The Truth about Southwest Baptist University and Missouri Baptist Convention: Accepting A New Home, A New "Calling" and A New Alma Mater

And the Truth Shall Set You Free ...

After hesitating for months and years in the hope of achieving some form of reconciliation, Marie has finally accepted the Truth: that, given the cruel history of her treatment at Southwest Baptist University and among Missouri Baptists, there is no place for her -- as a now-disabled student -- at Southwest Baptist University or within the Southern Baptist Convention of churches.

Over the Twelve Days of Christmas, Marie has finally accepted a "calling" to a new university -- with an academic program specifically designed for chemically injured students, a gracious, tender-hearted faculty and administration, a knowledgeable and competent medical staff and generous health insurance benefits, and an eco-friendly campus.

It's a secular university and Marie will not be able to her honor her father's dying wish to complete her education at a Christian university. Citing the exemption in the in the Americans with Disabilities Act (which permits religious institutions to refuse to accommodate disabled students), no Christian university has accepted Marie.

Nonetheless, on the basis of Christ's call for social justice, the honoring and stewardship of all life, and the compassion for all people, Marie was also provisionally accepted and accommodated (after she completes her Bachelor's degree) into graduate school at a liberally caring seminary.

Answering this call will require that Marie relocates as soon as possible; thus, she has written to request that the First Baptist Church of Bolivar indicate their willingness to receive the Trinity Contract materials by this Monday, January 12, 2009.

This letter to the First Baptist Church of Bolivar will be posted shortly.

And They All Rolled Over!: Roy Blunt Would be "the Leading Candidate" to Replace Retiring Sen. Kit Bond in 2010, Says His Son, Outgoing Gov Matt Blunt

Excerpts from this morning's Springfield News Leader:

Jefferson City -- U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt would be "the leading candidate" to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kit Bond in 2010, his son, outgoing Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, told the News-Leader Thursday.

"I think he makes a lot of sense in a lot of different ways," Matt Blunt said in a telephone interview.

But there might be some other prominent Republicans who would take issue with the governor's comments. ...

Blunt said he had a brief conversation with his father about Bond's surprise announcement on Thursday, but had "no real strategic discussion or anything in the nature."

Roy Blunt has not made any comments to the media about his intentions, but issued a statement Thursday praising Bond for his nearly 40 years of public service.

"After almost four decades of service, the contributions Kit made are interwoven in the history of Missouri and our nation," Congressman Roy Blunt said in a statement. ...

Roy Blunt was elected to Congress in 1996 to represent Missouri's 7th District. In that time, he's served in House GOP leadership. Prior to that, he was Missouri Secretary of State, president of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar and Greene County clerk. He lost a race for Republican primary for governor in 1992, so he has experience running statewide. ...

Matt Blunt, the outgoing Republican governor, said he was encouraged by some supporters to seek Bond's seat, but has decided to "try my hand at something else" other than politics.

"I'm really excited about some business opportunities that I'm about to launch off into," Blunt said.

Upon leaving office Monday, Matt Blunt will become senior advisor to a Boston-based private equity firm co-founded by the eldest son of former Massachusetts governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney. ...

[Although a gubernatorial spokesman said Tuesday, December 31, 2008 that "... Blunt plans to continue living with his family in Springfield after leaving office. Blunt spokesman Rich Chrismer said it’s possible that Blunt will pursue other job opportunities as well." (see mid-article here.) ]

Craig Hosmer, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party, said in a statement that Democrats are encouraging Secretary of State Robin Carnahan to run.

"Robin Carnahan spoke to the Governor-elect this morning," Hosmer said. "Robin would be a strong candidate and a great Senator and Democrats across the state hope she'll run."

Another Democratic source close to Carnahan says she is almost certain to enter the race.

As the daughter of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan [a former Southwest Baptist University Trustee] and former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, her name recognition is as good as anybody's, political observers say.

When it comes to Missouri politics, the only name as well known as Carnahan is, of course, Blunt. ...

Remainder of article (here).