Concerned

I am writing as a Southern Baptist woman actively involved in Woman’s Missionary Union. After reading the article “Global Women,” I am puzzled.

A select group of women have made the decision to “launch” a new missions organization. They claim a decline in missions for and by women, thus, the need for a new organization. In the article, Randy Rains, associate vice president for the International Mission Board’s Office of Personnel, cites statistics to the contrary.

I could not help but notice that some of the women listed as incorporators and officers are also actively involved in other groups, i.e., the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Mainstream Baptist, who are in competition with the Cooperative Program and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Catherine Allen, in the article, said, “Several strong women’s mission boards were active 100 years ago.” There were several women’s mission boards, but their strength is questionable. They were limited  due to constant financial struggles. The Cooperative Program (CP) was formed as a means for Southern Baptists to do together what none of us could do alone.

Our Southern Baptist Convention system, i.e., CP, International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, has proven to be  superior to any other system, past or present. The problem with other groups is that they divert missions dollars away from the SBC. Global Women is a step backward. Of all people, the incorporators of this group should understand that.

How can Southern Baptists accept the formation of yet another group that will drain financial resources from 10,000-plus Southern Baptist missionaries, of whom the majority are women?

Judy Felkins
Clanton, Ala.