An Invitation to His Love and His Justice: Marie's Letter to Dr. David Tolliver, the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director

Friday, January 15, 2009

Marie O'Hara
Bolivar, MO 65613                       

Dr. David Tolliver,
Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director           
% Missouri Baptist Convention
400 East High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone:  (573) 636-0400/ (800) 736-6227

Dear Dr. David Tolliver:
                               
I am writing to request your presence at the next regular meeting of the Southwest Baptist University (SBU) Board of Trustees, which will convene on the campus of Southwest Baptist University on Monday and Tuesday, February 8 and 9.

As you know through your own recent term as a member of the Southwest Baptist University Board of Trustees, I have some outstanding claims against the university and, consequently, the cooperation asserting ownership and governance of the university, that is, the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC).

As the Missouri Baptist Convention affirms a controlling interest in SBU, I am looking to the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board to oversee, execute, and enforce judicious disciplinary action against those who have perpetrated these injuries and injustices.

To avoid confusion as to my intent, I will provide a brief summation of my concerns and indicate the remedy by which these issues may be resolved.

Specifically, my concerns involve the harm done to me, my family, and my friends by the employees, administrative and governing officials, and supporters of Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention, who willfully aided, abetted, counseled, and induced the commission of acts resulting in: 
•    slander, defamation and the malevolent and formulated provocation of hostility, ill-will, and hatred;
•    sexual harassment, molestation, humiliation, and discrimination; 
•    physical injury, intimidation and abuse;
•    multiple instances of actual and threatened retaliation;
•    the fallacious invasion of privacy and violation of confidentiality;
•    forgery or tampering with academic, medical and other records;
•    subornation of perjury and witness tampering;
•    obstruction of justice and abuse of/denial of due process;
•    financial duplicity, extortion, and insurance fraud,
•    and the abuse and negligence of administrative, executive, pastoral, and ministerial functions, privilege and authority.

Additionally, these claims regard the actions of the employees, administrative and governing officials, and supporters of Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention, who permitted, facilitated, encouraged, and rewarded others in: 
•    the deliberate and repeated infliction of physical damage, pain, and suffering;
•    the calculated pattern and practice of the imposition of social, psychological, and spiritual distress, anguish and suffering;
•    the coordinated conspiracy to defraud, slander, and cause physical, financial, or other harm in collaboration with officials of the Southern Baptist Convention and other church officials (both SBC churches and others),
•    and the ongoing conspiracy to defraud, slander, and cause discriminatory abuse and physical, financial, and other harm based on disability, religious belief, and/or gender in collaboration with local business persons, community members, politicians, and city, county, and state officials.
 
Obviously, Dr. Tolliver, I am not unaware of the possibility of your own tacit cooperation in these activities. 

Nonetheless, I am willing to work with you and the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board in crafting a redemptive and Christ-honoring resolution to this conundrum.

You may question how this is to be done, since so much of this malfeasance falls into the category of grave breech of professional ethics and criminality. 

I have no doubt the law of the land has been broken – continuously and purposely so.

Nevertheless, I have a higher concept of the Law.  The secular law, though it is to be honored and observed, is not my primary moral compass.

What, then, is my true claim against you?

Before Jesus Christ and His angels, hear me:  This is my testimony against Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention:
    'For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
    I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
                       (Matthew 25:42, 42 NIV)
  
Though I am created in the image of the Lord Most High, you have treated me with slanderous contempt and derision.
  
You have cheated me, cast me aside and left me to die, judging me to be of little worth, to be less than ... to be the least. 

Yet, I will not judge you.

There is but one Judge.  His verdict has already been rendered in the words of Jesus Christ:  
    He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
                         (Matthew 25:45 NIV)                           

You may call upon the lawyers of the secular law, political allies, and wealthy friends, but none will be able to prevail against this Judge and His verdict. 

Throughout time and eternity, this Justice will stand.

For in the eyes of this Judge, there is only one Law -- the Law of Love, which you have broken, shattered, shattered like glass. 

That, sir, is your crime. 

And, that is the true crime of Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention.

Therefore, Dr. Tolliver, I ask that you act in Love.  Attend the Southwest Baptist University Trustee meeting on February 8 and 9. 

In preparation for the meeting, I will be in communication with the current and former pastors of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, Missouri – Dr. Ray Leininger, Dr. Rodney Reeves, and Rev. Billy Russell.  They will be contacting you with additional details.

In His Love and His Justice,


Marie O'Hara