PRESS RELEASE PENDING: Request for Emergency Meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention Regarding Southwest Baptist University

Due to various complications, Marie has been unable to present a proposal to the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board at their meeting today.

Therefore, Marie will be requesting an EMERGENCY MEETING of the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board some time before the beginning of the Southwest Baptist University's Fall term for the purpose of responsibly dealing with the concerns that were brought forth in her letter of June 30.

As indicated in her June 30 letter, those concerns include the following:

1. The investigation and possible disciplinary action and/or dismissal of Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board members (current and former) for antiscriptural, unethical, immoral and potentially criminal conduct.

2. The investigation and possible disciplinary action and/or dismissal of Southwest Baptist University Trustee Board members, administration, faculty, legal and medical personnel and other employees for antiscriptural, unethical, immoral and possibly criminal conduct – a portion of which has been publicly confessed.

3. The investigation and possible disciplinary action and/or censure against the First Baptist Church of Bolivar for antiscriptural, unethical, immoral and potentially criminal conduct in collaboration with Southwest Baptist University.

4. The formal complaint to The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools against both Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention for numerous violations of the Higher Learning Commission's Criteria for Accreditation.

The PRESS RELEASE requesting this EMERGENCY MEETING are being posted here.

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A CHOICE:
Alternative Histories and Divergent Paths

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Marie's request to the Missouri Baptist Executive Board for an EMERGENCY MEETING (described here) of the Executive Board -- for the purpose of initiating its investigation -- will be sent (and posted) today.

However, a second letter to the First Baptist Church of Bolivar, who are at the heart of this matter in more ways than anyone can count, will also be sent (and posted).

This second letter will request that the First Baptist Church of Bolivar conduct its own internal investigation, initiated by a Preliminary Agreement to be pledged and witnessed by the FBC-Bolivar Deacon Board on Sunday, August 31, 2008.

This Investigative Committee of the First Baptist Church of Bolivar will report directly to the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board at weekly intervals throughout September and October, until the yearly Missouri Baptist Convention meeting at the end of October 2008.

At that time, if the situation is not more fully resolved, the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board will be asked to intervene.

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The NEW SISTER BLOG

Missouri Baptist Heart of Integrity Questions
http://heartofintegrity.blogspot.com/
NOW OPEN
in order to allow more convenient access to the entire

MISSOURI BAPTIST HEART OF INTEGRITY
QUESTIONS:
The Role of the Law at a Christian University
~The Government, the Church, and the Law~
( Sections A, B & C)

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Nomination of Billy Russell, Pastor of FBC-Bolivar, to Southwest Baptist University's Board of Trustess Offers Complications, Obstacles to Proposal

The Missouri Baptist Convention
Executive Board (here)
is meeting today Monday and Tuesday
(July 14 - 15)
at Hannibal-LaGrange College,
the sister college of
Southwest Baptist University,
which is also
"owned and operated by"
the Missouri Baptist Convention.

Marie was to present a formal letter to the
Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board
during this meeting.

However, the nomination of Billy Russell,
the pastor of First Baptist Church of Bolivar,
to the Board of Trustees
of Southwest Baptist University
has offered complications and obstacles
to Marie's Proposal to the
Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board.

Marie is making adjustments
and we will be posting details later today (Tuesday).

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Nominees for
Southwest Baptist University
Board of Trustees

Source: Missouri Baptist Convention Pathway article

David Mason,
minister, Green Valley Baptist Church, St. Joseph,
recommended again;

Larry Payton,
laity, Parkview Baptist Church, Tulsa, Okla.,
recommended again;

Donald Jump,
laity, First Baptist Church, Bolivar;

Billy Russell,
minister, First Baptist Church, Bolivar,
new recommendation;

Jim Evans,
laity, First Baptist Church, Blue Springs,
new recommendation;

Neil Franks,
minister, First Baptist Church, Branson,
filling unexpired term.


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Posting details (here) and (here).