SYLVA, N.C. — A Baptist association in North Carolina has barred the local Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) from using the association’s building as long as WMU leaders belong to churches no longer affiliated with the association.
A policy adopted by the executive committee of the Tuckaseigee Baptist Association says only the association and its related organizations can use the building. Associational leaders are interpreting the policy as excluding WMU because its co-directors are from churches that have pulled out of the association. Nelda Reid is a member of East Sylva Baptist Church, and Sarah Davis is a member of First Baptist Church, both in Sylva.
Six churches have left the Tuckaseigee Baptist Association this year. The controversy started when the association’s Pastors Conference became upset that Cullowhee Baptist Church had called a woman as co-pastor. Some churches that have left say the association is threatening the autonomy of local churches. Others were tired of the fighting. The local WMU voted in September to allow membership from churches that have cut ties with the association. Reid said she and Davis offered to resign at a meeting of the WMU leadership team on Nov. 17.
“Our leadership team said that they would rather we not resign, that we should not have to change our leadership in order to use the building,” Reid said. WMU leaders hope the association changes it mind, she said, but the group is prepared to start meeting in area churches.
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