This report and letter were released earlier today by Phillip Bethancourt to confirm the accuracy of events as described in Russell Moore's letters that were made public last week. June 10, 2021 To: Mike Stone, Ronnie Floyd CC: Rolland Slade, JD Greear Mike and Ronnie, I am writing to you in regard to your public responses to the recently publicized letters from Russell Moore. Ronnie, you said you “do not have the same recollection” of the events. Mike, your video called Moore’s claims “absolutely slanderous,” “ungodly,” and an “outrageous … [Read more...] about SBC Whistleblower Report: Southern Baptist leaders on sexual abuse in their own words
Social Issues
Why I Will Leave the SBC if they Rescind Resolution 9, Affirming Limited Beneficial Aspects of Critical Race Theory
When one reflects on the history and current reality of systemic injustice in America, there are some tenets that have been handed down to us that are beneficial in discussing and assessing structural racism in America. Structural racism in America today is not as potent and prevalent, or as visible and vicious as it was in previous generations, but it still exists. Therefore, it must be prophetically, educationally, and legally addressed and readdressed. We see it present in real estate appraisal differences based on color, prison sentencing differences based on color, job hiring … [Read more...] about Why I Will Leave the SBC if they Rescind Resolution 9, Affirming Limited Beneficial Aspects of Critical Race Theory
Russell Moore Letter to SBC President on the Current Crisis in the SBC [Full Text]
May 31, 2021 J.D. Greear President Southern Baptist Convention The Summit Church Durham, North Carolina Dear J.D., As I said to you the other night, you have my prayers as you go into your last Southern Baptist Convention meeting as president in a historically long—and even more historically accomplished—presidency. One of the great joys of the last eight years has been working alongside you on issues of monumental importance for the witness of the church. Some of the letter below is almost verbatim what I said to my own board officers last February. … [Read more...] about Russell Moore Letter to SBC President on the Current Crisis in the SBC [Full Text]
The Next Chapter
In the '90's we used to watch the TV Guide channel for what seemed like hours, waiting for something interesting to pop up on the schedule. Then, a classic or favorite movie would appear. We would change the channel to TNT or TBS, maybe USA, and watch a movie we'd seen dozens of times. If we were lucky enough to catch the beginning of the movie we would see this disclaimer- This film has been modified from its original format. It has been edited for content and to run in time allowed. Years later, thanks to streaming, no network censors are editing those old favorites for time and … [Read more...] about The Next Chapter
What Does God Hate?
I saw something today I’ve seen or heard too many times. In a conversation about a woman whose husband has been found out to be abusive, someone declares that she must stay because God hates divorce. As I read those words I thought of the first time I was faced with this situation in real life. I sat on the floor of my living room and wept as my friend told me what she'd been keeping hidden. Her new husband was abusive. He yelled, frightened, and threatened her. He never hit her directly, but sometimes threw things at her. He had been hurting her emotionally & psychologically, and … [Read more...] about What Does God Hate?
Is This How We Might Make Use of an Analytical Tool?
I keep hearing folks asking to give benefits of CRT/I that you couldn't get from the Bible. I'm not sure if this will satisfy as an answer, but I want to share a couple of stories and explain why I think we are where we are in this whole conversation. First, the story.. I was in a room with about 8 other pastors sifting through hundreds of sermons, attempting to decide who would be good to speak at an upcoming conference. One of the men that I suggested as a potential speaker was a minority pastor from an inner city. This particular sermon that we were analyzing was a powerful exposition of … [Read more...] about Is This How We Might Make Use of an Analytical Tool?
NAAF Statement Responds to Council of Seminary Presidents
The National African American Fellowship, led by SBC First Vice President Marshall Ausberry, yesterday released a response to the January 6th meeting with the Council of Seminary Presidents (CSP). The January 6th meeting was a result of the CSP Statement from Nov. 30 and the subsequent NAAF response on December 6, 2020. Background available at Christianity Today and Baptist Press. I'm really glad to see a strong statement like this. The 3 requests listed by the NAAF seem to me entirely reasonable and, more than that, steps of healthy growth for our convention and seminaries. Our convention … [Read more...] about NAAF Statement Responds to Council of Seminary Presidents
Why I am voting for Ed Litton to serve as the President of the SBC
A shift has taken places as it has to do with the Presidency of the SBC regarding the old saying, “You don’t seek the office, the office seeks you.” Not that the saying was ever actually true to begin with. There have been plenty of guys who sought the office over the years with a growing and much more open campaigning effort happening more recently. Election websites and open campaigning have become the norm. So be it, whatever, I’m honestly not concerned about that "shift" as much as I am the implications. The point is, there are candidates who are clearly and now openly “seeking the … [Read more...] about Why I am voting for Ed Litton to serve as the President of the SBC
J.D. Greear’s Powerful Message to the SBC Executive Committee
Last night SBC President J.D. Greear brought this message to the Executive Committee meeting in Nashville. It's well worth watching in its entirety, but here are a few key excerpts in case you don't have time for the full message. More coverage is available at Baptist Press. Key moments: 3:40 Greear said he had no desire to see us change our doctrine or change our mission. "We are not, at our core, a political activism group. We love our country, but God has not called us to save America; he’s called us to build the church and spread the gospel." 5:30 The change we do … [Read more...] about J.D. Greear’s Powerful Message to the SBC Executive Committee
The Sufficiency of Scripture and Resolution 9
There is a phrase which I've seen tossed around lately in all our talks about critical-race theory and other issues of social justice. The phrase is even one which has become a hallmark of the relatively newly launched Conservative Baptist Network (CBN) You can see the phrase in their Twitter tag-line: “Sufficiency. The Bible, alone.” That precious doctrine which is being propelled to the front line of battle is the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture. But I do not believe that phrase or the doctrine is being properly represented. The Second London Baptist Confession of Faith explains … [Read more...] about The Sufficiency of Scripture and Resolution 9