KBC president: Campbellsville University opts to leave KBC BOWLING GREEN – Campbellsville University has “chosen to remove itself” from the Kentucky Baptist Convention and is no longer an affiliated institution, Kentucky Baptist messengers were told Tuesday. KBC President Chip Hutcheson shared that news with the messengers gathered in Bowling Green for the 2014 annual meeting. “In light of recent actions taken by Campbellsville to remove themselves from their relationship with the Kentucky Baptist Convention of churches, I want to assure the messengers of this convention that we have done everything possible to discourage Campbellsville from moving away from her historic relationship with the KBC,” Hutcheson told messengers. Campbellsville University leaders had taken a series of steps that ended in severing a longstanding covenant agreement with the KBC. The latest was when the Campbellsville board of trustees elected 11 new members two weeks ago, instead of following a process spelled out in the covenant agreement. That document called for board of trustee nominees be approved by KBC messengers. “This act was a clear violation of the covenant agreement,” Hutcheson said. Hutcheson said the KBC had made every effort to salvage the relationship with Campbellsville University, but was ultimately unable to persuade the school’s president, Michael Carter, or the trustees to honor the covenant agreement. Although the Campbellsville University board of trustees had voted earlier this year to unilaterally terminate the covenant agreement and voluntarily surrender Cooperative Program allocations, KBC leaders had urged the school to re-establish its connection to the churches. KBC leaders suggested that, rather than terminating the agreement, the university work with the convention to amend the agreement and thus achieve the university’s desire for a self-perpetuating board. Campbellsville refused that offer. While KBC leaders expressed regret over the university’s desire to step away from the covenant agreement, they have said they also respect the right of the university to do so. “Campbellsville University has clearly chosen to remove itself from our convention,” Hutcheson said. “We recommend the convention take no action at this time except to remain prayerful and hopeful that the university will someday return to covenant with the churches that nursed her along for nearly 100 years.” Drew Nichter Kentucky Baptist Convention Communications Associate (502) 489-3375 office [email protected]
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:07:48 +0000
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