Jack Graham is scheduled to preach in New Orleans seminary chapel this coming Tuesday, March 7. Graham’s been in the news lately and somehow word got around the state of Louisiana that Graham’s church, Prestonwood Baptist, is planning to withhold a large amount of previously planned Cooperative Program giving in order to exert pressure on certain SBC leaders.
I ran across an article from a NOBTS student, who describes what some students are planning to make sure Graham knows his actions are not appreciated. First, several students plan to write an open letter to Jack Graham and invite fellow students to sign the letter. I contacted the student and he said the text of the letter should be available in the next couple of days. Second, they are planning to have T-Shirts printed and sold for students to wear in chapel on Tuesday. Content of the T-Shirt message? They love the Cooperative Program.
I haven’t seen any mention of this yet in other sources, but I think it’s worthy of your attention that Prestonwood’s actions are leading to this kind of grassroots statement. I would also commend these students as choosing a method that will get their point across but also seems like will not disrupt campus activities or the chapel service. They contacted school administration to clear it first.
The text of the report follows:
In recent weeks Rev. Jack Graham has expressed concern about the leadership of the ERLC and other SBC entities. Jack Graham and Prestonwood Baptist Church are escrowing one million dollars from their Cooperative Program (CP) giving, in response to this concern.
Rev. Jack Graham is scheduled to preach in Leavell Chapel at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) next Tuesday, March 7, at 11 AM.
Students met with Dr. Chuck Kelley, President of NOBTS Thursday, to express their concern about Jack Graham preaching in chapel. Ultimately, it was agreed that students would write an open letter to Jack Graham expressing discontent of his churches actions. This letter will be signed by any NOBTS students who are concerned with Prestonwood and Graham’s CP actions.
Students have also been given permission by President Kelley to print and sell shirts to wear to the chapel on March 7th, expressing their love for the CP. These shirts will send a clear message to Graham to recognize who is being affected by his churches decisions to escrow money from the CP.
Students interested in signing the open letter and buying shirts should see Devin Haun in the Hardin Student Center on Tuesday morning, March 7th.
I plan on following this with updates as they’re available.
