January 21, 2002

Shorter College trustees act to reduce
control by Georgia Baptist Convention
___ROME, Ga.--Shorter College has become the first institution to loosen control of the Georgia Baptist Convention over its governance.
___The action, announced Jan. 8, follows similar changes in governance at Baptist schools in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and Missouri in recent years. However, the means by which Shorter trustees have changed their governance is unique.
___In a letter to alumni and friends, President Edward Schrader announced a "management and operational control agreement" that shifts the school's assets and decision-making power from the board of trustees to the Shorter College Foundation. The action was approved by trustees Nov. 2, he said.
___In response, the Georgia Baptist Convention administration committee immediately voted to withdraw $9.6 million in funding for the northwest Georgia college.
___The Georgia Baptist Convention in recent years has come under nearly complete control of conservative leaders who support the shift that occurred in the Southern Baptist Convention since 1979. These leaders now have the ability to control state convention agencies and institutions by placing people of like mind on those institutions' trustee boards.
___Nevertheless, Shorter trustees did not cite the changing political climate as the motivation for their action.
___Trustees pursued this course--that includes leasing all assets to the foundation and expanding the foundation's board to include current trustees--in order to satisfy an accreditation requirement that the college be empowered to remove trustees with cause, Schrader said.
___The 30-member trustee board receives members by approval of the Georgia Baptist Convention and therefore does not have the power to dismiss a trustee if deemed necessary, he explained. He said concern about this governance issue was expressed nearly 10 years ago by representatives of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, an accreditation body scheduled to visit the campus in February.
___Most Baptist colleges and universities in the Southern United States are accredited by SACS as well. Shorter is perhaps the first Baptist school to change its governance in order to meet such a suggestion by SACS.
___"I am deeply saddened by the actions of the college," said Georgia Baptist Convention Executive Director Bob White. "When Shorter College trustees voted for this change, it raised legal and institutional issues relating to the relationship between Shorter and the GBC."
___While state convention officials see the college's action as creating separation between the convention and college, Shrader said he hopes that is not the result.
___"We don't intend for there to be a separation," he said. "The college doesn't seek to be independent in selecting trustees."
___However, the college would like "a new process" that involves both the convention and current trustees to assure "that the board is always comprised of independent thinking persons."
___Schrader said he would "fight for Shorter College to remain a Georgia Baptist college" and hopes convention leaders will soon meet with college officials to discuss "a new relationship."
___The funding taken away by the state convention includes an annual budget allocation of $1.3 million, as well as money for capital improvements and endowment. The state convention provides about 5 percent of the college's annual operating budget.
___Reported by John Pierce of Baptists Today

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook