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Tenn. board learns Carson-Newman Univ. accepts BF&M


FRANKLIN, Tenn. (BP) — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has been informed that Carson-Newman University trustees have acted to “incorporate the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message and the Preamble as part of the standards and regulations concerning the operations of the university.”

The TBMB’s board of directors, in their Sept. 12 meeting, also heard the response of the committee which has been in dialogue with C-N officials during the past year: “The Partner Ministries Committee of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board appreciates and receives the positive response of the Carson-Newman University board of trustees toward our concerns.”

PMC chairman Mike Kemper of Jackson, interim pastor of Smyrna Baptist Church in Humboldt, said concerns about the Tennessee Baptist-affiliated university were brought to the committee earlier this year.

“We received these concerns and began to share them with our board in executive session,” Kemper told the Baptist and Reflector, the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s newsjournal. No details could be released because the meetings were held in executive session to ensure confidentiality.

Kemper said the PMC met in July with the denominational relations committee of Carson-Newman and trustee chairman Harry Brooks, a member of Union Baptist Church on Knoxville’s Washington Pike.

Carson-Newman trustees discussed the concerns during their meeting in August and adopted a motion to incorporate the 2000 BF&M in its operational documents. The president of Carson-Newman, Randall O’Brien, will implement the policy and supervise its compliance, according to Brooks.

Brooks added that the president will be accountable to the board of trustees on all issues related to the policy’s implementation.

Kemper said the action of the C-N trustees indicates a desire to resolve the TBMB’s concerns. “It is a step on the right direction,” he affirmed, adding that “we look forward to continuing to strengthen relationships.”

“Our desire is for Carson-Newman to remain one of our valued partners,” Kemper said. “We are committed to our mutually beneficial relationship and we desire to go forward together accomplishing Kingdom objectives.”

The 2017-2018 budget adopted by the TBMB directors included an estimated allocation of $1,875,900 for Carson-Newman.

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB, told the Baptist and Reflector, “The Carson-Newman University’s board of trustees’ strong affirmation and incorporation of the Baptist Faith & Message in their governing documents will serve as a strong reflection of the biblical core beliefs of Tennessee Baptists.

“We greatly appreciate this action of the leadership at Carson-Newman,” Davis added.