Here are some questions from an admitted and certified cynic on matters concerning the SBC Executive Committee:
- When will any present or former EC member or staff member admit that the vote to open themselves up to the Madison Avenue law firm was a mistake?
- Is the EC still on the hook for legal expenses not only against their own actions but any that arise from litigation against that Madision Avenue law firm?
- Shouldn’t the EC find a lawyer to be CEO, since (a) they didn’t like their first candidate, a pastor; (b) they got skewered over the next guy and presumed front-runner who had an easily discoverable history of resume issues, a denominational worker, and (c) the Guy for 2024 withdrew his name, another pastor who turned denominational worker, and (d) the EC’s legal problems will dominate the future of the organization for some time?
- Does the EC still carry insurance against sex abuse for cases not known until now or those that arise in the future?
- Has the EC explored, even in a preliminary manner, the sale of assets to cover current and future litigation expenses?
- Does the EC have any contingency plans for bankruptcy and/or dissolution?
- For the latter, is there a post-EC plan for the Cooperative Program?
- Has the EC had discussions among staff or members about establishing a special litigation reserve funded by SBC entities, churches, and individuals?
- Does (or has) the EC plan to persuade, beg, lobby, or cajole the two wealthiest SBC entities, IMB and NAMB, which together had several hundred million in liquid assets, for bailout money if finances continue to hemorrhage?
- Is there an action plan to restore the EC’s credibility with donor churches and state conventions, something beyond “we hope we get the right guy in here as CEO?”
- Will the EC be able to act in accord with their fiduciary duties if the ARITF presents an unworkable plan to them or to the convention in session?
- If the lauded and delayed database of abusers (with or without the category of those “credibly accused”) proves unworkable and and thus unhelpful in making kids safer in churches, will there be any courage to abandon it, or will they just keep spending money on it?
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I admit, as a lowly retired guy in the SBC hinterlands, that I probably don’t even know the right questions to ask.
Today is, officially, National Compliment Day. I will compliment the SBCEC on not being as bad as they could be but they have made a good effort over the past few years. No fault of the interim CEO.
