With all the Convention focused on the Executive Committee and the Gaines/Parrott motion that formed an independent task force, I think it might be helpful to highlight a similar motion and its disposition by the messengers and the body to which it was referred. The motion I am referring to is the one made by […]
A Call to Prayer for the SBC
Over the next week, the Sex Abuse Task Force will meet with officers of the SBC Executive Committee officers to come to an agreement on waiving attorney-client privilege as directed by the messengers of the 2021 SBC meeting. The authors of the original motion, Ronnie Parrot and Grant Gaines are entering into 7 days of […]
A message to SBC Members from Jennifer Lyell
The following was first delivered as a twitter thread and attachment — reposted here with permission. Be sure to read the email linked at the bottom.
ERLC Trustees Initiate an Assessment of Sexual Abuse in the SBC
While all eyes seem fixed on the EC meeting next week, a significant step in addressing sexual abuse in the SBC took place this morning at the ERLC trustee meeting. In June, a motion was made at the SBC annual meeting calling for an “audit and assessment of sexual abuse within the SBC.” That motion […]
3 Commitments for Leading Your Church to Address Sexual Abuse
Last week at #SBC21, messengers sent a clear message that we want our denomination to address the issue of sexual abuse and stand with survivors. As many survivors have pointed out, our decisions made at the annual meeting must be followed up by meaningful action or what we said is just words. Coming home, most […]
Why the referral of the sexual abuse audit to the ERLC is a good thing — explaining the process and the rationale
Before I made the motion this morning, I shared the strategy and language of the motion to a few key survivors and advocates including Christa Brown and Rachael Denhollander. I otherwise kept both the strategy and the motion private so as to prevent bad actors in the Convention from strategizing against it. Because I did […]
Motion to Investigate the SBC Executive Committee: Full Text
Grant Gaines I move that the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting June 15-16, 2021, in Nashville, TN, ask the newly elected president of the SBC to appoint a task force within 30 days of the date of this Convention that shall be comprised of members of Baptist churches cooperating with this Convention and experts in […]
Standing with Survivors: Motion for an audit and assessment of sexual abuse in the SBC
I made the following motion during the first introduction of new motions in the Tuesday morning session. Here is the full text. My name is Todd Benkert, Messenger from Oak Creek Community Church in Mishawaka, Indiana I move to request the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to hire an outside organization to oversee an […]
Addressing the SBC Abuse Crisis — A Needed Next Step
Next week, during the Executive Committee report, Southern Baptists will have the second opportunity to vote to amend our constitution and address the issue of sexual abuse. The constitutional amendment we will voting is worded to provide accountability for churches to respond well to sexual abuse. Thus far, however, the newly founded credentials committee has […]
Pastor Ed Litton to be nominated for SBC President
Yesterday, Baptist Press reported that Fred Luter will nominate Alabama pastor Ed Litton for SBC President this summer in Nashville. Litton becomes the third announced nominee along with SBTS president R. Albert Mohler and Georgia pastor Mike Stone. In his announcement, Luter cites his relationship with Litton that grew from pursuing racial reconciliation together, but even […]
SBC Voices Interview: Keith Getty talks to pastors about SING! Global, Small Church Worship, Covid-19, the importance of family, and more
Recently, SBC Voices editor Todd Benkert spoke with modern hymn-writer and worship leader Keith Getty. In connection with this interview, Getty Music is doing a give-away for our audience. The first SBC pastor to email joni@gettymusic.com will receive a free registration to SING! Global 2020. Also, even if you don’t win, everyone who emails […]
Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality: A useful analytical tool or a dangerous ideology (or both)?
The debate in the Southern Baptist world about Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality (CRT/I) continues. As new questions and possible actions about Resolution 9 emerge, many are asking the question: Is CRT/I a useful analytical tool or a dangerous ideology? I submit that it is both. Previously, Albert Mohler has spoken forthrightly about the issue […]