Missouri Baptists to appeal Windermere ruling

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A Missouri judge has handed down a summary judgment in favor of Windermere Baptist Conference Center in a legal battle over who has the right to elect that organization’s trustees. Missouri Baptist Convention officials immediately announced they would appeal Circuit Judge Richard G. Callahan’s March 4 ruling to the Missouri Court of Appeals.

The case stems from a move by Windermere trustees in 2000 to amend the conference’s charter to allow them to elect their own successors, rather than continue having trustees be elected by messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting.

Callahan’s 43-page decision held that a trial was unnecessary because the motions "set forth uncontroverted facts sufficient to enter summary judgment on enough legal issues to dispose of every claim between plaintiffs and Windermere."