CEDARMORE—In addition to focusing on the ministry of Kentucky Baptist churches, the Mission Study Committee highlighted the work of the convention’s institutions and agencies.

Affirming the work of the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s 11 related entities, the committee noted that “it will take the support and efforts of each of these members of the Kentucky Baptist family to move toward the objectives and accomplish the goals set forth in this report.”

The committee report “strongly encourages Kentucky Baptists to support the work of all of its institutions and agencies.”

Zeroing in on “the urgent needs of Christian higher education,” the report adopted last week by the KBC Mission Board includes five recommendations related to the work of Campbellsville University, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, Cumberland College and Georgetown College.

One of the major changes will allow each school’s board of trustees to include up to 25 percent of members whose churches are not affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

The provision is designed to allow the colleges to recruit Christian trustees outside the KBC who can help expand institutional resources. Noting that “all trustees are to be Christians who are sympathetic with historic Baptist beliefs,” the guideline adds that “the intentional commitment of each trustee is for the college to remain affiliated” with the KBC.

Committee member Leslie Hollon, pastor of St. Matthews Baptist Church in Louisville, explained that “the best way to assure that our colleges can remain alive and vibrant and Baptist in the future” is to provide opportunities for the schools to expand their financial resources.

He said the proposal will provide the opportunity for non-Baptists “to help Baptist colleges to continue to survive and thrive.”

The plan, which will require a change in Article IX of the KBC Constitution, will be presented for a first reading at this year’s KBC annual meeting. It will be presented for a vote at the 2004 annual meeting.

Committee chairman Scott Kil­gore, in a May 9 letter to Kentucky Baptist pastors, noted that the four college presidents “believe that this recommendation will provide the opportunity for significant funding from new sources.”

He added that “such a supportive recommendation can only strengthen the treasured ties” between the KBC and the colleges.

Other proposals related to the schools include working with the KBC to plan goals and action plans for each student generation, using available resources to assist students called to vocational ministry, pursuing “a first-class Baptist student ministry” on each campus and encouraging graduates to “serve in God’s Kingdom work.”