by Sandy » Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:14 pm
I'd like to think that Christian organizations would set their sights on operating in a manner that is more reflective of the ways of God than of the ways of the world. I'd like to think that, but I've never really seen it happen among the Baptists that I've been involved with, and I will add regardless of their theological or political stripe to that comment. I haven't had a lot of exposure or involvement with the CMA at this point, though what I've observed so far is a system with policies and practices that have a tendency to diffuse the kind of political influence and power that are part of setting the agenda for Baptists, both pre and post resurgence. The wife of a pastor who had a close friendship with a member of a search committee would be disqualified from seeking the position because of that friendship. Nor would the wife of a pastor who sat on any boards or committees of the denomination be eligible to be considered as a candidate for an agency executive position within the denomination. And even though there are only about half a million CMA church members nationwide, board seats and trustee positions are limited, and members are not recycled from one board to another. And yet, there are plenty of people available to fill the needs, and there's no clamoring or campaigning to get the seats. You'd get the impression these silly CMA folks are just overboard on this Christlikeness stuff, and they think that sort of thing lacks integrity, and stifles creativity and progressive thinking.
Oh, and BTW, I think I am on the record, a while back, for being critical of Morris Chapman while his wife Jodi served on a convention committee, and on an ad-hoc committee simultaneously, while her hubby was SBC Prez, and then Executive Director. She should have never been nominated, given the fact that he, too, served on a state convention board and SBC board simultaneously. And I am in the minutes of the SBC objecting to the nomination of Debbie Brunson to a convention committee while her hubby was a member of the exec committee. The motion was referred, and eventually became moot because she began serving on the committee before the referral was taken up by the appropriate committee. So my objections to "connectional preference" are not simply reserved for CBF.
I think I mentioned that I understand within CBF there's not the expectation that a wife who is a candidate for the leadership position would necessarily be in complete submission to her pastor husband's perspective. But it is not unreasonable to assume that she probably shares a lot, given that she is a member of the church which he has led to accept that perspective. It would be difficult, as well, to work together within the BGCT, CBF of Texas, and CBF as closely as they have with George Mason, and not share his perspective on the same issue.
I'll be praying that your wife's interviews and job search is fruitful in the near future. My wife and I have been there, and I know how frustrating it can be.