SBC Voices

Resolutions Report, Part ONE

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Resolution 1: James Merritt moves Resolution 1. Baptist unity and maintaining our public witness. An amendment adding the word secondary to the second resolved section. Amendment failed. Nit-picking wordsmithing is now happening. Passed by about 99% Resolution 2: on the Sufficiency of Scripture for Race and Racial reconciliation Again, this is a biblical and unifying resolution and those who want to fight are not willing to have peace. James Merritt is answering strongly. Resolution passes by perhaps 2/3.       … [Read more...] about Resolutions Report, Part ONE

Nominations for President

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H.B Charles is nominating Dr. Mohler. Emphasizing Mohler's CR fidelity and Baptist Heritage. Dean Haun (?) is nominating Mike Stone.  Emphasizing "Pastor Mike Stone." David and Goliath references. Authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Fred Luter is nominating Ed Litton.  Bold, but kind leadership. "Take it from Fred, vote for Ed." Mary Habila (?) is nominating Randy Adams. Giving Randy's talking points. Transparency. Accountability. Participation. Currently,  there are 15,678 registered messengers. … [Read more...] about Nominations for President

Motions Offered

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I am way behind. In posting this. Most will be referred or ruled out of order. 1. Jay Adkins from Louisiana moved we consider having separate counsel for the EC.and convention. Will be referred to EC. 2. Allen Nelson offered a convoluted motion prohibiting paying 3rd party investigation groups until some kind of pastors review. No idea. Hot mess. 3. Allen Murray, to general applause, moved a Sunday night fellowship meal. Probably warmly ruled out of order. 4. Tom Ascol moved to rescind Resolution 9. Will likely be ruled out of order, then a motion to resurrect it … [Read more...] about Motions Offered

Motion to Investigate the SBC Executive Committee: Full Text

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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 sexual abuse and the handling of sexual abuse-related dynamics. This task force shall either assume oversight of the third-party review announced previously by the Executive Committee or initiate a separate third-party review. Said task force shall ensure that the … [Read more...] about Motion to Investigate the SBC Executive Committee: Full Text

Early Returns: Two Key Votes

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I have never come into a convention with less of an idea of how things will go. There were two votes that may give a hint. First, Tom Ascol made a poorly constructed motion which was ruled out of order, asking that any entity that affirmed CRT be defunded. He appealed the ruling of the chair and needed 2/3 to support him. He got about 1/3. The Business and Financial Plan went down in flames - perhaps 99.9%. I could see maybe a dozen who voted for it. In 40 years, I have never seen the Executive Committee so completely repudiated. The CBN guys at the EC pushed this plan as a … [Read more...] about Early Returns: Two Key Votes

Standing with Survivors: Motion for an audit and assessment of sexual abuse in the SBC

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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 audit and assessment of sexual abuse within the SBC. The organization shall be authorized to receive and assess, over the next three years, both reports of sexual abuse and allegations of mishandling abuse, from voluntarily participating … [Read more...] about Standing with Survivors: Motion for an audit and assessment of sexual abuse in the SBC

An Appeal: Reject the Executive Committee’s Business and Financial Plan

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The Executive Committee is meant to be a coordinating and enabling group but in the last couple of years they have lost sight of their purpose.  Gradually,  they are seeking to take more of control over other entities. Instead of doing what they are supposed to do, they are gradually seeking to become the ruling elders of the SBC. That is NOT acceptable. Their Business and Financial Plan changes things in ways that need to be rejected, especially in this tumultuous time when the messengers may be asking for multiple investigations of the EC. It is not time to give this dysfunctional … [Read more...] about An Appeal: Reject the Executive Committee’s Business and Financial Plan

And Now…It Begins! Resolutions Report

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We will act on resolutions today in distinction to previous years. The full report is out and available online.. There are 10 resolutions. Resolution 1: on Baptist unity and our public witness. Resolution 2: On the sufficiency of Scripture for race and racial reconciliation (This loosely addresses the CRT issue, though not directly.) Resolution 3: On taxpayer complicity in abortion and the Hyde Amendment. Resolution 4: On the Equality Act Resolution 5: On abuse and pastoral qualifications. Resolution 6: On sole membership Resolution 7: On Christian … [Read more...] about And Now…It Begins! Resolutions Report