Yesterday I tweeted a thread on several pieces of Southern Baptist controversy and what the implications are for this year's SBC Annual Meeting that meets in Nashville next week, June 15-16. What follows is largely the content of that thread. The original thread can be found here. To begin, the purpose of this article is not to address the brewing controversy surrounding CRT/I nor the punches being thrown left and right regarding the ever-resurfacing debate about the nature of the convention’s complementarianism. This article cannot consider every issue that needs to be addressed in … [Read more...] about Boto, Page, Pressler, Patterson, and Mike Stone: The Thread of Resistance to Abuse Response (by Colton Strother)
SBC Whistleblower Report: Southern Baptist leaders on sexual abuse in their own words
This report and letter were released earlier today by Phillip Bethancourt to confirm the accuracy of events as described in Russell Moore's letters that were made public last week. June 10, 2021 To: Mike Stone, Ronnie Floyd CC: Rolland Slade, JD Greear Mike and Ronnie, I am writing to you in regard to your public responses to the recently publicized letters from Russell Moore. Ronnie, you said you “do not have the same recollection” of the events. Mike, your video called Moore’s claims “absolutely slanderous,” “ungodly,” and an “outrageous … [Read more...] about SBC Whistleblower Report: Southern Baptist leaders on sexual abuse in their own words
SBC Survivor Stories: Do you want to help? Or do you want things to stay the same? (Part 2 by Dave Pittman)
In the previous article, I spelled out some weighty problems within the SBC. And I asked the question, “Do you want to do something, or do you want things to stay the same?” Since I don’t believe it’s fair to point out problems without offering solutions, I want to practice what I “preach” and spell out some ways to help. What can be done? What can the SBC and the individual member do to correct the past and properly address the crimes? And in the present; To better protect your children, to properly respond to victims and the perpetrators? 1. Acknowledge that Sexual Abuse within … [Read more...] about SBC Survivor Stories: Do you want to help? Or do you want things to stay the same? (Part 2 by Dave Pittman)
Friendly Fire in the SBC (by Kevin Blackwell)
There were many tragic events during the years of the Second World War, but perhaps one of the most troubling occurred on July 25, 1944. As the Normandy campaign began with the historic beach landings of D-Day, massive allied bombing campaigns ensued clearing the way for Operation Overlord. Around 3,000 allied planes took flight that morning in a plan known as Codename Cobra and as they approached their target the pilots experienced low clouds making visibility almost impossible. The pilots intended to fly east to west along the enemies lines unloading their payloads, instead they approached … [Read more...] about Friendly Fire in the SBC (by Kevin Blackwell)
Why I Am Being Nominated for SBC Recording Secretary
Let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Adam Blosser. My wife, Ashley, and I have been married for ten years. We have four children. I am the lead pastor of Goshen Baptist Church in Spotsylvania, Virginia where I have served for almost five years. And Dave Miller is nominating me for recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention. There are three primary reasons why: 1. I want to serve Southern Baptists. My entire life has been spent in Southern Baptist churches. As a child, my Southern Baptist parents took me to our Southern Baptist church every time the doors were open. … [Read more...] about Why I Am Being Nominated for SBC Recording Secretary
Why I Will Leave the SBC if they Rescind Resolution 9, Affirming Limited Beneficial Aspects of Critical Race Theory
When one reflects on the history and current reality of systemic injustice in America, there are some tenets that have been handed down to us that are beneficial in discussing and assessing structural racism in America. Structural racism in America today is not as potent and prevalent, or as visible and vicious as it was in previous generations, but it still exists. Therefore, it must be prophetically, educationally, and legally addressed and readdressed. We see it present in real estate appraisal differences based on color, prison sentencing differences based on color, job hiring … [Read more...] about Why I Will Leave the SBC if they Rescind Resolution 9, Affirming Limited Beneficial Aspects of Critical Race Theory
SBC Survivor Stories: Will the Church Be a Haven or a Hunting Ground? (by Dave Pittman)
To say that the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is having some difficulties is like saying an oncoming hurricane will have showers and a breeze. It doesn’t fully capture the detail of what the damage will be, or the tragedy left in its wake. Vitriolic disputes over theology. Christian Nationalism and racial injustice. The continued coverup of sexual abuse crimes. And members leaving in droves. At the heart of it all, is a power grab for its core. So, what on earth is going on with the SBC? For me to answer that, I can only explain in this way… What is most personal is most … [Read more...] about SBC Survivor Stories: Will the Church Be a Haven or a Hunting Ground? (by Dave Pittman)
Paige Patterson vs SWBTS: Implications for the SBC Presidential Election
I've been reading the recent resurgence of wrangling regarding Dr. Paige Patterson and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS). The question of guilt involves not only these two parties, but by extension also impacts the coming SBC presidential election. Pastor Mike Stone bears the public perception of being Dr. Patterson's man by way of their mutual involvement in the organization Mr. Stone and Dr. Patterson helped to found, the Conservative Baptist Network (CBN). Should Dr. Patterson be (in this matter) the rascal many claim, the resulting guilty-by-voluntary-assocation scars both … [Read more...] about Paige Patterson vs SWBTS: Implications for the SBC Presidential Election
Russell Moore Letter to SBC President on the Current Crisis in the SBC [Full Text]
May 31, 2021 J.D. Greear President Southern Baptist Convention The Summit Church Durham, North Carolina Dear J.D., As I said to you the other night, you have my prayers as you go into your last Southern Baptist Convention meeting as president in a historically long—and even more historically accomplished—presidency. One of the great joys of the last eight years has been working alongside you on issues of monumental importance for the witness of the church. Some of the letter below is almost verbatim what I said to my own board officers last February. … [Read more...] about Russell Moore Letter to SBC President on the Current Crisis in the SBC [Full Text]
(Almost) Twenty Years a Baptist (by Cody Glen Barnhart)
Where a power structure can be wielded for good, a power structure can be wielded for evil. Friends, Baptists, countrymen, lend me your ears: I come to bury our past, not to praise it. The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interrèd with their bones. So let it be with the Conservative Resurgence. Being Southern Baptist is in my bones. I professed faith and was baptized at age six in an SBC church, and my life since been decidedly SBC-centric. I remained a member at SBC churches through my adolescence. Then, I went to Italy with the Tennessee Baptist … [Read more...] about (Almost) Twenty Years a Baptist (by Cody Glen Barnhart)