|
Two
Open Letters to Missouri Baptists
From
Missouri Director of Missions Bill Smathers:
An Open Letter To
Missouri
Baptists:
I am honored to say that I was part of the MBC search committee that recommended Dr. David Clippard as executive director of Missouri
Baptists. I believe that he has assembled one of the finest and most experienced
staff teams, with the most gifted men and women in the nation, to serve
our churches. I am a director of missions for three associations, and
I fully support Dr. Clippard and the MBC staff.
I am excited about the priority and the emphasis that has been placed
upon evangelism, church planting, and missions by Dr. Clippard and his staff.
I am thrilled by the record number of new church starts that have been
begun in the last four years. I am relieved that Dr. Clippard has led
our MBC Executive Board to build a reserve fund to be “at ready” in times of
future crisis. Have some mistakes been made…certainly…but the
progress has been substantial, and the good that has been done far outweighs the few
difficulties that have surfaced.
But, now, the “word on the street” is that the MBC Executive Board
is being filled with nominees that will follow a plan to micro-manage the MBC
Executive Staff and which calls for Dr. Clippard’s dismissal. If
this is true, and I have reason to believe that it is true, it is a big, big
mistake.
Why would Missouri Baptists wish to damage, destroy, or hinder such an effective staff team? Why would we wish to quench the moving of
the Spirit in positive ways among us? Why must we always struggle for control
and power? Why must we continually devour one another? Why do we
kick against the goads of God’s leadership? And, why would Missouri Baptists
allow such a divisive plan to be enacted?
I’m a lover not a fighter, but there is a time to stand and a time to
speak out. This is one of those times and this is one of those issues.
Four years ago, I believed that Dr. David Clippard was God’s man for this
time and for this place among us, and I still believe that with all of my
heart.
Bill Smathers,
director of missions,
Kirksville Baptist Division
From Missouri
Director of Missions Jim Plymale:
September 21, 2006
Dear brothers and co-laborers in the harvest,
As most of you know, my good friend Bill Smathers
wrote and sent by email last week a concerned open letter to Missouri
Baptist about potentially distructive activities and attitudes currently
existing in our state convention. I had been hearing similar things as
Bill, and was preparing to send a similar letter as his, when I recieved
his open letter. I have since talked with him and many others about his
concerns - concerns I share fully with him.
Though I normally do not get involved and openly express my
concerns, I feel compelled to do so now.
Regretfully, these concerns have become even
greater since Bill's letter. As
many of you may know, there has been a special called meeting for this
Friday of the MBC Executive Board and recent MBC Presidents.
This meeting is to try and deal with the growing unrest and
controversy surrounding this important and urgent matter.
It appears more and more certain that there have
been and are efforts to gain enough Executive Board support to dismiss
David Clippard as our Executive Director, although that may not be the
direct purpose of the board meeting this Friday.
As of yet, after discussing this quite widely, I have not heard
anyone express anything close to a legitimate, biblical reason for
calling for such action. Rather
it appears more an issue of personality, preference and control.
I can say that I and the Missouri DOM Fellowship
officers, and every one of the many other DOMs I have spoken to about
this, are strongly opposed, not only to such an action, but to such a
very wrong process and attitude in deciding such or similar actions.
We simply must sound the alarm, bring this out in the open and
stop it NOW, before we destroy what is left of our good convention
ministry and fellowship.
We have many good, Bible-based leaders in churches
in our state, that are sitting on the fence about their further support
and involvement in our state convention mission and ministry.
They have been dismayed, disillusioned and discouraged by our
many "wranglings" in recent years.
Actions currently being considered and promoted by a select few
can cause these to totally throw in the towel and walk away from our
work together, never to return to the fold.
I have been a supporter of Project 1000 from its
earliest efforts. I consider
myself friends with most of the leaders of this effort, and hope they
consider me as their friends. The
cause was worthy and right. As
I am sure you know, the goal of Project 1000 was to help mobilize enough
conservative, Bible-believing Christian pastors and laymen to get
involved in our state convention governance to turn our state convention
back to its Biblical and historical roots.
That goal has been accomplished and affirmed now for several
years, and as stated several years ago, Project 1000 should and would
end at such point. Yet it
appears this group still works unofficially behind the scenes to greatly
influence convention politics and activities.
This should and must end now, not only in name but also in
practice, for the good of our convention.
It is not healthy for any small, elite group to
select, anoint and promote a sole candidate for major elected offices of
the convention, or to overly influence every officer, employee and
aspect of our work together. Let
us broaden the field and our work together, in honest and open debate
and deliberation, and rebuild trust and cooperation for all
Missouri Baptists who are committed not only to a proper view of the
Bible, but also to a proper walk of the Bible.
I would be most happy to hear from any of you who
reads this letter and to discuss this matter further as may be needed.
I hope you will join me and others in praying and working
fervently for a healthy resolution of this matter and for the ministry
and leaders of our state convention.
Your concerned fellow-servant,
Jim Plymale
DOM,
Franklin
Baptist Association
|
