Belmont Challenges Tennessee Baptist Law Suit

I guess we can stop calling the Tennessee Baptist Convention's lawsuit a complaint. The Tennessean reports today that Belmont has filed papers challenging the TBC lawsuit. That sounds a lot like this matter will be settled in court and not with arbitration, mediation, or negotiation. I could be mistaken. For those in the TBC who stood in the May meeting and said that they'd rather sue than accept a settlement, apparently your wish has come true.

Clay Austin was quoted after the October surprise filing of the suit:

"This action allows the parties to pursue the next option of mediation (my emphasis) in hopes of reaching an amicable resolution of the issues," said Clay Austin, chairman of the special convention committee named to negotiate with Belmont over the dispute.

I am sorry that I won't be there to hear Clay's explanation of why the strategy to file suit didn't turn out like he expected. I certainly hope that someone holds the Belmont Study Committee accountable for the "effort" that they made to keep this mess out of court and out of my pocketbook.

So much for Belmont University rolling over and playing dead. So much for a nice quiet Belmont Study Committee report at the upcoming Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting. The media is breathing a sigh of relief right now. Finally, there is a contentious Baptist story to be told at the Memphis gathering. Maybe the Steven Lockhart connection with the Tennessee Baptist Convention will be overlooked. And hopefully, the Bellevue Baptist Church crowd has resolved last month's issues with their new fence-jumping pastor.