<< Back 11/27/02 TBA rift widens SMN The rift in the Tuckasegee Baptist Association in Jackson County is widening. Last week the Woman’s Missionary Union of the TBA was told it would no longer be welcome at TBA headquarters. The WMU recently said it would not sever ties with the churches that have left the association, and that is what led to the association’s response. The rift started in May when the TBA’s credentials committee recommended that delegates from Cullowhee First Baptist and Sylva First Baptist not be seated at the annual convention. Cullowhee was criticized for calling a woman, Tonya Vickery, as co-pastor with her husband Jeffrey. Sylva First Baptist supported Cullowhee and the two churches withdrew from the association. Four other churches — East Sylva, Tuckasegee, Black Mountain and Deitz Memorial — have withdrawn from the TBA.