Short Spots                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                         Vol. XIV, No.10, Nov/Dec 2001

Missouri Exec Resigns: Jim Hill, Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention has resigned saying he cannot work with the conservative leaders now in control of the MBC. The executive board approved a severance package that includes 12 months of pay and benefits, pay for accrued vacation time, and title to an automobile owned by the convention. [ABP] [Comment: While regrettably unpleasant for all concerned, this is one more event in the working out of the changes underway in the states as a result of the conservative resurgence. After this month’s state meeting, the MO executive committee was expected to have a solid majority of conservatives while Hill is of the moderate persuasion. It is ineffective to have split leadership pulling in opposite directions. TCP]

Illinois Exec Also Resigns: Bob Wiley, executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association resigned effective 31 October citing “unresolvable” differences with elected leaders. [ABP]

FBC, Oklahoma City Votes to Leave SBC: On 23 Sep. Oklahoma City’s original Baptist church, founded the year of the Oklahoma land run in 1889, voted 300-69 to terminate its 87-year affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention. The pastor, Dr. Jeff Zurheide, said, “The First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City has always stood for time-honored Baptist beliefs, by which each individual answers directly to God. We regret that the Southern Baptist Convention, under its present leadership, is trying to impose dogma on separate and independent Baptist churches. What's more, it's dogma we don't agree with," he said. Among other things, the Convention's 2000 Baptist Faith and Message restricts the office of pastor to men only, and requires wives to "submit graciously" to their husbands. In 1983 First Baptist Church became one of the state's first Southern Baptist congregations to ordain women as deacons. The vote to separate from the Southern Baptist Convention leaves intact the church's membership in the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. [Comment: While I certainly do not agree with the doctrinal stance of this church, I must commend them for taking the logical and honorable step dictated by their beliefs. Two cannot and should not try to walk together less they be agreed. If more churches and groups would take similar straightforward action, controversy would calm and we could all seek to serve God in accordance with our several understandings of His Word. TCP]

Bush names ERLC president to religious liberty panel: President Bush has named Southern Baptist Ethics and religious Liberty Commission head Richard Land to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The panel researches religious liberty issues in foreign countries and makes recommendations to the White House and Congress. Land said he was "humbled and honored" to receive the presidential appointment to the commission. "It will be a privilege to labor alongside the other eight members of the USCIRF to spotlight and monitor repressive regimes and nations that are denying basic human rights to those within their boundaries," he said. The position is non-salaried; the federal government covers all the commission-related expenses of the commission's members. [BP]

BGAV and CBF: In his 5 July 2001 editorial, Mike Clingenpeel of the Religious Herald wrote: “Finally, the Baptist General Association of Virginia is a partner with CBF. CBF is not the BGAV’s only national ministry partner. More BGAV churches support the SBC than CBF, by a wide margin. But Virginia Baptists relate to CBF in significant ways.” [Comment: Amen, brother. Amen.]

New BGAV Executive Director: Reginald McDonough has been BGAV executive director since 1987 and will retire 28 February 2002. Rev. Ray Spence, pastor of Second BC, Richmond, chaired the committee which sought a successor and which nominated John Upton, a group leader in the BGAV staff. The 13 September Religious Herald quotes Spence as saying “Second, ... We interviewed several candidates from outside Virginia, but if you’re not a Virginian, it’s difficult to know how far we’ve progressed on denominational matters. The only people who fully understand what we’re doing are Virginia Baptists. Third, we are confident that the time will come when Virginia Baptists will have a female as our executive director. One of the serious candidates was female.” [Comment: (1) Whether what has happened and is continuing to happen in Virginia is progress or retrogression is a matter of judgment. (2) Spence clearly states the direction the BGAV is heading regarding female leadership. TCP]