NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Southern Baptist Convention is urging churches to examine mail-handling policies after a suspicious letter was delivered March 26 to the Southern Baptist Convention Building, the Baptist Press reported.
An employee opened a letter containing a white powder. The envelope and the letter opener were immediately placed in a plastic bag and turned over to authorities. Lab testing is expected to take three or four days.
The office was immediately closed and air circulation equipment was shut down in the building.
The threat was contained within 30 minutes. SBC officials credit safety procedures initiated after a March 1999 anthrax scare for the fast response.
Jack Wilkerson, vice president for business and finance with the SBC Executive Committee, told Baptist Press the committee's emergency response system is effective because people have been properly trained and understand the treat.
"It's unfortunate in our day and time, but any organization that receives mail should be prepared with procedures in place for emergencies," Wilkerson said. "We have extensive procedures and training in place resulting simply from our experience in 1999 that I believe minimized, if not eliminated, any danger form this incident."
The building houses the Executive Committee, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Historical Library and Archives, the Seminary Extension and the Southern Baptist Foundation.
