MissouriBaptists.org - PRESS RELEASE

            Friends of Missouri Baptist Institutions to File Amicus Brief

             W. B. (Bart) Tichenor, counsel for MissouriBaptists.org, announced today that in light of the unprecedented and unwarranted action of the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board and six Missouri Baptist churches in filing suit against five Missouri Baptist institutions that he is authorized to organize and coordinate the filing of an amicus curiae brief at the appropriate time on behalf of interested Missouri Baptist churches and individuals in support of the defendant Baptist institutions.

“It is a day of infamy in the nearly 200 years history of Baptists in Missouri, when the Executive Board of the Missouri Baptist Convention and six Missouri Baptist churches drag five Missouri Baptist institutions into court in violation of Scriptural principles.  It was not necessary for this lawsuit to be filed.”

“The Executive Board could have and should have simply carried out the Scriptural instruction of Paul in I Corinthians 6:7 that Christian brothers should not “go to law one with another.”  Or in the present instance, Missouri Baptist churches should not be suing Missouri Baptist institutions.  Paul’s instruction was clear.  Even if one feels that a brother has wronged them, they should not sue.  Even if one feels that a brother has defrauded them, they should not sue.”

“By filing the lawsuit the churches and the Executive Board are saying without any reservation they feel they have been wronged or defrauded.  However, how so?  No ministry by the institutions has stopped or changed.  No institution has transferred its property to the Methodists, Catholics or Mormons.  None of the institutions are electing non-Baptists as trustees.  The trustees are still Baptist pastors and layperson. 

Nevertheless, assuming only for the sake of argument that by these institutions electing their own trustees the Executive Board and the six churches have been wronged and defrauded, Paul’s instruction is very simple – let it pass.  Paul is saying don’t sue.  The Executive Board and the churches could have done the Scriptural thing – the Christlike thing – and simply agreed to continue to work in a covenant and cooperative manner with these Baptist institutions.  Sadly, they instead deliberately decided to act contrary to Scripture and sue.

“The lawsuit filed against The Baptist Home, Missouri Baptist College, Missouri Baptist Foundation, Windermere Baptist Conference Center and Word & Way on August 13^th does not represent the best in either Baptist life, nor in Christlike actions.  There is not a single allegation contained in the lawsuit that asserts that any one of these five institutions have in any manner violated their stated corporate purposes of ministry to and for Missouri Baptists.  The lawsuit does not claim in any fashion that these institutions are not continuing to perform ministry and Kingdom work for and on behalf of all Missouri Baptists.  It is sad that funds that could and should be used for Kingdom work will instead have to be diverted to pay court costs, costs of litigation and attorney’s fees.”

“This tragic action brought against these Missouri Baptists institutions that have and continue to serve Missouri Baptists well demands that Missouri Baptist churches and individuals who support the work and ministry of these institutions must step forward and be counted.  In order to permit churches and individuals to stand with our institutions, I am coordinating the effort to enlist sponsors for an amicus brief which will be filed in support of our Baptist institutions at the appropriate time.  I will see to the preparation of the brief.  There will be no charge to either churches or individuals for my work.  This is simply pro bono baptisto.”

“Churches and individuals who desire to be involved in this effort can log on to MissouriBaptist.org where they can download information and forms for joining as an amicus curiae or contact W. B. Tichenor, P. O. Box 393, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0393 or WBTichenor@aol.com”