WMU suspends bylaw to elect James to fifth term

By Norman Jameson

BR Editor

To thank Woman's Missionary Union supporters, board members and Sandra James, president, left, and Ruby Fulbright, executive director, right, donned cowboy hats and worked the aisles, shaking hands and thanking members of the record crowd personally.

Photo by Norman Jameson

Biblical Recorder

RIDGECREST - A record attendance at the annual Woman's Missionary Union Missions Extravaganza suspended the bylaws to elect president Sandra James to a fifth one-year term, drawing on her experience to help WMU during a year of transition.

Participants also re-elected their other officers, adopted a budget that exceeds foreseeable income by more than a million dollars; took a special offering to support a missionary kid re-entry retreat; heard that 138 new units of work had been started in the past year, celebrated the 25th anniversary of Baptist Nursing Fellowship and learned that income from the first revival of the Heck-Jones Offering to support operations of WMU had received $336,610 to date.

With a theme of "Living on the Edge," the annual meeting at Ridgecrest Conference Center was multi-cultural, intergenerational and upbeat, despite the financial challenges ahead.

"Some days are frightening," said Executive Director Ruby Fulbright in her report. "Most days are rewarding. Some are frustrating; in some you want to give up and some are fun. But mostly each day is exciting as we watch God work when faith is essential."

Fulbright apologized for "any difficulty" caused in local churches by the WMU decision in 2007 to establish its own offices outside the Baptist State Convention staff building in Cary so it could "remain autonomous in selection of WMU staff."

While that decision was "applauded by many," she said, it also caused confusion among others.

"WMU is still committed to missions," she said. "That has not changed. We are committed to working alongside all churches and associations in Christ centered, Bible based missions.

She also said WMU is "still committed to working with leadership of the Baptist State Convention" although "that relationship still needs work."

She noted that although WMU sponsors the special offerings for national and international missions, it was not listed as a source of promotional materials for the offerings on the BSC website, which listed other sources.

Fulbright said WMU staff will be difficult to reach for the remainder of April while they relocate to new offices at 1200 Front Street in Raleigh. That space, she said, is larger and more affordable than they anticipated being able to secure.

"Our sense of divine mandate is intact," Fulbright said. She said WMU "took a leap of faith," but "with this faith, WMU of North Carolina will preach, teach, give and go together in the name of Jesus."

To a standing ovation, Fulbright concluded, "We are accountable to God for how we handle this opportunity. I believe history is on our side in believing that WMU will go forward."

WMU-NC's budget calls for expenditures of $1.14 million. Anticipated income is just $73,000, not including gifts through the annual Heck-Jones Offering, WMU's inclusion in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina's mission resource plan, or direct gifts from churches.

All officers were re-elected to one-year terms. They include Sandra James, president; Delores Thomas, first vice president; Tana Hartsell, second vice president; Beth McDonald, recording secretary and Chris Harker, assistant recording secretary.