Rick and Nancy Dill's Response to Letter of Termination

Dr. Jerry Rankin

Trustees of the

International Mission Board, SBC

Richmond, Virginia

Dear Dr. Rankin and IMB Trustees,

We received our letter of termination on Monday, April 14, having already read its contents in the media on Saturday. Although termination after 22 years of service is not easy, it was somehow a relief to finally receive written confirmation of what Avery Willis [IMB VP) had told us in October and then denied to the media. Now at least one can be open and honest about what is being done.

Although comment is perhaps at this point redundant, it is important to us to respond and our hope that each of the trustees will read this letter.

First of all, Nancy and I are being fired in spite of the fact that the official statements of the IMB about our service have been-without exception-only positive. In numerous articles Avery Willis has been quoted as saying: "They are fine missionaries." Never on any occasion has our work, our faithfulness, our teaching, or the presence of God in the tasks we have completed been placed in question.

In your letter you maintain that it would be inaccurate to perceive the BF&M as "a creed which is being imposed on individuals?" The truth is that we would not be fired if we were willing to sign the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. We are being fired not because we have done anything wrong, but only because we can't sign. In light of that fact, I must ask: How do you understand "being imposed upon"? Does loss of job, livelihood, and home not qualify as a form of force, imposing something on missionaries? The truth is, many missionaries have signed against their conscience because it was imposed upon them!

Secondly, you state that we "continue to advocate positions contrary to what Southern Baptists confess to believe". I would like to ask which of the positions we have stated contradicts what Southern Baptists believe.

(1) Is it that we believe God's Word must be supreme in our lives and that it is wrong to make a man-written document the test of our faith and calling? (I believe that most Southern Baptists would agree with us that the Bible stands above all else and that our allegiance must be to Christ and his Word alone.)

(2) Or would Southern Baptists disagree, that Christ is Lord of the Scripture and that we must understand the Word of God first and foremost through his love, his teaching, his death, and his resurrection? (I believe that most Southern Baptists still believe that Christ is Lord over the scripture, even though this scriptural truth was removed from the BF&M 2000.)

(3) Would Southern Baptist oppose our belief that the scripture clearly teaches the priesthood of the believer; that every person must personally repent, confess Christ as Lord, and follow the Lordship of Christ in his life through the leadership of the Holy Spirit and his study of the scripture? (I think that most Baptists still believe in the priesthood of the believer even though the authors of the BF&M 2000 attempted to remove it completely and succeeded in weakening it significantly.)

(4) Or perhaps you would maintain that Southern Baptists disagree that God's highest intent for marriage is that one man and one woman should become one flesh; that the primary question in the marriage relationship is not power and domination but love and mutual submission and service to each other? (I believe that most Southern Baptists would have a much higher view of marriage and would want to be true to the whole of scriptural teaching on marriage, even though the BF&M 2000 does not.)

(5) Or do Southern Baptists disagree with us on our belief that God can call whomever he chooses to serve wherever, whenever, and however he so chooses and that the question of ordination is a matter of the local church? Do most Southern Baptists really believe that the scripture prohibits women from the office of "senior pastor" only, as the recent interpreters of the BF&M 2000 would maintain? (Probably many Southern Baptists would want to restrict the office of pastor to men alone. And we believe that they have a responsibility to follow God's leading in that matter. But is a different understanding of scripture in this matter really grounds for dismissal?)

Thirdly, you maintain that we are unwilling to be accountable to Southern Baptists. The truth is that Southern Baptists have not required missionaries to sign the BF&M 2000. Alabama, our home state, acknowledged all three statements of faith. Texas, our partner state for the last three years, rejected the 2000 version out right. To which Southern Baptists are we being unaccountable?

Even the trustees of the IMB have not required missionaries to sign. To whom are we not acting accountably? Who is actually requiring us to sign? In the original letter requiring our signature a group of mysterious, anonymous men were mentioned as the cause of the request. However, even they have not required us to sign.

Perhaps a statement of the Apostle Paul would be helpful at this point. He told the Galatians who were struggling with a different kind of creedalism: "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation" (Ephesians 6:15). The test of accountability is a life changed and given to Christ and not a signature on a worthless scrap of paper. How far we have fallen!

Finally, you write: "It would be appropriate for you to consider resigning rather than maintaining a position that would undermine the integrity and credibility of the IMB." With all due respect, we cannot resign. We are guilty of no misconduct or false teaching and have been accused of none. For that reason, resignation would be very inappropriate!

And why will it undermine the integrity and credibility of the IMB if the trustees are forced to terminate us? The answer is simple. It is not possible with integrity to terminate missionaries who are guilty of nothing but years of faithful service and having to a deep sense of love for God's Word.

Dear Dr. Rankin and brothers and sisters serving as trustees of the International Mission Board: If ending our service with the IMB is the will of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then doing so will not undermine your credibility or your integrity. If, however, you end our service with the IMB in opposition to the leadership of God through the Holy Spirit, then integrity and credibility are no longer important. You must do, what is right before God.

For 22 years we have sincerely tried to serve with faithfulness, honesty and integrity. If that service should now end, then God will provide. Our faith remains strong.

Sincerely,

Rick and Nancy Dill

April 10, 2003

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Dill

336 N. 8th Street

Arkadelphia, AR 71923

Dear Rick and Nancy:

More than a year ago I requested that you, along with all of our missionary personnel, review the current Baptist Faith and Message and affirm that you would work in accord with this confession of faith and not contrary to it. It is altogether appropriate that Southern Baptists be assured that the missionaries they send and support have personal convictions consistent with our current confession of faith, and this is not unlike the commitment you were asked to make when you were appointed. Understanding that some would disagree with various changes in the BF&M, we have even allowed such differences of interpretation, based on scripture, as long as the missionaries promise to conduct their work in harmony with the confession of faith adopted by the SBC. Therefore, it is inaccurate for this to be perceived as a creed being imposed on individuals.

Continuing to support missionary personnel whose personal beliefs are not consistent with those held by Southern Baptists or those unwilling to affirm that they will work in accountability with these doctrinal positions would erode the credibility and support of the International Mission Board. IMB leadership and our board of trustees must be responsible to our denomination, and it would be untenable to allow support for more than 5,000 of your colleagues to be undercut by lack of cooperation with this request on the part of some.

In the months since the request was made, your regional leadership and IMB administrators have discussed it with you in order for you to understand the nature and rationale for the request. It has been gratifying that more than 6,000 new and current missionaries have affirmed the current Baptist Faith and Message, and though some have completed their term, most continue to fulfill their assignments throughout the world at a time of remarkable evangelistic harvest and unprecedented opportunities. Although it has been disappointing, I respect the decision of the few who have chose to resign their service with the IMB because they can no longer express doctrinal accountability to the convention in line with the Baptist Faith and Message.

I am grateful for your 22 years of service in Germany and regret that you cannot comply with my request and continue to advocate positions contrary to what Southern Baptists confess to believe. It would be appropriate for you to consider resigning rather than maintaining a position that would undermine the integrity and credibility of the IMB. However, if you do not choose to do so by May 5, 2003, I will be recommending that the board take action to terminate your service in their May meeting. Whether as a result of their action or your resignation, since you have already been on extended stateside assignment, your support with the board would end on May 25. The board will cover the cost of your shipment of freight according to policy provisions.

Rick and Nancy, I do hope you will realize that these consequences have nothing to do with your calling and the effectiveness of your ministry, but are due to your unwillingness to be accountable to Southern Baptists who send and support you. I will be praying for you as you seek God's leadership for the future and anticipate a time of transition to other areas of ministry.

Sincerely yours,

Jerry Rankin

JR:fb

cc: Ed Cox

Chris Mills