November 4, 2002
Mississippi convention debates CBF ties
___JACKSON, Miss. (ABP)--Mississippi Baptists overwhelmingly voted in support of a motion to exclude people active in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship from leadership in their state convention, but a parliamentary ruling later nullified the action.
___The motion was instead referred to a constitution and bylaws committee for study and a report next year.
___The motion asked that "the Mississippi Baptist Convention not allow anyone to be employed, elected or appointed to positions with the MBC if that person is currently serving in an employed, elected or appointed position with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship."
___The maker of the motion, Ralph Henson, pastor of Arrowood Baptist Church in Meridian, said CBF leaders had a conflict of interest if elected or hired by the state convention. That, he said, is because the moderate organization "has encouraged churches to divert funds from the Cooperative Program," the unified budget that funds the Mississippi and Southern Baptist conventions simultaneously.
___An estimated 75 percent to 80 percent of messengers voted in favor of the motion. But in a later business session, Kermit McGregor, pastor of First Baptist Church in Mendenhall, made a point of order saying that voting on the motion immediately violated the convention's constitution.
___"We have no option but to rule this motion null and void," agreed presiding officer Bill Hardin, the convention's first vice president. Despite protests from the floor, about 90 percent of messengers present voted to uphold the ruling.
___Speaking after the vote, Dick Allison, a member of the CBF's national Coordinating Council, lamented that the state convention "we love and support has singled out our kind of Baptists as people who would not be allowed in leadership roles."
___The rest of the Oct. 29-30 convention was more harmonious. A resolution affirmed women in ministry but referred to "the biblical and historical position of male pastors."
___Despite rumors prior to the convention that a Mississippi church that recently called a woman as pastor might be denied voting privileges, two messengers from Rivercrest Baptist Church in Jackson, where Carla Street is pastor, were seated without a challenge.
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