News: List of missionaries fired by IMB revealed

Good clarification of the issue BB2. There are many people that are operating under a misunderstanding of what actually took place. I believe the IMB was extremely fair and patient in this case.

 

I agree with Sherrie and go2church...it is unfortunate that the missionaries were forced to gived up their assignment because they have problems with the new BF&M. I'm sure they have touched hundreds and even thousands of lives, and introduced many to Jesus Christ and His mercy and grace. We don't have to always agree on interpretation of scripture in order to cooperate and spread the Good News around the world. I say thank you to those missionaries for their years of service...the countless lives that have been touched may not be known this side of heaven.

 

Double post

 

Whooooeee Boys and Girls, we have a good one going!

Well, I just wonder how many 2000 mission faith statements the apostles signed? Sherrie

A better question is how many would have refused to sign on to it? If you don't like the SBC's statement of faith why in the world are you Southern Baptist? And seriously, the apostles didn't ask the Cooperative Program or anyone else for funding. No one is telling them they can't stay in their places and work, just that if they want to be paid out of the Cooperative Progra, then they should be in agreement to teach what the messangers to SBC have said is their beliefs. If I refused to teach the curriculum of my school, no one would say I have to change my beliefs, or have to leave town, or stop helping kids, but I can guarentee I wouldn't be expecting a check from the school district.

 

I am a member of a local autonomous Southern Baptist church that honors preisthood for all believers and soul competency to Christ because that is where God has called me to be. When He decides to move me in another direction, then I move with Him.

 

Well said, Mark.

 

That is the point... they can continue their work there. They just need to raise support from their local church or another source. I personally believe that the IMB has every reason to expect them to teach within the parameter of the BFM. At our church the pastoral staff expects the teachers to teach within set boundaries and standards. Why should the IMB not be expected to enforce the boundaries the member churches, which provide the money agree are is the standard position of the Southern Baptists in general.

 

That's right Sherrie and there's only one SBC.

If we have missionaries who won't agree to teach by the Belief and Faith Statement of the SBC then they should go elsewhere for their salaries.

As a good friend of mine put it this morning, If I'm working at the Coca Cola Bottling Company I should be upset if my boss doesn't want me drinking Pepsi on the premises?

 

I am a member of a local autonomous Southern Baptist church that honors preisthood for all believers and soul competency to Christ because that is where God has called me to be. When He decides to move me in another direction, then I move with Him. </font>[/QUOTE]Then do you not beleive in accountability? You don't really care about what is being done with the money you give? They can be missionaries all they want, but we aren't giving them a pay check when they refuse accountability.

 

Katie,
I do believe in accountability, but to this extent: missionaries should be teaching the love, mercy, and grace found in Jesus Christ. They should teach that salvation is a free gift available for all to receive. They should teach that Jesus in God incarnate, and that the blood of Christ shed on Calvary is the payment for our sins, and that He arose from the dead conquering death for believers. This is the Good News of the Gospel...not whether or not women can be called to preach or whether or not the scripture says that women should be submissive to their husbands OR if the scripture is written in the context of mutual submission.

You see, there is very little that I believe we MUST agree with to be on the same team, and it centers around the Good News of the Gospel, not man made interpretation. Now, show me a missionary who does not teach this Good News, and I'll agree that they should be fired.

Good question Katie...thanks for letting me clear that up.

 

I have not to date responded to any posts, rather from time to time I check this site to see what is going on. I've read the posts re the SBC IMB actions toward missionaries who refused to sign the agreement not to preach in opposition to the BF&M. One member mentioned the priesthood of the believer and I took it that that comment may be slanted toward the feeling this allows women to be ministers. I don't think priesthood of the believer is an invitation for women to enter in as pastors. It means that we no longer need a high priest to offer a sacrifice for us, that we have access to the throne of grace because of the sacrifice that Christ offered on the cross.

Paul's teaching is very clear about women not serving as pastor's (bishops). He said they (pastor's) have to be the husband of one wife. A woman can not be the husband of one wife. Scripture interprets scripture.

Accountability was also discussed. Don't you think there is a greater accountability upon the men, whether it's the father of the home, the husband, SS teacher, etc.? Scripture teaches that by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, not by a woman or a couple.

 

We really don't have to worry about these missionaries. Some of them will be gladly supported by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. They won't even have to move to another town.

Several years ago I inquired and found out what the base salary for a Southern Baptist Missionary was. $40,000+. This was base salary and did not take into consideration the local economy which the International Mission Board provides subsidies for if the cost of Living is higher than the U.S. C.O.L.

I bring up this point to say The greatest sacrifice being made by Southern Baptists is not on the Foreign Mission Fields It's being made by Southern Baptist Pastors and Missionaries and their families who are serving within the borders of the USA in low paying churches and unsubsidized mission fields like Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, etc.

If we want to get serious about treating fellow Southern Baptists fairly we'd do a better job of providing healthcare and other benefits for those suffering servants of the SBC.

 

True.

Good point that I really haven't thought about. Seems like it does need to be addressed.

 

Hmmmmm!

IMB leaders weighing options with projected budget shortfall
Apr 25, 2003
By Mark Kelly
RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--International Mission Board leaders are outlining options to help avoid deficit spending if the 2002 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering does not reach its $125 million goal when the books close May 31.

Projections indicate the offering will set a new record -- for the 10th consecutive year -- but the offering and other sources of income are expected to fall millions short of funding the entity's challenging $290.1 million budget for 2003.

IMB President Jerry Rankin praised God that Southern Baptists continue to give to missions at record levels, but he challenged churches to move from generous support to sacrificial giving for their Great Commission cause.

"This budget challenge is not due to diminished giving on the part of Southern Baptists," Rankin said. "Missions is who we are, and churches are giving at record levels to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, in spite of the soft economy.

"The challenge is that we allowed our missionary force to grow at a faster rate than giving was increasing. Incremental increases in giving cannot keep up with the amazing growth of the missionary force."

GOING OUTSTRIPS GIVING

Two years of 1,000-plus missionary appointments and lower resignation rates forced the IMB to overspend budgeted amounts for missionary support in 2002. In addition, investments did not generate their usual income for the board's budget because of the downturn in the stock market.

The board budgeted for a net personnel increase of 200 in 2002 but actually posted 319. The 2003 budget allows only for a net increase of 150, when the number actually could be much higher.

"We trust God to provide the resources to support the people He is calling to overseas missions," Rankin said. "But until more churches begin to give with the same passion these new missionaries have for a lost world, budget realities require us to keep spending within the limits of income."

While the final offering total will not be known until May 31, projections in mid-April indicated a 1 percent increase in receipts over last year's offering. That would fall about $10 million short of the $125 million planned into the 2003 budget.

While most churches collect their 2002 Lottie Moon offerings in December, the International Mission Board continues to receive donations for that offering through May.

Cancellation of some events, restrictions in staff travel and delaying production of some materials are among the initial steps IMB leaders are suggesting to help offset whatever shortfall may occur. Trustees and staff will discuss options to deal with the situation during a May 6-8 meeting in Boston.

FEWER NEW MISSIONARIES?

Unless giving increases dramatically, the board also may have to take steps to restrict the flow of new missionaries to the field, Rankin said.

"Southern Baptists gave us the assignment of sending their missionaries, and new workers are obeying God's call in record numbers," Rankin said. "We will make whatever sacrifices and cutbacks are necessary to fulfill our mission."

God's passion for His lost children is what compels missionaries to go, Rankin said. When Southern Baptist churches -- like their missionaries -- are overwhelmed with God's love for the lost, they will give with the same passion.

"How sad it would be -- with the unprecedented opportunities and accelerating harvest -- for us to have to tell God-called missionaries that the money just isn't there to send them," he said.

"How tragic it would be if we have to decide which people groups will not hear about salvation in Jesus Christ because we have not provided the resources to send the missionaries God has called."
--30--
-- The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: http://resources.imb.org/index.cfm/fa/prod/ProdID/256.htm.
-- More about the International Mission Board: http://www.imb.org/core/aboutus.asp.
-- The International Mission Board (http://www.imb.org) is a Southern Baptist Convention entity supported by the Cooperative Program (http://www.cpmissions.net) and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (http://ime.imb.org).

 

Thanks for the article. Very interesting given the topic. I wonder what could happen if we could agree to disagree on some minor points of theology and cooperate with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

We used to, back in the days when we trusted each other.

 

My brother KPBAP has a very sad but true observation... "when we trusted each other". Unfortunately I don't have a solution, but it is at the heart of this thread' topic. Conservatives don't trust the the liberals (moderates maybe) and the reverse is equally true.

 

I agree Mark....it is sad that there is no trust between fellow believers.

 

Aren't Southern Baptist Suppose to be autonomous. and this BF&M2000 is suppose to be non- binding.

My opinion is that Pope Patterson and Cardinal Prestler are just trying to gain more power.