This week, once again, while attempting to provide a peaceful solution to this situation, Marie was confronted with the same obstacle that has so often hindered progress.
The obstruction is all too familiar: since the Missouri Baptist Convention has effectively rescinded responsibility and control of Southwest Baptist University by refusing repeatedly to take reasonable action against unethical (and even dangerous and criminal) conduct by the SBU and MBC administration, employees and Trustees, how are Southwest Baptist University's long-term accreditation issues to be addressed -- short of actually closing down the school and/or firing a large portion of the Trustees and staff?
If Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention ever had the maturity and integrity to actually come to terms with their failures and grapple with these issues, few doubt that they would emerge stronger, more vibrantly transformed, and more dedicated to the cause of Christ than ever before.
As it is, however, the SBU and MBC officials querulously and arrogantly shrug off every attempt at communication and berate, threaten, or abuse anyone who inquiries about these issues.
THE MISSING ELEMENT IS ACCOUNTABILITY.
After a series of incidents over the last several months, Marie is more than convinced that it is NOT her place to become interminably enmeshed in the lengthy and ongoing process of resolution.
As she has made clear to SBU and MBC officials, she believes (and has firmly believed for years) that her calling is elsewhere and that she should relocate, as soon as possible.
She has been alternately ignored, mocked, and brutalized for her efforts to encourage a peaceful reconciliation.
She has been alternately ignored, mocked, and brutalized for her efforts to encourage a peaceful reconciliation.
However, though persistent prayer and inquiry, the Holy Spirit has provided a method of assistive and supervisory direction and management.
This week, Marie has begun working with a seminary -- one of the oldest in the United States, which is affiliated with a prestigious ivy league university -- who would be competent to partner with SBU and the MBC to provide extended oversight and accountability as Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention contend with an array of entrenched ethical, moral, and legal issues.
Affirming the place of the local church in resolving these issues, Marie will ask that the pastors of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, Missouri to collaborate with this seminary in arranging for this cooperative care and supervision for Southwest Baptist University.
For her part, as Marie stated in her letter (dated April 13, 2010 letter here) to Dr. David Tolliver, who is a recent Southwest Baptist University Trustee and the current executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, Marie affirms that she remains willing to participate in the Educare Forum.
Over the next several weeks, we will be posting daily bulletins as we track the emergence of this coalition, which has been assembled as a manifestation of Grace, to become a parakletos -- to advocate, to plead the cause, to act as an intercessor for Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention as they struggle to overcome these challenges.
Over the next several weeks, we will be posting daily bulletins as we track the emergence of this coalition, which has been assembled as a manifestation of Grace, to become a parakletos -- to advocate, to plead the cause, to act as an intercessor for Southwest Baptist University and the Missouri Baptist Convention as they struggle to overcome these challenges.
