The Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina has voted to move out of the state convention offices, citing a disagreement over hiring practices and a desire to serve other groups, including churches affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
During a conference call Aug. 16, the WMU-NC executive board voted 23-1 to move the organization’s offices out of the Baptist State Convention building in Cary and to assume responsibility for its own human resources policies and payroll, according to a release by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
The decision to relocate stems from liability concerns expressed by state convention administrators who believe the convention’s executive director should have final authority over WMU-NC employees. In past administrations, the executive director played a minimal role, although WMU-NC staff members are employees of the convention.
“I am grieved that the long-standing relationship between the BSCNC with WMU of NC has moved to this level of consequential uncertainty,” Milton Hollifield, executive director of the BSCNC, said in a statement Aug. 21. “We have participated in more than 16 months of dialogue, and it was my hope that this process had helped move us forward together. However, BSCNC leadership was not given the opportunity to discuss this surprise vote by WMU.
“Anytime we are we faced with the desire of an entity to separate from BSCNC, it is a terribly unsettling circumstance,” Hollifield added. “I am saddened to see that our long-standing relationship of trust and accountability has eroded.”
Hollifield thanked WMU-NC for their influence and impact in the state, but said their desire to support other Baptist groups and other denominations “is a clear departure from the historic focus of the mission and ministry of WMU of NC.” He also said he hopes “some level of continued cooperation might be salvaged” and wants North Carolina Baptists to “rest assured there will missions education ministries and women’s ministries provided through BSCNC with or without WMU of NC’s cooperation.”
Ruby Fulbright, executive director of WMU-NC, said in a written statement that the relocation decision “should not be interpreted as a departure from the organization’s commitment to supporting and promoting missions through the BSCNC, nor as a lack of appreciation for the mutual partnership the organizations have enjoyed in the past.”
Fulbright said WMU-NC would continue to work with North Carolina churches to promote missions through the state convention. The organization also wants to continue receiving funds through the North Carolina missions offering, which is used in part to provide salaries for the group’s nine full-time and two part-time employees.