Florida Baptists need to take note of the legal shenanigans underway these days in the Missouri Baptist Convention. It is a cautionary tale from which we must be careful to learn.

Over the past year, the boards of five Missouri Baptist institutions have voted to make themselves self-perpetuating and thus remove the institutions from the accountability, direction and control of the Missouri Baptist Convention, even though Missouri Baptists birthed or bought and, in every case, built these entities. Word & Way, the weekly newsjournal of the Convention, is the most recent Missouri Baptist agency to take this improper, if not illegal, action.

Two weeks ago, the Missouri Baptist Convention responded by voting in its annual meeting to escrow the entities budgeted funds for 2002 – totaling more than $2 million. (Future issues of the Witness will carry further news coverage of events in Missouri.)

In almost every case, the boards have argued that the decision to become self-perpetuating was necessary to protect the MBC from legal liability and to remove the institutions from the political vagaries of Missouri Baptist life. The reality is that over the last several years, conservatives in Missouri have been winning elections and moderates, who control the boards, feared they would soon be in the minority on the boards as a result of the string of conservative victories. To prevent that outcome, these small groups of Missouri Baptists have flouted the will of the duly elected messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention, as well as the MBC’s authority, and have stolen the institutions. Strong words, I know. But I don’t know how it can be seen any other way.

The case of Word & Way strikes close to home for me. I know the editor, Bill Webb, and consider him a friend. He is a decent and honorable Christian brother. I believe he believes that his board’s action was somehow justified and necessary. Nevertheless, he and his board are absolutely wrong when they argue that this action will best serve all Missouri Baptists. The only means by which all Missouri Baptists are truly served is through their representation on the boards that are elected by the Missouri Baptist Convention in annual session. It is the height of arrogance for these boards to suggest they know better the will and desire of Missouri Baptists.

In light of Word & Way’s action, I feel compelled to state publicly that as the executive editor of the Florida Baptist Witness – an agency of the Florida Baptist State Convention – I will never seek a similar path, even if in the future the direction of the Convention is contrary to my views and convictions. Instead, it would be my obligation to seek other ministry opportunities if I cannot in good conscience be accountable to our Convention.

Knowing as I do the executives of the other Florida Baptist institutions, I have every confidence that the Missouri scenario will not be undertaken in the Sunshine State. We should thank God that Florida Baptists are united in purpose and direction. Our agency executives and their board members are Christians of integrity and good will. Nevertheless, the future well-being and oversight of these agencies should not be left solely to the good faith of individuals.

I believe it would be prudent and wise for our State Board of Missions to study whether changes in our agencies’ governing documents should be made to ensure – as much as legally possible – that the Missouri scenario could not be realized in Florida. Although the documents seem to make it impossible for our agencies to become self-perpetuating without the approval of the State Convention, so did the Missouri Baptist Convention’s governing documents. Prudence dictates that we take preventative action.

In the end, however, no amount of legal maneuvering, as necessary as it may be, can take the place of boards that are composed of individuals of integrity. Florida Baptists must demand such integrity of their representatives on our agency boards.