Former WMU presidents support move

Years ago many women in North Carolina and throughout the South were responding to mission needs as they understood God's call to their lives. Some Baptist leaders encouraged the women to organize to teach women, men and children in the churches to be more consistent in praying for, giving to and participating in missions.

Since organizing in 1886, Woman's Missionary Union of North Carolina (WMU-NC) and the Baptist State Convention (BSC) have cooperated in mission efforts. In recent months, this relationship has eroded. WMU-NC is an autonomous organization housed in the Baptist building in Cary. WMU-NC has always operated within the guidelines of the BSC Employee Manual until recently when changes were made without input or knowledge of the WMU-NC staff. The changes lowered the trust level between WMU-NC and the BSC, implying that WMU-NC is no longer capable of prayerfully securing staff as we have always done. And, further implications were made to limit those entities with whom WMU-NC can work and serve. Following months of negotiations which resulted in an impasse, our Executive Board voted to relocate our offices.

This idea is not new. From the beginning, WMU-NC leaders operated from home based offices and other places. We later had offices in the Hillsboro Street complex when the BSC was housed there. With construction of the present site in Cary, everyone did not choose to move to the new building and relocated in other office spaces. These decisions did not change their relationship with the BSC. WMU-NC has considered its space in the Cary building "home" for many years. We are extremely grateful to BSC for giving us this opportunity. With a major emphasis on prayer, we respond to God's call by acting in the freedom that is ours as Christ followers. We pray that our partnership in missions with BSC will continue as always.

As past presidents of WMU-NC, we express our full agreement with the decision to relocate WMU-NC office and operational base. This is the only path we could take and maintain our historical procedures and policies as set forth in the WMU-NC Articles of Incorporation. We firmly believe God has exciting plans for WMU-NC. We marvel at the past and anticipate all that is ahead as we "go forward." In simple faith, we lean into the future!

Sarah Parker (A.L.) 1961-1966; Bea McRae (Horace) 1981-1986; Dorothy P. Allred (Hoyle) 1986-1991; Ann M. Smith (Sanford) 1991-1995; Donice Harrod (J.D.) 1995-1999; Ruby Fulbright (Ellis G., Sr.) 1999-2002; Caroline Jones (Archie) 2002-2003