By S. Carter McNeese, Williamsburg, Virginia
I first learned about the Baptist Joint Committee when I took a class with James Dunn and Melissa Rogers at Wake Forest University. As part of the class, we made the trip to Washington, D.C., and visited the BJC offices.
The BJC is unique in that it advocates for religious liberty for all — not just from the standpoint that it is good public policy or that it is constitutional, but that it is also, and foremost, good theology! That conviction of spirit and heart combined with some of the best minds in D.C. means that the BJC is a shining light on the Hill when it comes to faith-based advocacy. It is also a great way for us to carry our Baptist message and faith out into the world to show that the Baptist way of being Christian is unique and special.
For quite a while I have wanted to do something to honor Dr. Dunn. When I arrived at Wake Forest, I was very much a seeker. I was without a denominational home and identity. Dr. Dunn could see that. He brought me in, showed me what it meant to be a Baptist — stressing, of course, the importance of soul freedom and religious liberty to the Baptist way of being a follower of Jesus.
I had always thought that supporting the BJC to honor Dr. Dunn would have to come in the future. However, this year at the Religious Liberty Council Luncheon in Dallas, Texas, I heard Woody and Penny Jenkins talk about how they had included the BJC in their estate plans. When I found out that I could support the BJC’s mission by making it a beneficiary of my life insurance, I realized that was something that I could do now.
I may be 31 and a poor seminary student, but I have life insurance and I can ensure that the BJC gets a portion of that upon my death. When I came home from Dallas, my fiancée and I had a long conversation about making this long-term promise to the BJC. We were still discussing it when I received word on July 4 that Dr. Dunn had passed away. With the news, we knew right away that joining the James Dunn Legacy Circle by including the BJC in our long-term plans was the right thing to do.
If you have included the BJC in your estate plans or would like more information about naming us as beneficiary of a will or retirement plan, visit BJConline.org/planned-giving and fill out the simple form. You may also contact Development Director Taryn Deaton at 202-544-4226 or by emailing [email protected].
From the July/August 2015 Report from the Capital. Click here to return to the cover story.
