In a stunning but welcome turn of events, last night Trinity Baptist (Ashburn, GA) pastor Rodney Brown released a statement in the Georgia Christian Index apologizing for his handling of a situation with a staff member accused of sexual abuse. Brown apologized and asked for forgiveness from a number of different people during the course of his statement: David Pittman and the other victims, SBC President J.D. Greear, the entire SBC, and the Georgia Baptist Convention. The situation at Trinity Baptist gained attention when J.D. Greear listed the church in his address to the SBC Executive … [Read more...] about Trinity Baptist Pastor Rodney Brown Seeks Forgiveness, Apologizes to SBC, Greear, Victims of Former Staff Member
Precedent, Inquiries, and the EC Bylaws Workgroup
The issues surrounding last week’s response to the sexual abuse controversy are incredibly complex. I know a lot has been written already. Yesterday I tried to give an overview of where things currently stand. In addition, there are so many details that deserve to be traced out to fully appreciate how we could have responded and where we go from here. One objection we’ve heard from a number of places (just for an example this comment on a recent post) is that the bylaws workgroup wasn’t equipped or ready for the task they were given. Almost as if it was J.D. Greear’s fault for placing on … [Read more...] about Precedent, Inquiries, and the EC Bylaws Workgroup
Bylaws Committee Statement: Update and Where Things Stand
Last week we saw a considerable outcry against the statement issued by the Executive Committee's Bylaw Workgroup. Several of our writers took issue with the statement, as well as other notable voices like Rachael Denhollander and Ed Stetzer. We've seen responses from a number of people involved, and here are some of the notable developments. First the good and then the ones that aren't so... Several Executive Committee members have responded with support for Greear's 10 Calls to Action and other steps to hear from victims and/or push back against the Bylaws Workgroup statement. EC … [Read more...] about Bylaws Committee Statement: Update and Where Things Stand
J.D. Greear’s Address to SBC Executive Committee Last Monday Night, 2/18/19
Members of the Executive Committee and fellow Southern Baptists, I hope you guys are doing great. It’s been a nice, quiet season for me, so I’m just grateful to be here. When I got nominated to be SBC President, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. I told a lot of people that in some ways I felt like the proverbial dog that had caught the school bus--spent all that time barking, “now what?” I knew there was a lot I needed to learn, and only a fool jumps forward in confidence when he should sit back, examine and learn. I’m reminded of the story of a small plane carrying 4 people … [Read more...] about J.D. Greear’s Address to SBC Executive Committee Last Monday Night, 2/18/19
Bylaws Workgroup Statement Charts Course for Return to 20th Century
It may be the fastest decision a Baptist committee has ever reached. A workgroup within the SBC Executive Committee has assured us that most of the churches named in the Houston Chronicle’s sexual abuse exposé do not warrant any further investigation. Late Saturday, the bylaws workgroup released a statement through Baptist Press. Both the content and the spirit of the statement are at serious odds with what we saw last week from the Executive Committee meeting. Last week we saw leadership, particularly from SBC President J.D. Greear, that showed determination to move us forward in … [Read more...] about Bylaws Workgroup Statement Charts Course for Return to 20th Century
SBC Executive Committee Recommends Bylaw Change, Disfellowshipping on Basis of Racism or Indifference to Sexual Abuse
More big news out of this week's SBC Executive Committee meeting. The EC is recommending changes to article 3 of the SBC Constitution, which would add racism or indifference to sexual abuse to the list of circumstances which would call for a church to be deemed out of cooperation with the convention, and therefore no longer a part of the SBC. You can see the language below from the photo in Phillip Bethancourt's tweet. This change will need to be approved by the messengers of the SBC to become official. https://twitter.com/pbethancourt/status/1097970328201035776 This part of Article … [Read more...] about SBC Executive Committee Recommends Bylaw Change, Disfellowshipping on Basis of Racism or Indifference to Sexual Abuse
SBC President J.D. Greear Outlines 10 Action Steps in Response to Sexual Abuse Controversy
Last night during the SBC Executive Committee meeting, J.D. Greear outlined action steps based on the work of the presidential study group on sexual abuse. A number of reports were coming out from media outlets via social media during the meeting. It was clear that the meeting, from the beginning, aimed to take the situation with the utmost gravity with calls for repentance and lament. The steps Greear laid out were serious and, in some ways, unprecedented for an SBC President. In my view that accords with the leadership we need as we face this issue. Most helpful twitter coverage came from … [Read more...] about SBC President J.D. Greear Outlines 10 Action Steps in Response to Sexual Abuse Controversy
Greear Announces Most Diverse Ever Committee on Committees
Yesterday afternoon through Baptist Press, SBC President J.D. Greear announced his appointments for the 2019 Committee on Committees. The demographic makeup of this committee, which is reported in accordance with a 2015 Executive Committee recommendation (adopted by vote of the entire SBC), includes the following details: 34% of the committee is female, 50% of the committee is ethnic minority, and over 50% come from churches of less than 250 in attendance. The average Cooperative Program giving of the churches represented is 7.66% and the average age of committee members is 43. We are … [Read more...] about Greear Announces Most Diverse Ever Committee on Committees
Letter from a Birmingham Jail on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
A few years ago I remember coming across the recommendation on social media that Christians would do well to (re-)read Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from a Birmingham Jail each year on the holiday set aside to honor MLK. I've taken that recommendation each of the last several years, and am happy to recommend you do the same. You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling, for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and … [Read more...] about Letter from a Birmingham Jail on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
SBC of Virginia Young Pastors Summit
Adam Blosser and I were able to attend the Young Pastors Summit today at the SBC of Virginia office near Richmond, Virginia. I've attended this meeting every year since 2014. The fellowship and networking is always refreshing. SBC of Virginia leadership does a good job of a putting together a quality program too. I know we had Tom Elliff a few years ago. Kevin Ezell joined us by video conference one year. This year Clyde Meador of the IMB was with us and Thom Rainer spoke by video conference as well. The Young Pastors Summit is a helpful event that affords pastors the opportunity to … [Read more...] about SBC of Virginia Young Pastors Summit