NASHVILLE – After the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) decided in a 44-31 vote, Oct. 5, to waive attorney-client privilege and move forward on a third-party investigation of the EC, The Pathway asked EC trustees from Missouri for comment. In his role as SBC recording secretary, Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director John Yeats serves as a voting member of the EC. His comments can be found here, and other background regarding the EC’s decision can be found … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee investigation begins, but what prompted it?
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes reporting from Brandon Porter of Baptist Press and Will Hall of the Louisiana Baptist Message. NASHVILLE – An independent third-party review of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) is underway, according to Bruce Frank, chair of the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force. Frank said the contract among the task force, Guidepost Solutions and Rolland Slade, on behalf of the EC, has been signed. The full report from Guidepost’s … [Read more...]
Law firm resigns as SBC/EC general counsel
NASHVILLE – The law firm Guenther, Jordan & Price announced that it is resigning as general counsel for the Southern Baptist Convention and the SBC Executive Committee in an Oct. 11th letter to Ronnie Floyd, EC president and CEO. The law firm had represented the SBC and EC since 1966. The letter, signed by James P. Guenther and James D. Jordan, states that the law firm’s resignation is based on the EC’s Oct. 5th decision to waive attorney-client privilege. The letter reads as … [Read more...]
An open letter from John Yeats on the SBC Executive Committee’s Oct. 5th decision
Colleagues: I trust the Lord is demonstrating the depth of His grace toward you in such a fashion that you have a sense of His abiding presence. I shared with you last week about the SBC Executive Committee’s concerns. The 2021 SBC Annual Meeting messengers spoke clearly when they called for the establishment of a Sexual Abuse Task Force and a transparent, thorough, and independent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving the Executive Committee and its staff over the … [Read more...]
EC approves Guidepost contract, agrees to waive privilege in 44-31 vote
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes additional reporting from Pathway associate editor Benjamin Hawkins. The article was updated on Oct. 11th. NASHVILLE (BP) – Members of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) voted, Oct. 5, for the waiving of attorney client privilege within the scope of an independent third-party investigation of the EC concerning the handling of sexual abuse claims. The Sexual Abuse Task Force, assembled by SBC President Ed Litton, was mandated … [Read more...]
ERLC leaders accused of ‘blatant deception’
EDITOR'S NOTE: Chris Turner and Lonnie Wilkey wrote this article originally for the Tennessee Baptist & Reflector. Story updated on Oct. 12, 2021 by Pathway staff. NASHVILLE (Tennessee Baptist & Reflector) – Former Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission President Russell Moore and then-ERLC board chair David Prince committed a “blatant deception” by consciously concealing from ERLC trustees information that was eventually leaked to the press ahead of the 2021 annual Southern … [Read more...]
Montana Baptist church expands reach with CP
EDITOR’S NOTE – The Missouri Baptist Convention currently has a missions partnership with churches in the Montana Southern Baptist Convention. HAVRE, Mont. (BP) – Chris Richards’ job for 28 years was keeping America safe. Since his retirement from the U.S. Border Patrol in 2015, he’s turned his focus to shepherding Immanuel Baptist Church in Havre. And in 2018, he added Chief Cornerstone Baptist Church, 30 minutes south on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in north-central Montana. As a … [Read more...]
SBC EC allocates $500,000 for sex abuse legal fees, initiates conflict of interest review
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) considered a number of referrals from messengers at the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting and approved several financial items at the entity’s meeting, Sept. 21. Among the actions taken were the approval of the EC’s 2021-2022 operating budget and approving a preliminary financial allocation for the EC’s legal services connected to the upcoming investigation of the Sexual Abuse Task Force established by the messengers … [Read more...]
EC motion funds Guidepost contract, attorney-client privilege to be ‘fleshed out through negotiation’
NASHVILLE (BP) – A marathon afternoon session that stretched past three hours, Sept. 21, ended with Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) members approving a motion to fund a contractual agreement with Guidepost Solutions for investigating claims of mishandling sexual abuse allegations. EC member Melissa Golden’s motion, which replaced the original one submitted by EC officers, authorizes a budget of up to $1.6 million – funded through the Cooperative Program – for the … [Read more...]
9/11: Reflections from 3 SBC leaders
NASHVILLE (BP) – As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, three Southern Baptists leaders who held significant leadership roles on Sept. 11, 2001, help us remember that infamous day and consider its impact on the Southern Baptist Convention and our world. At that time, Richard Land was president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; James Merritt was president of the SBC; and Jerry Rankin was president of the International Mission Board. As each man shares his experience, … [Read more...]
Missouri DR sends teams to Mandeville, La., for hurricane relief
MANDEVILLE, La. – An initial team of MBC disaster relief (DR) workers has arrived in this southern Louisiana city where Hurricane Ida swept through in the region on August 29. The category 4 hurricane left a lot of damage in its wake and the initial reports from MBC DR assessors was there will be several weeks of flood relief and chain saw recovery efforts. Wesley Hammond is serving as the incident commander in this DR call-out. He is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Paris. Hammond … [Read more...]
MBTS trains musician-theologians ‘for the church’
Worship ministries program seeks to partner with Missouri Baptists KANSAS CITY – Students of all ages are returning to campuses across Missouri, including at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For MBTS professors Matthew and Angela Swain, they’re hoping for not just a smooth start to the school year, but an increased focus on equipping musician-theologians, on and off campus. The Heart of Worship The wording there is important to the Swains: musician-theologians. Yes, they’re … [Read more...]
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