Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov.15-16 elected a convention president by a razor-thin margin and delayed action on altering the convention's relationship with Belmont University.
Conservative Phil Jett, pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, won the presidency by only 18 votes over Roger “Sing” Oldham, pastor of First Baptist Church in Martin. He and two other officers were endorsed by Concerned Tennessee Baptists, a conservative caucus.
Messengers delayed action on a proposed “Resolution of Relationship” with Belmont University in Nashville pending study of a document that contains a possible “reverter clause.”
Belmont recently informed TBC leadership that the school plans to begin electing its own trustees-up to 40 percent of whom could be non-Baptists. School officials also told convention leaders Belmont does not anticipate receiving further funds from the convention as of Nov. 1.
Belmont leaders indicated a desire to continue a “fraternal” relationship with the convention, which messengers were scheduled to consider.
But just a week prior to the annual meeting, TBC executive director James Porch heard of the existence of a 1951 contract-signed the year before convention officials established the school-that might affect the outcome of Belmont's move. It stipulates that the school's assets would revert back to the convention should Belmont fail or “pass from Baptist control.”
A search by convention officials did not produce the contract, but did find minutes from an administrative committee, dated July 31, 1951, instructing the board's attorney to draw up such a contract.
During a meeting of the TBC executive board on Nov. 14, Belmont president Robert Fisher acknowledged the contract did exist and it had been reviewed by both internal and external counsel. He described the document as “an irrelevant contract superseded by about five different actions.”
As of Nov. 16, TBC officials had not been given a copy of the contract.
Messengers approved a motion to postpone action on the Belmont relationship until a study had been conducted by the executive board regarding the contract in question.
Associated Baptist Press