Click to Login or Sign Up

Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

  • Jalen Lands,
    Renew Church, Baton Rouge
  • Nate Reno,
    Renew Church, Baton Rouge
  • Alton Pecanty,
    First Baptist Vidalia
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archives
  • John 3:16
  • Louisiana
  • U.S.
  • Intl.
  • Culture
  • Commentary

The price of liberty

March 24, 2015

Re: Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee action on “sole membership”
for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Re: Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee action on “sole membership”
for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

 

The “sole membership” idea normally applies to secular businesses
with governing boards. The lame excuse used by the Executive Committee for sole
membership of SBC entities is less legal liability for the convention. In actuality,
the closer the entity is to the “owner,” the more liability for the
owner.

 

Does the Executive Committee have this authority or right of liability on behalf
of the SBC, and will the convention accept the liability from the committee?
This is a question that needs to be asked.

 

Here’s the rub – is this “solely” a grab for more control
and/or power over the SBC agencies and their boards by an elite few? Does the
Executive Committee have the authority to go before the convention and ask that
trustees be removed from boards and replaced with others who will “go along”
with the agenda of leaders?

 

The line must be drawn regarding the authority of the Executive Committee over
our entities. And the use of “our” in describing entities is the essence
of the misunderstanding. We are a convention of messengers from member churches.
We have given the Executive Committee limited authority. They are our employees
doing a job for us.

 

Will this problem overflow to other agencies? Is it time for other boards of
trustees to consider rescinding the bylaw that makes the convention the sole
member of the agency? Would that get us back on track of the actual owners of
agencies being the members of the convention who elect trustees to set policies
and conduct business, not the Executive Committee?

 

As pastor Bill Sutton has said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
So goes the fiduciary (trust) responsibility of the SBC boards and committees.

 

Diane Reeder

Baton Rouge, La.

Comments

Search

Search
Generic filters
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in excerpt
Search in comments
Filter by Custom Post Type

Editorial

Pursue Christ, pursue contentment

By Steve Horn I read somewhere this week that our society suffers from “inextinguishable discontent.” We are on a perpetual quest for more or better. We want a better job, a better boss, a better wage, or a better retirement plan. We want a better marriage or a better spouse. We want a better car, a better … Continue Reading.

Widgets In Tabs

  • Trending

    • Louisiana College quits CCCU over LGBT policy
    • Cancer battle brings victory in Vidalia
    • New believers abound at New Prospect
    • Life movement marches on in Louisiana
    • What Bible version do pastors like best?
    • OPEN LETTER: Russell Moore does not represent me, a Black Christian
  • Recent

    Florida teacher investigated for reading book about gay bunnies to first-graders, school officials say

    Pursue Christ, pursue contentment

    LC’s enrollment continues to climb

    Ocasio-Cortez celebrates Amazon canceling New York offices: ‘Anything is possible’

    NFL veteran & wife make ultrasound gift to New Orleans

    State Farm announces rate cut for Louisiana customers

  • Must Read

    LC’s enrollment continues to climb

    NFL veteran & wife make ultrasound gift to New Orleans

    Georgia Barnette Offering down, church planting to stay up

    Bossier agreement protects students’ religious rights

    TRUMP: Unborn reflect the image of God

    Fathers-sons lead call to bring ‘next gen’ into family of God

Copyright © 2019 by The Baptist Message · Built by Megaphone Designs