Charleston Southern University president Jairy Hunter released the following statement June 11:
“The Charleston Southern University Board of Trustees supports our colleagues at North Greenville University, Anderson University and Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in asking messengers from South Carolina Baptist churches to prayerfully consider delaying a decision on the recommendations from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force (GCRTF). While we appreciate the commitment of the GCRTF and its Kingdom focus, we concur with numerous fellow Southern Baptists that more time is needed to prayerfully study and discuss the significant implications of this potential change for our denomination.
“The Cooperative Program has been a mainstay for Southern Baptists for 85 years providing our denomination with a Great Commission focus and the most effective and efficient global mission organization among evangelicals. CSU is a “Great Commission” institution guided since its inception in 1964 by Matthew 28:19-20. We strive to evangelize and equip disciples for Christ as we pursue our vision of integrating faith in learning, leading, and serving.”