Nashville, USA - The Southern Baptist Convention is weighing a proposal to bring the world's largest Protestant missionary group for women under the control of the denomination, a move critics say would reinforce the conservatism and male dominance of the denomination.
The Woman's Missionary Union, formed in 1888, is considered an "auxiliary," or helper, to the denomination, but it has always been self-governing and financially independent.
Now the Southern Baptist executive committee is considering a motion to place the women's group under the direct authority of the convention.
Top Baptist officials stress that it's early in the process and that such a step is unlikely. But if approved by both groups, the change would probably stop the Woman's Missionary Union from continuing its work with more moderate Baptist churches that are not affiliated with the Southern Baptists.
"Surely one reason this is happening is the desire to keep these Baptist women from connecting with non-SBC Baptist groups," said Bill Leonard, dean of the Wake Forest University Divinity School and an opponent of the conservative takeover of the denomination.
The executive committee has assigned the motion to one of its work groups, which decided this week to seek input from its international and North American mission boards before making a recommendation.
Morris Chapman, the executive committee's president and chief executive officer, said that the motion is being studied, but that he doesn't expect the convention to offer an invitation.
"I know the WMU is quite happy as an auxiliary," Chapman said.
The Woman's Missionary Union has about 1 million members. It is based in Birmingham, Ala., and is dedicated to encouraging missionary work. It has an annual budget of about $11 million, which comes mainly from book and magazine sales.
Julie Walters, spokeswoman for the group, said previous motions have been made dealing with the group's status, but each time it was confirmed as an auxiliary.
Even if the Southern Baptists extend an invitation, the group could turn it down.
"It wouldn't be a mandate," Walters said. "The final decision would be up to our board. We have verbalized the benefits we feel we're enjoying from our auxiliary status. We're pleased to be able to support ourselves."