Without discussion, trustees of the International Mission Board (IMB) voted to end the service of 43 career missionaries who declined to affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M). The action came during the May 6–8 meeting of the board in Framingham, Mass.
The board also voted to eliminate $10 million in expenses from its current budget to prepare for an expected shortfall in income and to limit the number of overseas missionaries appointed because of economic reasons.
Of the 43 missionaries whose careers were ended, 13 were terminated. While the IMB is not releasing the names of missionaries involved, at least four members of the terminated group are Alabama Baptists — Rick and Nancy Dill (Germany) and Ron and Lydia Hankins (Japan). The remaining 30 missionaries left by resignation (20) or early retirement (10).
Retirement benefits
Early retirement with full benefits was approved for 10 missionaries who had refused to affirm the revised faith statement, including Mary Swedenburg, a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Hueytown.
The 20 whose resignations were approved also cited the BF&M as a factor in their decision.
During 2002, 34 other missionaries resigned citing the BF&M as a factor in their decision. The total number of missionaries refusing to affirm the faith statement stands at 77.
In January 2002 IMB President Jerry Rankin asked IMB workers to affirm the 2000 BF&M. In April this year, he asked 31 missionaries who had not yet made the affirmation to make their decisions by May 5. Almost 99 percent of Southern Baptists’ 5,500 overseas missionaries affirmed the BF&M, according to the IMB.
Of the 5,500 missionaries, 3,411 are considered career missionaries. The remaining include associate missionaries, International Service Corps (ISC), Journeymen and Masters.
While missionaries who chose to end their service rather than affirm the 2000 BF&M cited varying reasons, the primary concern came from the act of affirming the document. The concern came from this act equaling that of affirming a creed.
Rankin and other Southern Baptist Convention leaders, however, have insisted the affirmation is necessary to assure Southern Baptists their missionaries are working within boundaries set by the convention.
“It is not appropriate to expect Southern Baptists to support those who are not willing to work in accord with what the denomination confesses to believe,” Rankin said. “To do so would undercut the credibility and confidence in the IMB as a denominational mission entity serving Southern Baptists.”
The revised doctrinal statement was the sole public issue surrounding the firings. No criticism of the ministries of the dismissed missionaries and no suggestions of immoral or unethical behavior were offered by the IMB.
Turning to the budget, trustees canceled two of the next three conferences for people interested in the ISC, Journeyman and Masters programs due to an expected shortfall in 2003 budget receipts.
The number of new short-term personnel will be limited to 400 this year and 300 in 2004, and the number of new long-term personnel will be kept at 350 this year. A total of 412 were appointed last year.
Trustees also approved options presented by staff to reduce 2003 spending by $10 million to help offset whatever shortfall may occur. In addition to canceling the two conferences, those options also included restrictions on staff travel and delaying production of some materials.
During each of the past two years, the IMB has sent out more than 1,000 new missionaries. In that time, the IMB has always been able to make up the difference by appropriating reserve funds, Rankin says.
“Now not only has the performance of the stock market reduced those reserves, but it is uncertain how much of the budgeted investment income of $23 million the board will have available this year,” he said. “Since 70 percent of the IMB budget is for the support of missionary personnel, any shortfall would impact this primary budget item.”
In other business:
IMB trustees learned of the impending retirement of Avery Willis, IMB senior vice president for overseas operations. Willis, 70, will step down at the end of 2003 but will continue to serve in special assignments on behalf of the IMB.
New officers were elected. (Compiled from wire services)
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