As discussed in yesterday's post (see here), this week's Missouri Baptist Convention Pathway has confirmed (as Marie and others have suspected for nearly a year) that the nominee for the "new" Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention will be the "old" Interim Director, Dr. David Tolliver.
Upon hearing the news, Marie incorporated this new development into the "Invitations to Reconciliation and Restorative Justice" Letters (Introductory letter here) to the First Baptist Church of Bolivar, MO.
Bypassing intermediate steps, Marie has addressed Dr. Tolliver directly in a letter to be faxed this weekend and delivered on Monday, January 26, 2009.
The "All In the Family" Letter urges immediate action on Dr. Tolliver's part to forestall complications and to accelerate the establishing of basic framework for resolving this dispute (before the scheduled election on February 3).
Dr. Tolliver's cooperation in founding of such a framework would eliminate the need for a full-scale, formal Investigation.
Otherwise, Marie acknowledges, such an Investigation would reveal elements of Dr. David Tolliver's "leadership style" that would imperil Dr. Tolliver's nomination.
However, Marie recognizes that Dr. Tolliver's behavior was due primarily to his adoration to his old friend and mentor, the late Dr. James Sells (former Southwest Baptist University CEO, chancellor and president), and forgives him for his lack of diligence and impartiality in discerning what is best for Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention.
Nonetheless, Marie insists that she not be forced to suffer for his errors (and the mistakes of others in the past) and asks that Dr. Tolliver act swiftly, maturely and manfully -- with Southwest Baptist University and the First Baptist Church of Bolivar, MO -- in bringing the matter to a God-honoring conclusion.
Parts of the "All In the Family" Letter will be posted shortly.
