Monday, July 21, 2008

(posting shortly) MISSOURI BAPTIST HEART OF INTEGRITY QUESTIONS: Section A (partly posted), B C, and D (in their entirety)


These are the questions which will be asked of
the
individuals listed in the
Missouri Baptist Convention
EMERGENCY MEETING PRESS RELEASE
(
described here)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 and C)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Section A

~Southwest Baptist University and The Law~

(Questions 1-7)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Question 1 (3 parts)

a) As employees and administrative personnel of a Christian institution, are you and your colleagues subject to and obligated to obey the laws of the local, state and federal governments?
Yes/No


b) Is it the moral or ethical obligation or the legal responsibility of you or any other SBU employee to report potentially injurious or serious criminal activity among the SBU staff, associates or supporters to the proper authorities?
Yes/No


c) In your opinion, is there any occasion when possible criminal or unethical conduct by SBU personnel which has resulted in injury or substantial or recurrent harm to others should be concealed from the proper authorities?
Yes/No


Question 2 (16 parts, a - p)
2. If a SBU official, administrator, faculty or staff member, employee or agent had engaged in any of the following illegal or unethical activities, in your opinion, would this be GROUNDS for DISMISSAL from Southwest Baptist University and/or NOTIFICATION of the proper governmental, professional, or church authorities or regulating agencies?

a) Complicity or participation in FORGING
or altering medical, academic, and/or other
RECORDS in order to conceal previous
wrongdoing by the SBU administration or
staff.
Yes/No

b) The presentation of false, misleading, or
incomplete testimony or information during
the discovery process or civil DEPOSITION.
Yes/No

c) The distribution of FALSE, misleading, or
incomplete INFORMATION to local, state, or
federal governmental OFFICIALS in the investigation
of a civil or criminal complaint against SBU, its
agents, employees, or associates with the intent
of defaming or defrauding other individuals or
concealing unethical or criminal conduct by
SBU associates.
Yes/No

d) The threatening of RETALIATION (harm to an
individual's academic career, employment, reputation,
family or friends) against an individual if that person
discussed or revealed illegal or unethical wrongdoing
by SBU faculty, administration, employees, or associates.
Yes/No

e) The continual indoor daytime (during business
hours) "fanspray" application of dangerous,
now-banned pesticides by an UNCERTIFIED
applicator on the SBU campus while students
were present.
Yes/No

f) The continual indoor daytime (during business
hours) "fanspray" application of dangerous,
now-banned pesticides by an UNCERTIFIED
applicator on the SBU campus while students
were present--even AFTER several students had
reported injuries and at least one was acutely
exposed twice and permanently disabled.
Yes/No

g) The purposeful DISREGARD of a PHYSICIAN'S
written INSTRUCTIONS which resulted in detriment
and injury to a student's health.
Yes/No

h) Complicity or participation in the use of
ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY in the
orchestrated DEFAMATION of individuals
in order to DISCREDIT those individuals
and CONCEAL potentially criminal wrongdoing
by the SBU administration, employees, or
supporters.
Yes/No

i) The illegal use of ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY
to discuss or distribute (without the student's
authorization) the confidential academic, medical,
or personal RECORDS of a SBU student with
a student's employer(s), friends or coworkers,
church personnel, deacons, church members,
or other unauthorized individuals.
Yes/No

j) The illegal use of ADMINISTRATIVE
AUTHORITY to discuss or DISTRIBUTE FALSE,
fabricated, misleading or incomplete INFORMATION
or documentation about a student with the student's
employer(s), friends or coworkers, church personnel,
church members, deacons, or other unauthorized
individuals with the intent of discrediting, defaming
or DEFRAUDING a student.
Yes/No

k) The searching and intentional VANDALISM
of a student's room and personal belongings for the
purpose of debasing the student and FORCING
the student to leave the University.
Yes/No

l) The PHYSICAL MENACING, harassment,
coercion, hazing, or INJURY of a student or
other individual(s) -- both on and off campus.
Yes/No

m) Complicity or participation in the recurrent,
prolonged and PREDATORY SEXUAL HARASSMENT
and defamation of students (even AFTER the
students left the SBU campus).
Yes/No

n) The persistent or retaliatory use of defamatory,
incendiary, or demeaning terms by the SBU
staff, faculty, and administration, such as:

*"CRAZY" -- a person who disagrees with the
SBU administration, staff, or policies;

*"DEMONIC" or "demon-possessed" -- a person
who is ill or who has experienced health problems;

*"HEATHEN" -- a student or other person who
does not currently attend church;

*"LIAR" -- a person, particularly a student,
who expresses opinions which threaten the
"status quo" or are different from those of
the SBU administration, staff, or associates;

*"MOOCHER" -- a person who accepts hospitality
from a Christian, or who asks for assistance from a
church or church-related organization during a crisis;

*"N****R" -- a black or dark-skinned person;

*"N****R-LOVER" -- someone who has friends
who are black or dark-skinned;

*"PAGAN" -- a non-Baptist Christian, or a member
of any other religious community.

*"W***E" -- virtually any unmarried woman,
virgin or not, or a divorced women;

*"PERVERT" -- a person who has experienced
sexual confusion or abuse, is or was sexually active,
or anyone who cares about or associates with
such persons;

*"PROBLEM STUDENT" -- a student who
disturbs the normal routine by expressing new
viewpoints or challenging the SBU administration,
staff, or associates;

*"PSYCHO" -- a student or other person who
causes the SBU staff, administration, or associates
to be inconvenienced;

*"QUEER" -- an effeminate male; or an unmarried
female, esp. one who is not dating or is not sexually
active, or a person who was reluctant to take part in
unseemly or coarse joking and discussions or would
not submit to groping or molestation by the SBU
administrative staff.

*"ROGUE CHRISTIAN" -- a Christian who, due
to severe disability or health problems, is unable
to attend church.
Yes/No

o) Complicity or participation in the use of
ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY to PROPAGATE
malicious and unfounded rumors and FALSE
ACCUSATIONS (which resulted in profound
disruption to the student's family, social,
financial, emotional, academic, and spiritual
life) in an attempt to SHIELD SBU from LEGAL
LIABILITY and potential embarrassment in
the previous and now-acknowledged SEXUAL
MISCONDUCT of several SBU staff and
administrators.
Yes/No

p) The persistent misleading and conscious DECEIT
of University officials resulting in SUBSTANTIAL
and REPEATED physical, psychological, emotional
or spiritual HARM to other individuals.
Yes/No



Question 3 (16 parts, a - p)
3. If a SBU instructor, administrator, employee, or supporter had engaged in any of the above illegal or unethical activities, in your opinion, should that individual qualify for SPECIAL TREATMENT from Southwest Baptist University, the Missouri or Southern Baptist Conventions, any governmental agencies, institution or individuals (supporters, Trustees, Regents, or contributors) associated with Southwest Baptist University in the form of: promotions, tenure, pay raises, special bonuses ("housing allowances," etc.), ceremonial awards or recognition (Life Beautiful Award, career achievement award, etc.), political or church-related positions, financial remuneration and gratuities, or any other considerations?


Please answer
Yes/No to the above 16 items (a - p) in Question 2.


Question 4
4. If a SBU administrator, member of the faculty or staff, or other SBU employee or associate were found to have committed an illegal or unethical offense against a student, in your opinion, does the SBU GOVERNANCE bare the ethical RESPONSIBILITY for reconciling the situation by determining suitable and timely disciplinary action against the employee or associate and providing amends or compensation for the wronged student?
Yes/No


Question 5
5. If a SBU administrator, member of the faculty or staff, or other SBU employee or associate were found to have committed an illegal or unethical offense against a student, in your opinion, during what TIME FRAME should the governance of Southwest Baptist University provide the student with an apology, compensation, amends, correction of the student's record, restitution, reconciliation, or other appropriate response?


Please indicate Yes to one of the following (a - l):
a) within one day
b) within one week
c) within one month
d) within six months
e) within one year
f) within two years
h) within five years
i) within ten years
j) within twenty or more years
k) not until the student dies
l) SBU has no ethical obligation to apologize
or offer amends for the criminal or unethical
conduct of its employees, officials, or associates.



Question 6
6. In your opinion, if the SBU administration and governance, having been alerted on numerous occasions of the possible illegal or unethical conduct of a SBU administrator, member of the faculty or staff, or other SBU employee or associate, failed to take substantive and decisive action to rectify the situation and prevent further incidents in the future, would this indicate the failure of administrative authority and precipitate the REEVALUATION of the legitimacy, effectiveness, and INTEGRITY of the SBU governance?
Yes/No


Question 7 (3 parts, a - c)
a) In your opinion, are the SBU Trustees and the members of the leadership of the Missouri Baptist Convention (which owns SBU), as individuals, LEGALLY, MORALLY, and FINANCIALLY liable for the administrative policies and activities of Southwest Baptist University and its employees and agents?
Yes/No

b) As a member of the SBU staff or administration, do you condone (or have you ever condoned) the use of SLANDER, INTIMIDATION, physical assault or VIOLENCE against any individuals who disagree with the policies or behavior of SBU personnel?
Yes/No

c) Do you believe that the CAREER, REPUTATION, HEALTH, or LIFE of any individual should be FORFEITED in order to COVER the illegal, fraudulent, and/or potentially costly or embarrassing misconduct of the officials, employees, or associates of Southwest Baptist University, or the Missouri and Southern Baptist Conventions?
Yes/No

_______________________________


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)

_______________________________________________

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Press Release Details: EMERGENCY MEETING of Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board Regarding Southwest Baptist University Misconduct

Last Update: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 (shortly)

Due to various complications, Marie has been unable to present a proposal to the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board at their meeting today and will, instead, proceed with a PRESS RELEASE requesting an EMERGENCY MEETING of the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board for the purpose of responsibly dealing with the concerns that were brought forth in her letter of June 30.

Over the next few days, this post will provide a continuous updating of the events surrounding the PRESS RELEASE and the EMERGENCY MEETING.

The Questions to be addressed by the individuals named below will be posted (here).

1. Tuesday, July 15 about 2:00 pm:
REBACCA RANDLES and the
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY LEGAL STAFF

Marie has contacted the Missouri Bar Association and has been assured that -- if the events are as she and other witnesses describe and as the documentation seems to indicate -- the lawyers involved should most definitely be disbarred.

After some discussion, Marie has agreed to write REBECCA RANDLES, attorney and Southwest Baptist University Trustee, to request that she investigate and provide a preliminary accounting during the upcoming EMERGENCY MEETING (which Marie has requested for August 2008) and a fuller accounting during the yearly October 2008 meeting of the entire Missouri Baptist Convention of the behavior of the Southwest Baptist University legal staff.

2. Tuesday, July 15 (about 3:00 pm):
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

Marie is requesting that
during the upcoming EMERGENCY MEETING (which Marie has requested for September 2008) of the Missouri Baptist Executive Board and during the yearly October 2008 meeting of the entire Missouri Baptist Convention the following individuals provide an accounting of the behavior of the Southwest Baptist University administration, faculty and staff in this matter:

  • Current SBU President C. Pat Taylor
  • Previous Interim SBU President Wayne Gott (businessman and current SBU Trustee)
  • and previous SBU CEO and President Roy Blunt [wiki here] (also former SBU Trustee; now 7th District Missouri Congressman).
3. Tuesday, July 15 (about 3:30 pm):
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BOLIVAR, MO

Marie is requesting that during the upcoming EMERGENCY MEETING (which Marie has requested for August 2008) of the Missouri Baptist Executive Board and during the yearly October 2008 meeting of the entire Missouri Baptist Convention the following individuals provide an accounting of:
1) the behavior of the Southwest Baptist University administration, faculty and staff (most of whom are or have been members of First Baptist Church of Bolivar) and
2) the behavior of the staff, trustees, deacons and other individuals associated with the Missouri Baptist Convention,
First Baptist Church
of Bolivar
and other churches in this matter:


  • Current Pastor of First Baptist Church of Bolivar Billy Russell (SBU alumnus and newly-nominated SBU Trustee)
  • Interim Pastor of First Baptist Church of Bolivar Rodney Reeves (SBU alumnus and Dean of the Redford College of Theology and Ministry at Southwest Baptist University)
  • and former Pastor of First Baptist Church of Bolivar Ray Leininger (also SBU adjunct faculty; former SBU Trustee, former member of the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board and the Trustee Board of the Word and Way).


4. Thursday, July 17 (later today):
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

5. Thursday, July 17 (later today):
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE

6. Thursday, July 17 (later today):
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY MEDICAL STAFF

7. Thursday, July 17 (later today):
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PHYSICAL PLANT PERSONNEL

8. Thursday, July 17 (later this morning)::
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES

The Questions to be addressed by the above individuals will be posted today.


This post will be continuously updated.



_______________________________________________

A CHOICE:
Alternative Histories and Divergent Paths
_______________________________________________


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.

More details to follow ...


_______________________________________________



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)


_______________________________________________


Tuesday, July 15, 2008

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.

_______________________________




A CHOICE:
Alternative Histories and Divergent Paths
_______________________________________________


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.

_______________________________________________

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)


_______________________________________________



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).


~~~~*~~~~

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.


~~~~*~~~~



Posting details (here) and (here).

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Please Download - How Restorative Are Southwest Baptist University, the Missouri Baptist Convention and the First Baptist Church of Bolivar?



Restorative Justice Consortium

Statement Of
Restorative Justice
Principles
As applied in a school
setting
2nd Edition, 2005

Download (here) pdf.

Restorative practices are underpinned
by a set of values, these include:

Empowerment, Honesty,
Respect, Engagement, Voluntarism,
Healing, Restoration, Personal Accountability,
Inclusiveness,
Collaboration, and Problem-solving.


How Restorative Are Southwest Baptist University,
. . . and the Missouri Baptist Convention,
. . . and First Baptist Church of Bolivar, Missouri?

Beginning TODAY (July 12) ...
and throughout this week --

A series of posts specifically for the
Missouri Baptist Convention
Executive Board (here) meeting,
which convenes this 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.

~*~
 "And you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free." (Jn 8:32)

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Update on the Remaining Four Letters to the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board

Letter One (here).

The
Second, Third and Fourth Letters
The Second, Third and Fourth of Five Letters (see details here) to the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board are being posted on the PRIVATE BLOG.

This will allow the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board members (here) access to the information before and during their
July 14 - 15 meeting.

In addition, however, substantial portions of these three letters will be posted publicly on this site shortly.

The Fifth Letter
Marie's formal complaint to the 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 -- which is included in the Fifth letter -- cannot be held in confidence, as was done in years past, but must now be made part of the "public record."

Therefore, this letter will be posted in its entirety on this site shortly.

Communication Moderator

Marie is making arrangements for a "Communication Moderator."

More details and posts later today.