October 15, 2001
Missouri executive resigns,
signaling convention's turn
___JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.--Jim Hill, embattled executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, resigned Oct. 4.
___Citing a conservative political takeover effort launched in the state convention three years ago, he said, "I do not agree with the Project 1000 agenda or the political process they have utilized to implement it."
___Project 1000 is the fundamentalist political effort directed by layman Roger Moran. Project 1000's goal has been to win enough presidential elections to influence the makeup of board and committee appointments--duplicating the strategy used by conservatives who captured control of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1980s and '90s.
___The Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board accepted Hill's resignation "with regret" during a special meeting at the Baptist Building in Jefferson City. The board also approved a severance package that includes a car and a year's salary.
___Hill, who held the job since January 1998, had come under increased pressure from fundamentalist leaders in the state. In the process, a fundamentalist-dominated nominating committee this year declined to renominate 24 eligible trustees for convention boards.
___Three Missouri Baptist entities--a college, a retirement home and the state convention conference center--responded to the political efforts by invoking self-perpetuating status for their trustees. Up to 200 moderate-leaning churches reportedly are considering leaving the state convention.
___Amid such developments, Hill said, "It is clear that Project 1000 leaders are selecting those that will serve in our convention and are seeking to determine the future agenda for the convention and our staff."
___Hill told board members in a closed meeting that other factors include:
___A diminishing leadership role with convention committees and other convention leadership in the past couple of years. Most standing committees function without his input and are not responsive to his suggestions and recommendations, Hill noted. "I do not agree with the decisions and recommendations some committees are preparing or with their approach to their responsibilities."
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___"I deeply regret my inability to lead Missouri Baptists to find peace and unity," he said. "I believe God has released me to seek a new ministry opportunity, and I believe now is the time for the transition to take place."
___Convention President Bob Collins, pastor of Plaza Heights Baptist Church in Blue Springs, Mo., said an executive director search committee will be elected after the annual meeting Oct. 29-31 or at the executive board's regular meeting in December.
___Collins, who was elected by the force of Project 1000's influence, described Hill's resignation and the recent actions by several institutions as "tragic." However, he said he wasn't sure there was a connection between the work of Project 1000 and these events.
___Randy Fullerton, pastor of Fee Fee Baptist Church in suburban St. Louis and chairman of the convention's administrative committee, vehemently disagreed with Collins' assessment, saying Project 1000 had everything to do with Hill's resignation.
___Hill decided to resign while there was still a sympathetic majority on the executive board, Fullerton said, explaining that Project 1000 fundamentalists had said they would fire Hill after the annual meeting and not provide him with any severance.
___Other executive board members said they were shocked by Hill's resignation.
___"I'm numb. ... I don't know what to say, what to think. ... I don't know what this means for Missouri Baptists," said Sondra Allen, a member of First Baptist Church of Jefferson City. "It's a dark day in Missouri Baptist history."
___Martin Barker, pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Marceline, said, "Today is the first time I've ever been ashamed to be a Missouri Baptist."
___Hill's resignation further fueled speculation that moderate-leaning churches in Missouri may withdraw from the Missouri Baptist Convention and form a new state convention. No public actions have been taken to form such a convention, although talk about the possibility is common across the state.
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