The list of Sunrise Children’s Services trustees, duly and publicly elected by the messengers of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, suddenly disappeared from the organization’s website today. Because I believe those trustees, elected by Kentucky Baptists, deserve to know how Kentucky Baptists feel about the current deliberations of the board, I have posted the names and, where available, unless they have requested otherwise, email addresses of trustees below.
How I wish Sunrise President Bill Smithwick would have been willing and desirous to meet with Kentucky Baptists or their elected leadership before attempting to secretly change the biblical convictions that have guided the organization since its founding 154 years ago! Surely we could have found a better way to walk forward together. Nevertheless, having heard from many of the trustees, I know that we still have reason to be hopeful that the board will reject Smithwick’s recommendation.
Regarding, Smithwick’s recommendation, a quick reading of a Baptist Press article from April 20, 2000 communicates the stark contrast to his former position, when the ministry was known as Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children. Consider these excerpts from that article:
“Bill Smithwick, executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, told news media the agency will defend itself against the suit. Homosexuals are not good role models for the Baptist Homes’ children, many of whom have been sexually abused or are sexually confused, Smithwick told the media.”
“But the Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children will not abandon its beliefs on homosexuality in order to keep its state contract, Smithwick said.”
“The agency’s board of directors decided in March to defend their belief that hiring homosexual counselors is ‘not the best way to care for troubled and abused children,” Smithwick said.
“‘We are not going to acquiesce to political pressure,’ he said. It’s not ‘a religious issue. It’s a child-advocacy issue. What we’re talking about is what’s in the best interest of children.'”
“Noting that the KBHC is a faith-based organization, he added, ‘We believe for us to promote homosexual behavior is not in the best interest of any child. Such behavior could have devastating emotional and physical consequences.'”
Please join me in praying for the trustees. Should you choose to contact them, keep in mind that the proposed change in hiring practices was raised by the president rather than the board. The trustees with whom I have spoken are noble individuals who want to help meet the needs of hurting children, desire to know how Kentucky Baptists feel about these matters, and long to honor God through their service.
Board Chair
Ms. Joyce Smith
Louisville, KY
CPA
Board Vice-Chair
Mr. William A. Hurley
Lexington, KY
Business Owner
Board Treasurer
Mr. Dennis H. Reed, Sr.
Louisville, KY
Retired
President
Dr. Bill Smithwick
BOARD MEMBERS
Mr. Thomas Adkisson
Shelbyville, KY
CPA
Mr. Paul Barrick, Jr.
Lawrenceburg, KY
Retired
Mr. Thomas A. Christopher
Danville, KY
CPA – Robinson, Hughes & Christopher
Mr. James M. Gary
Louisville, KY
Attorney
Mrs. Pat Gutierrez
Bowling Green, KY
Teacher
Mr. W. Jerry Hurt
Louisville, KY
CPA
Mrs. Bethann Johnson
Bowling Green, KY
Children’s Minister
Mr. Terry M. Johnson
Union, KY
Sr. Account Manager
Mr. Michael D. Lyons
Salyersville, KY
Attorney/Real Estate
Mrs. Jennifer B. Oldham
Elizabethtown, KY
Attorney/Prosecutor – Hardin County
Mr. Eric R. Oliver
Elizabethtown, KY
Sports Medicine Coordinator – Hardin Memorial Hospital
Mrs. Alice J. Pepper
Elizabethtown, KY
Retired Teacher
Mrs. Marketi D. Perry
Danville, KY
Homemaker
Mr. Billy N. Riley
Grand Rivers, KY
County Attorney – Livingston County
Mr. Cory A. Samsil
Paducah, KY
Financial Planner
Mr. Stan Spees
Paducah, KY
Attorney
Dr. Stephen L. Walters
Pikeville, KY
Anesthesiologist
Mrs. Charlotte M. Whittaker
Hartford, KY
Retired
Mr. Brent Yonts
Greenville, KY
Attorney/State Representative
Mr. Michael B. Zimmerman
West Paducah, KY
VP of Business Development
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Thank you for the deluge of emails I have received. Why would anyone want to serve? Prayer support is one thing, threats in whatever form I lay at your feet with gratitude!
Tom, I will take down your email address. My hope was for the trustees to be encouraged by prayer support and to be able to lead the organization with an understanding of the opinions of the people who had created the organization, paid the bills long before Uncle Sam was involved, and elected them to their positions. Please let your fellow trustees know that if they no longer want to hear from their constituency that I will gladly take down their email address.
Reply yes, prayer support-big yes, but not what I have been getting. Thanks!
From the many calls & emails I am receiving from current and former SCS employees & trustees, as well as Kentucky Baptists & Southern Baptists outside of Kentucky, the following message charscterizes what I am hearing & seeing. Past KBC president (two terms) copied me on this message to SCS trustees:
“I know that you are being bombarded by emails, letters, petitions, etc., so I will try to keep it short.
Obviously, I am not privy to the internal struggles, discussions, and issues facing Sunrise. What I do know is that of the Baptists that I know, if the media reports are true, believe that it would be a horrible idea for Sunrise to change hiring policies that would open the door to the employment of openingly homosexual persons. So I ask you to stand for Biblical principles and just say “no.”
I believe that: (1) You are born again followers of Jesus Christ who are thus indwelled by Holy Spirit God. (2) You believe the Words, Truths, and Principles of the Bible. (3) That you are Godly men and women who want to do right and you have stood so strong in the past. (4) You are likely thrust into a position where you would prefer not to be. (5) In your heart, you know that regardless of the money involved or the pressures of the culture, doing the right thing would be to reject a change in hiring policies.
My advice is the same as Mordecai gave to Esther, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
I am praying for you.
Yours in Christ,
Don Mathis
1309 James Edward Court
Bowling Green, KY42103”
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Very well stated, Tom
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