November 2, 2001

Dear [Missouri Baptist College trustee],

            As a result of the action of the board to change its charter without approval of the Missouri Baptist Convention, I resigned as a trustee of the board. Following that board meeting, two board members contacted me and expressed the desire of the board that I reconsider that resignation. I appreciate that expression of fellowship from the board, however, I could not reconsider my resignation because of my conviction that the board, as currently constructed, is operating as an illegitimate and illegal board.

            In spite of my resignation, I deeply love the college. I believe in its mission. I think the college has a wonderful faculty and a committed, capable administration. My youngest daughter graduated from MBC in 2000, her husband graduated this past May and the college employs my oldest daughter.

            However, I remain deeply grieved by the action of the board of trustees. I believe this decision has caused great harm to the college. At it’s least it has altered the nature of the college and at it’s worst I believe it could prove to be a fatal decision for the college.

            At the last MBC board meeting one trustee predicted that if the Board of Trustees voted to become a self-perpetuating board it would be taken as a “declaration of war” by the Missouri Baptist Convention. If you attended the Missouri Baptist Convention in Cape Girardeau this past week you know that is an accurate summary of the mood of the convention in regards to all five Missouri Baptist Convention entities that have declared themselves self-perpetuating.

            The convention took the following actions in response to action of the trustees:

1.      Voted to escrow all funds to these five entities:

All funds in the 2002 Cooperative Program allocation budget earmarked for The Baptist Home, Windermere Assembly, Missouri Baptist College, The Baptist Foundation, Word and Way and any other institution which may become self-perpetuating shall be placed in escrow until such time as the trustees of these institutions rescind their actions and restate their former charters or upon further action by the Missouri Baptist Convention.

2.      Voted to reject a proposed covenant from the Baptist Home.

3.      Voted to authorize the Executive Board of the convention to seek legal opinion concerning the legality of the action taken by each trustee board and based upon that opinion to take whatever action was deemed appropriate to restore each entity to its prior relationship with the convention.

Motion submitted by Monte L. Shinkle, Concord Baptist Church, Jefferson City.

That the President working with the Executive Board be instructed and authorized to employ legal counsel to secure a legal opinion in reference to the actions taken by The Baptist Home, Windermere Assembly, Missouri Baptist College, The Baptist Foundation, Word and Way and any other institution which may become self-perpetuating, and if the legal opinion indicates their actions were improper, then we further instruct the Executive Board to take any and all steps necessary to restore them to their former relationship with the Missouri Baptist Convention.

4.      Adopted a resolution of opposition to the action of these entities and encouraged each one to rescind their actions.

Resolution No. 4: Missouri Baptist Agencies with Self-Perpetuating Boards

Whereas, the effectiveness of the Cooperative Program depends on the mutual trust of Baptist agencies and the churches that support them; and

Whereas, the trustee system was designed to give local churches a voice in the operation of the institutions that receive their financial support; and

Whereas, the boards of trustees for The Baptist Home, Windermere Assembly, Missouri Baptist College, The Baptist Foundation, Word and Way have recently voted to become self-perpetuating; and

Whereas, the boards of all five institutions took these steps without the knowledge or approval of the Missouri Baptist Convention; and

Whereas, such actions appear to be in clear violation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and business and Financial Plan of the Missouri Baptist Convention; be it therefore

Resolved, that we, the messengers to the 2001 Missouri Baptist Convention, representing the member churches thereof, hereby express our disapproval of the actions taken by the trustees of The Baptist Home, Windermere Assembly, Missouri Baptist College, The Baptist Foundation, Word and Way; be it further

Resolved, that we regard such conduct as inconsistent with the spirit of cooperative missions, and as a serious betrayal of trust; be it finally

Resolved, that we call upon the trustees of said agencies to rescind their actions and to take any necessary steps of reconciliation to rebuild broken trust.

5.      Elected a slate of officers to continue the current direction of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

6.      Elected a Board of Trustees for each entity.

All of these votes were overwhelming in the affirmative. It was obvious that Missouri Baptists are angry and frustrated by the actions of these five entities including Missouri Baptist College.

In spite of statements that indicate that nothing has changed at Missouri Baptist College except the way the trustees are elected, I believe that a great deal has changed at MBC and unless the trustees take immediate remedial action these changes will become increasingly more obvious. I encourage you to carefully evaluate the following examples of the harm being done to the college

(1)   MBC has lost the trust and the support of the vast majority of Missouri Baptists. That loss extends beyond Missouri. One pastor from Illinois called in dismay to tell me that their church has four students enrolled at MBC, but he will no longer recommend students to the college.

Prior to the board meeting in August, 38 St. Louis pastors and laymen had indicated their opposition to the board’s proposed actions. I was not allowed to present their names and their concerns were ignored.

(2)   Prior to the board meeting I have been told that over 100 students signed a petition asking the board not to declare themselves self-perpetuating. That petition was never presented to the board. One student boldly stood at the convention and expressed his embarrassment that the Board of Trustees have taken this action.

(3)   Many of the faculty and staff at MBC are totally opposed to this action. They are disillusioned, hurt, and frustrated. Their morale is low and the college is on the verge of losing some of the finest faculty. Those people are totally committed to the mission of the college, but they feel totally betrayed by the action of the trustees.

(4)   Financially the college has just had nearly one million dollars placed in escrow. Had that money not been escrowed, the college might have simply been defunded because the bylaws of the Executive Board of the Missouri Baptist Convention do not allow the Board to approve budgeting for benevolent or educational institutions whose governing bodies are not elected or approved by the convention.

Article XIV – Educational and Benevolent Institutions

B.                 Any educational or benevolent institutions cooperating in covenant relationship with the convention, which shall desire to receive contributions by the Executive Board from the Cooperative Program Allocations Budget as approved by the Missouri Baptist Convention shall only be eligible to do so under the conditions set forth in paragraph C of this article.

C.                Educational Institutions

1.      The governing board shall either have been elected or approved by the Missouri Baptist Convention.

(5)   The college also faces the potential problem of litigation should the Executive Board receive legal counsel that the board of trustees has acted illegally. If the board of trustees persists in defiance of the convention’s will, the Executive Board may take corrective steps to rectify the situation.

(6)   The Board is also faced with the embarrassing situation of having two elected trustee boards – one elected by the trustees and one elected by the Missouri Baptist Convention.

The attorney present at the board meeting advised us to consider the best interest of the college when deciding on this issue. How has the interest of the college been served when the action of the trustees has destroyed the relationship of the college with the convention, devastated the morale of the faculty, disillusioned the student body, and severely diminished financial resources?

As a former trustee who deeply loves the college and believes in the mission of the college, I plead with you to take appropriate action to remedy this catastrophic situation at Missouri Baptist College. The remedy is very simple.

(1)               Reinstate the former charter, which allows the convention to elect the Board of Trustees.

(2)               Accept the trustees elected by the Missouri Baptist Convention as the legitimate Board of Trustees of the college.

I realize that this will mean that some who sincerely want to remain as trustees, but have not been elected by the convention, will have to step down. However, I urge you to do what is best for the college and not what you personally desire.

If you were to take such action not only will it bring healing within the college family, but it may also be the first step to bring a real revival within our convention. I believe there would be an immediate outpouring of love and support among Missouri Baptists for Missouri Baptist College. I also believe that such action might be the catalyst to lead the other four entities to follow your example. If that were to happen there would be rejoicing across this entire state. It would not be the rejoicing of a victor triumphant over a foe, but the rejoicing of a family reconciled with one another.

            It is my prayer that you will carefully consider these issues and act upon them for the greater good of the college and the convention.

Sincerely,

David Sheppard