Rankin Axes Missionaries That Won't Sign New SBC Creed
Jerry Rankin, president and chief hatchet man at the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, is telling missionaries who have not affirmed the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message faith statement they must do so by May 5 or be terminated. (May 9, Editor's note: The deed is now done. Here's a link to the story: Baptist Standard: IMB trustees terminate missionaries)
This marks the first time IMB officials have used the word "terminate" to describe the consequences of failing to sign the affirmation.
Rankin first requested all IMB missionaries to sign an affirmation of the faith statement more than a year ago. But 73 career missionaries have not affirmed the document, according to the IMB. Forty-two have resigned or have made plans to do so.
In letters sent April 11 to the 31 others, Rankin urged most of the missionaries to affirm the statement or resign rather than face firing. In an excerpt from one letter released by the IMB, Rankin wrote: "I am grateful for your years of service and would be delighted if you should decide to affirm the current Baptist Faith and Message and continue your effective ministry with the IMB. Apart from that, I would like to ask that you consider resigning rather than maintaining a position that would undermine the integrity and credibility of the IMB. If I do not hear from you regarding one of these options by May 5, 2003, I will be recommending that the board take action to terminate your service in their May meeting."
Six of the 31 missionaries were not offered the option of affirming the faith statement, which was revised in 2000 to include the Fundamentalist positions of the current Southern Baptist leaders. Rankin contends that those six missionaries "have clearly and publicly stated positions contrary to the BF&M that are beyond acceptable parameters." He says, "They have adamantly refused to be accountable to the IMB and Southern Baptist churches as requested."
The six were invited to resign or be terminated. The board is not releasing the names of the 31 missionaries who received the ultimatum.
In the past year, 32 missionaries resigned citing the new faith statement as a factor in their decisions. The resignations of another eight people are expected at the IMB trustee meeting in May. Another couple has decided to resign in August, bringing the total to 42. Other missionaries have resigned without citing the faith statement as the reason.
Five "units" (or missionary couples) who qualify are being offered the option of retiring with full benefits, according to the IMB.
Among those retiring from the IMB rather than signing the new SBC creed are Houston and Charlotte Greenhaw who have served as missionaries in Brazil for more than twenty years.
The Greenhaw’s retirement will be brief. They plan to return to Brazil to resume their work for another year or two with the support of the Cooperating Baptist Fellowship of Oklahoma.
As we went to press, proposals before First Baptist Church of Norman and the Texas Baptist Partnership Resource Center were being considered to involve them in a partnership with CBFO to support the Greenhaw’s work in Brazil.
Charlotte’s grandfather, “Preacher Hallock” pastored First Baptist Church of Norman for 46 years. Her parents, Edgar and Zelma Hallock, served for forty-five years as Southern Baptist Missionaries to Brazil. Edgar was a charter member and executive board member of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists.
Visit our website for termination notes, letters and other information about the missionaries being terminated.