In 1986 James Guenther, attorney for the SBC EC, spoke at a conference of administrators and trustees of institutions affiliated with Missouri Baptists. He spoke on the relationship between trustees, Executive Directors, and entities. @BaptistPress reported on his address
“The laid-back good old boy trustee was never helpful and today he is absolutely unacceptable," "Executive directors and presidents...are hired hands. Trustees hold the real power. In the eyes of the law and in the minds of Baptists, trustees are in control of the institutions."
Guenther challenged the trustees to "act like trustees." "A trustee is a corporate director who requires that corporate affairs be managed in a legal manner."
A trustee also is a fiduciary which implies scrupulous integrity in financial affairs. Civil law also imposes a heavy duty to be faithful to the trust grant him or her, James Guenther explained.
Guenther pointed out that in Baptist life, trustees serve institutions related to Baptist conventions and to churches. "Your institution is part of Christ's church. Never forget that," he urged.
Guenther said some people will reason a board decision should be based on the premise "business is business." But remember, he said, "the church of Jesus Christ is not Chrysler."
Guenther listed several recommendations for trustees serving Baptist institutions, including to be “committed, hard working trustees,”
He noted that "As trustees, you are a key element in our system of checks and balances,"
Guenther also told them to “pursue old-fashion Christian virtues such as honesty. Not only must trustees be honest, but institutions must be honest. “
Guenther continued to say that "I have known trustee groups to agree to tell a corporate lie when every single member of the trustee body was personally committed to truth-telling,"
"Operate in the sunshine," James Guenther said as he told the trustees listening to act in ways which will build up the confidence earned by the institution with the Baptist constituency. "There are no secrets in Baptist life," he declared.
Guenther also urged them to maintain a proper relationship between the trustee body and the chief executive officer. Trustees are responsible for policy, he explained. They do not manage the day-to-day tasks of the institution.
The chief executive should be given a strong hand, he contended, but should be held accountable to the trustees for the welfare of the institution, Guenther explained to the trustees. Trustees are ultimately responsible for the institution.
"It is not the president, not the faculty, not the hospital administrator. You, not they, are ultimately responsible;" Guenther reminded the Missouri trustees. "You are responsible for them. They are not responsible for you."
From the former SBC EC Pres Morris Chapman @morriscode21 Report of the EC to the Conv. in 2006
"If we genuinely want the power of God upon this Convention, we must determine to walk away from political posturing and polarization of our people and our churches. 1/10
We have a bigger task; the cause around which we have coalesced historically, the cause of world missions 2/10
The crusade to return to the faith of our fathers, declaring our belief in the inerrancy of God’s Word, was a worthy cause and in God’s providence, leaders who believe in the authority of God’s Word, are in every major leadership post in the SBC. 3/10
A short history about attempting to remove trustees of the SBC.
At the 1985 Meeting in Dallas, James Slaton made a motion to amend the Comm on Comms report by substituting the present state conv presidents and and state WMU presidents
in order that as “more inclusive and representative group to serve Southern Baptists as the Committee on Boards.”
Slatton hoped to slow down the conservative resurgence by putting more “moderates” on the Committee since they in turn appointed people to the Comm on Nominations, which in turn appointed trustees of all SBC entities.