I was recently speaking with someone who grew up as an evangelical pastor’s kid. This person described the chaos and division that took place at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting this week in Anaheim as “what happens in every evangelical congregation, only at a macro-level for all the world to see.”
We’ve covered the first day of the meeting here and here. Let’s now turn to day two:
SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL:
A friend asked, “what was your favorite part of #SBC22?” There was a lot, but @abigailcriner praying following the overwhelming approval of the SATF recommendations, was mine. Her sensitivity to the Spirit is something I watch up close every day. She displayed this in that moment pic.twitter.com/gJEwyL9Wxc
— Michael Criner (@michaelcriner) June 16, 2022
Also, while we think about what's happening at the national SBC level, another major thing for people to have on their radar is what will happen at the state convention level. Last year, a bunch of conventions approved abuse task forces/committees. #SBC22 https://t.co/84Od608b1Q
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) June 16, 2022
Memorial for the survivors?:
Abuse reform and response in the SBC is very much a national story. But it's also very much a local Nashville story. Eager for the day I can cover the construction of a memorial for survivors outside the SBC headquarters in Nashville. #SBC22 https://t.co/zxnUhnFuMw pic.twitter.com/lzCEDsxDPZ
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) June 16, 2022
The number of successful abuse response measures is significant. But they are widely considered 'just the beginning' and the "bare minimum." #SBC22 https://t.co/zxnUhnFuMw
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) June 16, 2022
In efforts to address sexual abuse, Southern Baptists have apologized to abuse survivors & urged states to create laws criminalizing clergy sex abuse
— Julie Roys (@reachjulieroys) June 16, 2022
“(These) actions have shown us theyre trying to…do the right thing” said survivor @ThigpenTiffany #sbc22https://t.co/mma3msDxuV
3 yrs ago at Caring Well, @RobDownenChron made sure I met Debbie Vasquez, one of the incredible survivors who fought for so long. I promised her I would not forget, and would use her story to fight for real change. So I told her story every chance I got… pic.twitter.com/Pf7Y8dGDtU
— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) June 15, 2022
Question about Resolution 5, "on support for consistent laws regarding pastoral sexual abuse" and how it will serve as guidance. It is calling on state governments to "come alongside us and help us…instead of having a patchwork," Barber said. #SBC22
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) June 16, 2022
"Bart Barber: Complementarianism, decentralized polity not to blame for sex abuse crisis in SBC," By Michael Gryboski, @ChristianPost https://t.co/26iedc4Bja#SBC #SBC2022
— Michael Gryboski (@MichaelGryboski) June 16, 2022
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:
In the runoff, Barber received 3,401 votes (60.87 percent) to Ascol’s 2,172 (38.88 percent).
— Baptist Press (@BaptistPress) June 16, 2022
He succeeds Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala., who presided over his one and only meeting after declining to seek a second term.#SBC22https://t.co/FCugkA3OZy
Maybe I’m overlooking someone out of ignorance, but it seems to me @bartbarber may be the first SBC President who is an adoptive father. If so, I find this to be wonderful news. #sbc22
— Jason Sampler (@DrSampler) June 16, 2022
Tom Ascol’s concession speech?:
Thank you for coming to Anaheim and a big thanks to all who prayed for me, encouraged me and supported me. #SBC22 pic.twitter.com/CGvwOMSSkP
— Tom Ascol @tomascol (@tomascol) June 16, 2022
MORE HAND-WRINGING OVER RICK WARREN AND WOMEN PASTORS:
This is the first tweet that the new president of the SBC decided to post following the annual meeting. God help us. #SBC22 https://t.co/QYiogndxUJ
— Gospel Messenger (@jsykes4Christ) June 16, 2022
1. Only one SBC prez unequivocally spoke for equal protection for unborn children (AM)
— Allen S. Nelson IV (@cuatronelson) June 16, 2022
2. Akin defended training women in pastoral ministry
3. Greenway fought to keep broader def of BFM to allow women pastors
Just a few examples that will fit in 1 tweet. #sbc22 https://t.co/gsbKUEzBuq
When this kind of things we use for our defense and not the Scriptures, we have lost the gospel. #SBC22 https://t.co/R85bYXlLQ2
— Jesus Ferro (@Pastor_Ferro) June 16, 2022
JUST IN: Leaked documents now show it was actually #RickWarren who cut Malchus’s ear off protecting Jesus. #SBC22
— 🫐JOSHUA LXXXI ن 🫐 ® (@Blueberrier0341) June 16, 2022
Watched a big portion of the #SBC22 yesterday. I am #sbc at heart, I was raised in the church as SB. Listen to Rick Warren. All I heard was a selfish man. May God help us be humble in front of others.
— Rafael Sifontes⚓️ (@rafaelsifontes) June 16, 2022
How have egalitarians like R Warren and the like, been so at ease for so long in the SBC ?
— Brady Soop (@bradysoop) June 16, 2022
Is it possible that the Conservative Resurgence never actually won the Convention and the rest have just waiting for the fad to wear off knowing it was a facade?#SBC22
In light of the controversy with Saddleback hiring Andy and Stacie Wood as pastors, you should know that women pastors in the SBC was ignored by @NAMB_SBC for sometime.
— Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) June 16, 2022
In Jan 2021, I raised concerns about Andy and Stacie Wood being connected to NAMB. Here was their response: pic.twitter.com/QeWYOkT56Q
Rick Warren said at the SBC Annual Meeting today that he trained 1.1 million people for ministry during his pastorate at Saddleback.
— Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) June 15, 2022
That would average training 71 people a day during his 42 year ministry.
Interesting listening to a Baptist talk about confessionalism:
"SBC committee delays decision on whether to expel Saddleback Church over female 'pastors'," By Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post, https://t.co/1erHaggnOm#SBC #SBC2022 #SBC22
— Michael Gryboski (@MichaelGryboski) June 16, 2022
As one who left the SBC a few years and who is a biblical egalitarian, I would not call #SBC2022 an egalitarian event.
— Pastor RSW (@rodneyjsw) June 16, 2022
ON ABORTION:
This man doesn’t understand clear Scripture. Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” He wouldn’t stand against the most basic abolitionist argument… which is “what did God say?” #SBC22 https://t.co/VUBMyWk8fr
— 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞 (@Mike_Walker87) June 16, 2022
Brent Leatherwood: “here’s the reality, you’re not going to get me to say that a woman who has willfully had an abortion should be behind bars.” Audience claps. #sbc22
— Allen S. Nelson IV (@cuatronelson) June 16, 2022
We don’t understand the Bible. Our @erlc does not understand the Bible.
Messenger challenges the wording for "making abortion unnecessary," the ERLC's pro-life slogan, saying it implies that abortion is in some way necessary. #SBC22
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) June 16, 2022
The @erlc just said women who have abortion commit murder. Thank you Wes Brown for putting our entity on the spot! #sbc22
— Allen S. Nelson IV (@cuatronelson) June 16, 2022
Former @KentuckyBaptist pastor Kevin Smith @smithbaptist on 🔥 @SBCMeeting talking about our call to care for children who are saved from abortion. #SBC22 pic.twitter.com/JAgnKdnPM6
— Michael Cabell (@MichaelDCabell) June 15, 2022
Little baby behind me crying during the @ERLC Stand for Life presentation. Not upset baby is crying. A nice reminder that what we’re hearing from the stage celebrates more babies living to cry & be loved. #prolife #standforlife #YoureDoingGreatMama #SBC22 👶🏼
— David Tarkington (@davidtark) June 15, 2022
'Going back to the states and hoping to win the states (not all states are GA), TONE is going to matter.'
— Sarah Stankorb (@sarahstankorb) June 15, 2022
I think this is fascinating. It's so starkly different than the call to bring women up on homicide charges this morning. We're about to see a major rhetorical divide. #SBC22
Last night Danny Akin spoke at @9marks against women pastors. Today in front of #sbc22 he punted on my question making it about women instead of how @sebts is contributing to our convention’s confusion on who is qualified to be a pastor. pic.twitter.com/tfJsx99GzS
— Allen S. Nelson IV (@cuatronelson) June 15, 2022
ERLC's @elizabethgraham addresses the coming Dobbs decision: "The work does not end if Roe v. Wade is overturned … A post-Roe world is good, but a post-abortion world is what we fervently work to achieve." #SBC22 pic.twitter.com/6ClhBGhfxL
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) June 15, 2022
Res. 7 approved. #SBC22 pic.twitter.com/d7sCVXrJdd
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) June 15, 2022
“A woman who seeks an abortion, looks up how to get an abortion, takes herself to an abortion provider & simply demands an abortion…she should be held as complicit in either the death of her unborn child or the effort to secure such a death.”
— Jared Moore (@jaredhmoore) June 15, 2022
-Al Mohler #ProLife #SBC22 #SBC2022
@LeatherwoodTN is not Pro-life, he’s pro-abortion with exceptions. Thinks abortion is necessary. Mothers would be the ones who give life. Murderers are the ones who destroy it. Defund @ERLC #SBC2022
— Tom Rush (@terush33) June 16, 2022
Last year, the messengers overruled the committee to bring a resolution on abortion abolition to the floor. A follow-up resolution this year would have called for criminal penalties for women who have abortions. The messengers did not want to discuss it. #SBC2022
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 15, 2022
Richard Land gets up to defend ERLC
— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 15, 2022
"We are on the verge of having Roe v Wade overturned"#sbc2022
OTHER TWEETS I FOUND INTERESTING:
Bart Barber is wrong about slavery #SBC22 #SBC2022 https://t.co/s1dFyoT3wm
— SBC Underground (@SBCUnderground) June 16, 2022
President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary:
I can only imagine what the Southern Baptist Convention would look like if we determined not to work so hard to find new ways to divide ourselves. There is a real threat of drift we face: one away from cooperative missions and ministry, and this drift we should all resist. #SBC22
— Adam W. Greenway (@AdamGreenway) June 16, 2022
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary removes the name of Baptist leader who stood-up at the Annual Meeting this week and opposed the convention’s resolutions on dealing with sexual abuse in the denomination. He also referenced the 1619 project in his remarks. In 1999, Midwestern fired him. In 2021, they named the library after him. Now he is out:
BREAKING: @MBTS announces it will rename @MBTSLibrary to just “Library”. Midwestern believes any backlash to this move would be “statistically insignificant”. #SBC22 https://t.co/H80fRE2hA1
— The SBComicle (@TheSBComicle) June 16, 2022
If I thought the #SBC #SBC22 was as far gone, as compromised, as corrupt, and as liberal as the CBN folks do, there’s no way I’d stay. My conscience wouldn’t allow it. But the draw to fighting and controversy is so strong (I see it in my own heart), that it’s hard to let go 1/4
— K.V. Paxton (@KVPaxton) June 16, 2022
Tom Ascol, who lost the election for president, talks it over with pro-Trump election fraud lawyer Jenna Ellis:
Grateful to talk with Jenna again about the #SBC22. She has a wonderful testimony of God's redeeming grace in her life & I appreciate her zeal in helping people think principally about truth, culture, & public policy. https://t.co/GV1jA9Npgp
— Tom Ascol @tomascol (@tomascol) June 16, 2022
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission survives:
"When I was given this role, I told our team, 'Let us double down on our mission, because, regardless of the personality our mission remains unchanged to equip our churches to apply Christian principles to the moral and sinful problems of our day.'" #SBC22https://t.co/AamFhcqdDV
— Baptist Press (@BaptistPress) June 16, 2022
SBC is the only time you will ever see a line for the men’s restroom longer than the line for the women’s. #SBC22
— Jake Deshler (@Jake_Deshler) June 16, 2022
-Jared Underwood
Some final notes from #SBC22:
— Jonathan Howe (@Jonathan_Howe) June 16, 2022
8,133 – Messengers
2,856 – Guests
1,554 – Exhibitors
12,543 total attendees
Interesting comment from a guy in a denomination founded on the defense of slavery:
The Southern Baptist Convention was finished the day they denounced their Southern Christian forefathers!#SBC2022 #SBC22
— Marshall Clayton Rawson (@MarshallCRawson) June 16, 2022
This is petty & false claim from group that backed Baucham for Pastor's Conference prez. Ahem:https://t.co/8c3s0BWRtJ#SBC22 https://t.co/XcVeyW4jkm
— Brian Kaylor (@BrianKaylor) June 15, 2022
I refuse to let Tom Ascol & Al Mohler(who celebrate the slaveholding founders), make decisions for the Cornerstone Church where I pastor, regarding the role of women. To deny women the right to exercise proclamation gifts, given by the Holy Spirit violates conscience & freedom.
— Dwight McKissic (@pastordmack) June 14, 2022
Is it technically possible to get praise music out of your brain if you listen to it non-stop for four straight days? #SBC2022 pic.twitter.com/81ojYTmv6r
— Michelle Boorstein (@mboorstein) June 16, 2022
RECOMMENDED READING
More responses to the Southern Baptist sexual abuse report 
Day 1 of the 3-ring circus is over. The Southern Baptists elect a new president. 
The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s third-party abuse investigation report was just released. It’s horrifying. 
Voter fraud, attempts to steal the election, Charlie Kirk & Liberty University, and the potential ousting of Rick Warren’s church. And it’s only 9:25am in Anaheim!
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