayetteville meeting.

"We could not come to an agreement," she said. "What we never said is we would not continue to be a partner, a co-laborer with the BSC."

The disagreement over hiring practices played out in WMU-NC's effort to bring on staff a multi-cultural consultant. The position was formerly held by Linda Hicks, who retired from her fulltime position when she got sick in 2004, but worked as a contract worker for WMU-NC until her death in 2006.

Initially the position was left vacant due to BSC policies that required open positions to be evaluated by a committee. Early this year, Hollifield agreed to fund the position from BSC reserves for three years, after which the WMU-NC budget would support it.

Fulbright said that by the time the position was approved the two sides were already in disagreement about the hiring process. WMU-NC leaders decided to delay the search until the matter was resolved.

Fulbright said a "mutual covenant" signed by WMU-NC and BSC leaders in 1997 which says WMU-NC can elect its own staff was not recognized by the current BSC leadership. She said in an interview that if BSC officials would have agreed to abide by the covenant, the issue likely would have been resolved.

"We would have been fine," she said.

At the Fayetteville meeting, someone asked Fulbright what might cause the BSC to reject a potential WMU-NC staff member.

"I don't know," she said. "That's what we've been asking."

The issue has generated false, malicious rumors that WMU-NC wants to hire someone with an "alternative lifestyle" or someone who is not a Christian, Fulbright said.

Someone asked Fulbright if the BSC was just following legal counsel. She said that was one reason WMU-NC decided to make its move.

"We didn't want to be a liability," she said. "We want to be an asset."

Someone asked Fulbright why a letter announcing the rally didn't go to pastors and said it gave the appearance that WMU-NC was trying to "circumvent" the pastors.

Fulbright said the letter went to WMU leaders and was not meant to circumvent pastors. One pastor in the audience said loudly that he didn't feel circumvented by the letter.

Robert Lewis, pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Fayetteville, said he wrote a letter to area pastors taking issue with the letter that was signed by former BSC executive director Roy J. Smith and his wife, Charlotte. Lewis said later he personally supports the WMU in his church regardless of decisions made by WMU-NC.

Fulbright said she appreciated that because WMU-NC does not want to divide churches. She said WMU is a "grassroots" organization.

"That's where our leadership comes from," she said.

Butler made it clear in Greenville that WMU-NC leadership who made the decision to move WMU to total independence came from a broad geographical base, and that their responsibility to act on behalf of WMU between annual meetings was approved by all WMU members attending the annual meeting.

WMU-NC will continue to be a resource to help people learn about, pray for, give to and do missions, Fulbright said. The group will continue to work with all N.C. Baptist churches, including those affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, she said.

Some people have asked WMU-NC about its position on the Baptist Faith and Message, the Southern Baptist Convention's doctrinal statement, or on women preachers, Fulbright said.

"Our answer is we don't have a stance," she said. "That's a local church issue."

Earlier in the meeting, local WMU leaders led a time of prayer for missionaries with a birthday on the day of the meeting. Skits portrayed the founding of WMU-NC, including a failed motion to support the missions efforts of women at an early BSC meeting.

Ron Loftis, a retired director of missions and pastor, talked about his work in community ministries. He listed numerous times someone was needed to support missions efforts. Each time, WMU responded, he said.

Ed Beddingfield, pastor of First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, talked about how WMU has influenced his life and ministry.

"Where in the world would we be if not for the women and the WMU in our churches?" he said.

Greg Rogers, pastor at Oakmont, made a similar statement at the Greenville meeting. "I'm a recipient of a lot of good things because of the missions and ministry of WMU," he said.