Friends,
Today, I was forwarded, by a number of people, an email that apparently went to all SBC ‘Blue Hats’ in Louisiana. I’ve actually served as a Blue Hat as well as a White Hat during Katrina (this is all Disaster Relief speak for those of you who wouldn’t know) but I didn’t personally receive this email from the LBC building.
I’m not sure how to even process what I’m seeing. I think that someone at the Baptist Building in Alexandria either actually thinks we are all stupid or truly doesn’t care what we think at all.
Coming off the heels of the story about the inappropriateness of the LBC designing, developing, and hosting the official campaign website of Ken Hemphill we now have this equally, if not more, frustrating action of our Disaster Relief workers being encouraged not only to attend these “campaign rallies” for Hemphill but for them to be “asked to prepare food for these rallies.” My head is about to explode.
This time, however, it’s not just some coding and an inanimate server that is at issue, it’s an important and highly respected ministry arm of our shared efforts to help in time of great disaster. What about the actual CP funds use here? Maybe the whole thing is being bankrolled by a “campaign contributor” but what of the DR kitchens that I assume will be used? What of the food? What of the ask itself? These people are preparing what I assume is free food for all those in attendance and we know that free food always draws a crowd (especially for college students). What about the rallies for Greear? will the LBC pay for that? Can we invite him and feed people in at least the appearance of fairness… or is the North Carolina DR team handling that?
See for yourself…
Subject: FW: Disaster Relief
There was an email sent earlier to the Blue Hats please notice the change of time for West Monroe at McClendon Baptist Church.
Now is the time to come to the aid of your state… Sound familiar? Well it is a time to prepare and one of the ways we prepare is to contact our volunteers listed in our data base and see if we can get a response.
On Tuesday March 27, 2018, we are preparing to feed meals at LC in Pineville for Lunch and Supper at McClendon BC in W. Monroe.
The purpose of these meetings is to see if our contact system is working properly and set a time for you to meet a candidate, Dr. Ken Hemphill, that is being nominated for president of the SBC in Dallas this June.
We have been asked to prepare the food for these rallies and it will be a training event for our feeding teams as well as time for responding using the same procedures that we hope to use during a disaster. If you can attend please wear your yellow shirt and cap.
Location: Louisiana College, Pineville, LA
Time: 11:30 AM
Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2018Location: McClendon Baptist Church, W. Monroe, LA
Time: 6:30 PM
Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2018This is being sent to our Blue Hats and asking them to contact their yellow hats trying to have as many as possible attend these events. Thanks for your commitment and help during this preparation time.
If you can attend please RSVP by email to:
(emphasis added)
I’m leaving the recipient and sender’s names out of this email out of compassion for their inboxes… because, I’m sure that none of this was their idea anyway.
Although Ken Hemphill has agreed to move his website off the LBC server, this is clear and unequivocal evidence that the abuse of power to which I’ve been referring over the last few years has not changed.
LBC leadership does not get it. They have (he has) won for so long they do not think they can lose – so they simply continue to do whatever they want. I’m not sure how this convention will ever recover from this myopic worldview.
May God raise up men in this state who will help us throw off the shackles of this ungodly and worldly tyrannical mindset. Will it ever change?
Well this is blatant.
Shameless was the word that came to my mind.
Wow. Even if the food is paid for by some benefactor – will they pay for the rental use of the kitchen itself for a campaign rally? The ask for the wearing of uniforms by the preparers and servers is also out of bounds as it conveys that this an official event of the convention. Well, its clear that the LBC is in fact endorsing this candidate – and it makes sense – since they and Rick’s gang recruited him. I know that DR tucks and kitchens and trailers are often used at various official state convention events and even… Read more »
This is shameful. If I were a Louisiana Baptist, I would be calling for someone’s resignation.
Do state conventions receive national dollars (CP or AAEO) to help fund disaster relief?
Yes, they do. NAMB is very highly involved in Disaster relief.
I believe state DR relief funds all come from the state portion (which is really high in LA) of CP giving, not from NAMB.
Brent, I think NAMB helps some states purchase equipment – maybe not LA though…..
David Hankins should resign or the LBC board should fire him. And Ken Hemphill should withdraw his name from consideration. This is embarrassing. Like Tarheel mentioned above, it may be silly to think that no campaigning of any kind ever took place, but surely it was considered in bad taste to make sure we didn’t end up with this.
Yes. If Hemphill cannot denounce this as wrong and something he knew nothing about, he should withdraw. Hankins should be fired.
Holy smokes! This is shameful. I can’t begin to understand how David Hankins in his right mind would think this is a great idea. I mean how in the world can he spin this in a way that doesn’t look like the Louisiana Baptist Convention is hosting these presidential campaign rallies and paying for the food, equipment, and people to support the rallies by using Cooperative Program dollars? This has to be unprecedented, right? I mean did anything like this occur during the heated CR battles? I don’t believe so from every historical account I’ve read, from both the moderates… Read more »
I am not sure I agree that Dr. Hemphill should necessarily withdraw, guys. However, he, IMO needs to make some great big and profound strides to separate himself from all of this or else there will be little doubt (and justly so) that while is is touting as a “campaign platform” support for the CP and the missions endeavors it is supposed to fund, he is (at least appearing) to use it for his own personal benefit. I think, and hope I am right, that Dr. Hemphill is better than this. He has some decisions to make it seems.