Anyone following the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting this week in Anaheim is witnessing a denomination in shambles. The Convention has a serious sexual abuse problem to deal with and not everyone agrees that there is a problem or how to handle it. The Convention is deeply divided between a conservative wing worried about doctrinal drift and a moderate wing trying to address social problems like systemic racism. One pastor is mad because someone affiliated with one of the denomination’s seminaries apparently published an article, written by his wife, about struggles in the early years of their marriage. The same guy, and many others, are upset that Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church has women pastors. One presidential candidate campaigned on virtually every pro-Trump media outlet in the country. (He lost.) Meanwhile, some of the denomination’s seminary professors–most of them with Ph.Ds from Southern Baptist seminaries (and many who have never left the Southern Baptist bubble)–use their Twitter feeds and subscription websites to flex their theological muscles. Yesterday morning there was a rumor that the conservative candidate for president and his supporters were trying to change the election rules so they could vote before all the messengers arrived in the hall. I don’t know if this is true, but the fact that such a rumor existed in the first place speaks volumes. Oh the drama!
You can’t make this stuff up. It would make for a great Netflix series. New SBC president Bart Barber has his hands full.
Let’s see what went on yesterday afternoon/early evening at this three-ring circus:
THE SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL(Get up to speed here):
Now a call for an investigation of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for mistreating sex abuse victims.
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
#SBC2022
Sexual Abuse Task Force recommendations approved by messengers with one amendment in wording. #SBC22, #SBC2022, #SBCAnaheim … to read more about the recommendations, visit https://t.co/UIoeU36Jrb
— Jennifer Davis Rash (@RashionalThts) June 14, 2022
And with that, the SBC overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Sexual Abuse Task Forceās recommendations. Let the political infighting begin, as war is easier than humility. Kyrie Eleison. #SBC22 #SBC #SBC2022 #SBCAnaheim
— Aaron Cordaro (@aspiebard) June 14, 2022
View the Sexual Abuse Task Force press conference at https://t.co/HTkGSFasJH.#SBC22 #SBC2022 #SBCAnaheim pic.twitter.com/sfIijXRcMT
— The Baptist Paper (@TheBaptistPaper) June 15, 2022
Now we have an anti-@GuidepostGlobal amendment – because of their views on LGBT issues. "I believe Guidepost has polluted this report." #sbc2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
Mark Coppenger, part of the @BaptistNetwork, says there is no issue with abuse and says – "Why should we pay" for issues at other churches? #sbc2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
Mark Coppenger, former seminary president and seminary president, has compared the Houston Chronicle report to the 1619 Project. #sbc2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
So glad to see Dr. Coppenger at the microphone. Bringing logic and reason to the conversation. #SBC2022
— Chris Combs (@ccombs494) June 14, 2022
So @tombuck says he reported abuse and was retaliated against. Wants to know if that will happen to others. #sbc2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
āOn behalf of survivorsā¦let the healing begin today.ā #SBCtoo #SBC2022 pic.twitter.com/g39mrAd5NZ
— Chris Davisš (@RevChrisDavis) June 14, 2022
"You donāt get on a database because someone made a false accusation." #SBC2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
"The issue is not what Guidepost thinks about LGBQ– the issue is what do Southern Baptists think of sexual abuse that is the issue. " @BruceFrank1 #SBC2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
"How are you going to tell a watching world that Jesus loves them, that Jesus died for them. Jesus rescued them when his church won't even do their very best to protect them" @BruceFrank1 #sbc2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
#sbc2022 is now letting a man tell everyone who is a messenger, that if they reject some part of his position statements, then we are unbiblical and Unrepentant. It is a gospel issue.
— The REAL Matthew Henry (@pastormatthenry) June 14, 2022
"All of that happened on our watch" @BruceFrank1 #sbc2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
Itās been a total honor to serve with these āfriends in the foxholeā as the SBC Sex Abuse Task Force. Our report is in 15 mins. @BruceFrank1 @BlalockMarshall @DrHeatherEvans #SBC22 pic.twitter.com/PdW9i35IcF
— Andrew HĆ©bert (@andrewhebert86) June 14, 2022
That was truly a beautiful moment todayā¦ I was nearby, and deeply moved watching you and @R_Denhollander comfort her; in the midst of a packed arena with thousands of people, you saw the one.
— Ruth Malhotra (@RuthMalhotra) June 15, 2022
Thanks for reflecting Christ in that momentā¦ and in the steps leading up to it. #SBC22 pic.twitter.com/bWQG9uiUPb
At the Southern Baptist meeting, Kevin Ezell, president of N American missions board, just had no questions posed to him about handling of former VP Johnny Hunt, named as credibly accused of sex assault in a report. Hunt, who denied accusations, was allowed to resign.#SBC22
— Sarah Pulliam Bailey šļøšļøšļø (@spulliam) June 15, 2022
What a beautiful photo! #sbc22 https://t.co/0odQT2cCEV
— Rayden Hollis (@raydenh) June 15, 2022
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:
Bart Barber got 61% of the vote in a run-off against Tom Ascol.
Now that the regimevangelicals have gotten what they want expect the cries for unity to follow as if none of their lying, slandering, or partiality ever happened. #SBC2022 pic.twitter.com/wOofOXJtYD
— Harrison Kahrig (@hrkahrig) June 15, 2022
#SBC2022 it's time to #SBEXIT.
— Jon Speed (@JonSpeedTheBook) June 15, 2022
To my friend @tomascol, Iām proud of your effort and willingness to do the unpopular thing and speak the unpopular truth. Youāre a true SBC statesman. Honored to call you my friend. Press on for King Jesus! – 1 Cor. 15:58 #SBC22 #SBC2022
— š š¤šØš š½šŖššš (@JoshBuice) June 15, 2022
I am shocked at the margin. But after sitting through this today and seeing entity leaders RT lies, defend women pastors, the platform shut down discussion, hypocrisy, false accusations by messengers, well, it is apparent the drift in SBC is quite drastic. Critical level. #sbc22 https://t.co/6I7jndSB6g
— Allen S. Nelson IV (@cuatronelson) June 15, 2022
When a candidate backed by Charlie Kirk, @ericmetaxas, @JennaEllisEsq, & OANN lose an election, that's most likely a good thing (https://t.co/1EeaHjvHLU). #SBC22
— Brian Kaylor (@BrianKaylor) June 15, 2022
Matt Martens, a former prosecutor who has an upcoming book on biblical justice and has written about the SBC sex abuse reforms, said the Ascol/Barber race is not conservative v liberal, but between a conservative turn and a more fundamentalist turn 1/x #SBC22 @martensmatt1
— Michelle Boorstein (@mboorstein) June 15, 2022
Let me be clear: itās not sad because @bartbarber is a liberal. He is not. But he has shown himself unwilling to stand against our accelerated drift as made even more evident today. #sbc22 https://t.co/LOWzUsSXAt
— Allen S. Nelson IV (@cuatronelson) June 15, 2022
The messengers to the SBC in Anaheim have elected @BartBarber the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Letās pray for him and our convention. Congratulations, brother.#SBC22 pic.twitter.com/8quCLXJiOe
— Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) June 15, 2022
First round of voting:
THE RICK WARREN CONTROVERSY. (Get up to speed here):
Will the SBC Now Accept Women as Pastors?
— Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) June 14, 2022
–
The Credentials Committee has unilaterally redefined the "office of pastor" to mean "lead pastor." Neither the Bible nor the BF&M makes such a distinction. https://t.co/wx9SepVhGh
Now a motion to add a ban on women pastors to the SBC convention. #sbc2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
Hearing messengers at the SBC loudly cheer a resolution that would amend the SBC's constitution to specifically codify their prohibition of women pastors tells you everything you need to know about their ability to address the sex abuse crisis #ChurchToo #SBCtoo #SBC22 #SBC2022
— Emily Joy Allison (@emilyjoypoetry) June 14, 2022
@albertmohler is exactly correct – we do not need to define each word. If we have to – then we are no longer confessional as Southern Baptists. Let the reader understand. #SBC2022
— Justin Love (@Jlove__) June 14, 2022
White male privilege on parade here. #SBC2022
— Karoli š (@Karoli) June 14, 2022
I mean, the word "pastor" is not gender-based. Until men decide it is. https://t.co/KJWsD1Mr9C
āThere are Baptist brothers here today who donāt believe that Jesus does for the whole worldā¦but, we find a way to get along with them.ā – @RickWarren š„š„ #SBC2022
— Evan Hill (@evanmhill) June 14, 2022
Bless you Rick Warren #SBC22 #SBC2022 pic.twitter.com/JalUQ6OBDr
— Opinionated Dad (@DivorcedDad_USA) June 14, 2022
Rick Warren? God please forgive them for they know not what they do. #SBC2022
— Tracy Smith (@mythreesonsb) June 14, 2022
"I owe you all so much. So I sincerely say–thank you Southern Baptists for shaping my life." Rick Warren #sbc2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2022
I didnāt have āRick Warren gives a speechā on my Anaheim bingo card, but here it is. At this rate itāll be a big name multiverse crossover. #SBC #SBC22 #SBC2022 #SBCAnaheim
— Aaron Cordaro (@aspiebard) June 14, 2022
The credentials committee has withdrawn their recommendation and will continue to consider the question of Saddleback's friendly cooperation with the SBC.#SBC22 #SBC2022 #SBCAnaheim
— The Baptist Paper (@TheBaptistPaper) June 14, 2022
The president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary:
I appreciate Pastor Warrenās heart 4 the lost & his warm reflections on the SBC. What a sweet moment.
— Jason Keith Allen (@jasonkeithallen) June 14, 2022
I also agree that fighting over the minors is a real threat to us.
But I sincerely believe that whatās a church & whoās qualified to pastor it isnāt a minor issue.
Itās major.
Shocking that Litton gave Rick Warren the floor to lecture messengers over what he called a āsecondary issueā thatās actually a doctrine of the BFM 2000 that he violated.
— Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) June 15, 2022
Itās like giving a church member under discipline the mic to lecture the congregation instead of repenting.
Rick Warren has been kind to me, but if he has led his church in violation of our confession of faith, the act was entirely that of the pastor and his church. The SBC cannot order a local church on its doctrine. It has every right and power to define its own association. 3
— Albert Mohler (@albertmohler) June 15, 2022
History reveals that a church or denomination that loses conviction that āthe office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scriptureā will lose its doctrine and clarity on issues of sexuality and gender in all contexts. I pray that does not mark the SBC. 4
— Albert Mohler (@albertmohler) June 15, 2022
If the ecclesiology now endorsed by Saddleback Church becomes accepted as the proper application of the BFM we are on a downgrade confirmed by history that will lead to the social and theological practices of the UMC, PCUSA, ELCA, and the Episcopal Church. #SBC2022
— Joshua M. Wallnofer ā© (@pastorjoshmw) June 15, 2022
When faithful pastors and entity leaders remain quiet publicly for years about the drift in our convention, you get Anaheim #sbc22. I was so grateful for @albertmohler speaking up today against women pastors. But perhaps he has realized it is too little too late.
— Allen S. Nelson IV (@cuatronelson) June 15, 2022
āI have trained 1.1 million pastors, more than all of our seminaries combined.ā
— Chris Huff (@ChrisHuff) June 15, 2022
Rick Warren #SBC2022
Quantity in number is not the goal when it comes to training true called, confirmed, qualified, and faithful Eldersā¦ See Matthew 7:13-23https://t.co/BtJOAP3RH8 pic.twitter.com/TYyFyp6RUC
That they held out Rick Warren as a heraldā¦.thatās all you need to know. #SBC #SBC2022
— Jenās practicing her patience (@IllustriousMom) June 15, 2022
This issue is not unclear in the Bible nor in the BF&M. We will either have the courage of our convictions or not.
— Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) June 15, 2022
If we are going to be faithful to the terms of our cooperation, we have to affirm what the BF&M says about male-only pastorate. https://t.co/M3DP04W4Gw
We are witnessing the full fruit of the seeds of pragmatism that have been planted by Rick Warren for the past 30 years. Today was his victory speech. #purposedriven #hedidthat #whatisapastor #sbcdowngrade #SBC2022
— Trey Etheridge (@etheridgetrey) June 15, 2022
THE TOM BUCK CONTROVERSY. (Get up to speed here and here):
The SBC is selective in the survivors they care about!
— Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) June 15, 2022
The good news is that even though we didnāt get justice now, weāll get it in eternity.
We did everything humanly possible and will fully trust the Lordās sovereign hand as we move on.
We wonāt allow a bitter root to grow!
SBC doesn't care about some abuser survivors. Denies justice to @TomBuck & @JenniferBuck65 #SBC22 #SBC2022
— Capstone Report (@CapstoneReport) June 15, 2022
The SBC sending the Buckās case to the very institution that they are accusing of misconduct just destroyed the credibility of the SBCās desire to reform how it handles abuse allegations. And after a historic vote too. #SBC2022 #SBC22 #SBCAnaheim #SBC
— Aaron Cordaro (@aspiebard) June 15, 2022
AND SOME RANDOM TWEETS THAT I FOUND INTERESTING:
This guy states the obvious:
What? A humble, Christ-exalting #SBC? In this economy? #SBC2022 #sbc22
— Jeff R. (@jrathbun89) June 15, 2022
#sbc2022. So many public prayers that are really just sermons and rebukes to those gathered.
— The REAL Matthew Henry (@pastormatthenry) June 15, 2022
Watching the livestream of the #SBC2022. It is one long insufferable congregational meeting on steroids. Motions, seconds, everyoneās independent agendas getting air time before open microphones. This is Danteās seventh circle of Hell.
— Jim Osman (@jimcosman2) June 15, 2022
I'm happy to be alive more than 160 years before the Southern Baptist Convention will exist.#SBC2022
— John Bunyan (@_John_Bunyan) June 15, 2022
The SBC convention is demonstrating that wokeness doesn't merely creep into evangelicalism undetected. It's often escorted in right through the front door. #SBC2022
— Darrell B. Harrison* (@D_B_Harrison) June 14, 2022
Got an interview with Paige Patterson. He said Tom Ascol is fabulous. Also asked Paige about his involvement with CBN, after which he said he was the worlds second worst sinner behind Paul, but that Jesus forgives.
— Robert Downen (@RobertDownen_) June 14, 2022
Paige refused to specify what sins heās committed #SBCtoo #SBC22
Paige Patterson compared himself to the Apostle Paul and said Jesus "forgave my sins. He saved me from all my sins. And he would do the same thing for anybody.ā
— Robert Downen (@RobertDownen_) June 14, 2022
I repeatedly asked him to specify what those sins were. He wouldn't. #SBC22 #SBC2022 #SBCtoo https://t.co/nGaharBp1K
In 2009, the Southern Baptists reported a total of 350K baptisms.
— Ryan Burge š (@ryanburge) June 14, 2022
Ten years later, the number of baptisms had dropped to 236K.
The pandemic cut those numbers even further to 123K in 2020.
They rebounded a bit to 155K in 2021. #SBC22 #sbc2022 pic.twitter.com/v3UBVqBljT
Our church may well be leaving the sbc . We have a lot to talk about. But we cannot continue to ignore the way the messengers are silenced and dismissed. Even when we speak on an issue (like the abolition of abortion), the @ERLC ignores us, and even opposes us. #sbc22
— Damon Rambo (@DamonRambo) June 15, 2022
Sad to say it, but I think it would be healthier at this point for the CBN to officially leave the SBC instead of trying to cosplay a Conservative Resurgence again and again. The direction isn't going to change their way. At this point a split would be healthier for all. #SBC22
— Joshua Ray (@JoshuaRay) June 15, 2022
Circus is right.