RE: Sick and angry about sexual abuse in Baptist churches

Baptists, how do we feel when we read about the sex abuse going on in our denomination?

Today, I read about a pastor who abused teen girls in his youth group, physically and online. Do the parents want this man in jail? I would.

I feel enraged, and beyond that sick. My first reading about the pastor and teen girls made me nauseous.

After processing the “sick,” I want to fight and rebel against … what? That is the problem. Who and what is to blame?

Am I to blame for being a Baptist? Was I stupid to believe the faith stories I learned at church? Was I preyed upon spiritually and intellectually, my donations used to fund sexual predators? This cannot be true, yet what about evidence to the contrary?

Do I dare send my grandkids to youth activities and on mission trips—as if I even could get them to go?

Fellow Baptists, we want answers, and sometimes there aren’t any. I turn to God to love me, teach me and my family, and bring me to truth.

What about the church, the body of Christ? Who will fix what is wrong? Who will defend women and children who have been abused? Are Baptist men, leaders, deacons, our Sunday school teachers, our givers—are they listening?

I am listening really hard for an answer.

Ruth Ann King
Dallas, Texas

Matt Chandler’s mess has gone viral. But please pause before chalking it up to schadenfreude.

Many have suffered abuse at the hands of the church. After decades of, at best, being harmed and then ignored, communities of victims and advocates are organizing, and people are hearing them. Attributing the attention around Chandler to society’s insatiable appetite for celebrity downfall diminishes the voices of those making progress.

Advocates and survivors have warned us that Chandler’s church has a history of harm, including:

• In 2015 punishing a member missionary because she left her marriage with a child-porn-viewing husband without first consulting church leadership.
• In 2018 protecting a children’s pastor accused of sexually assaulting a child, leading the congregation to believe he was leaving due to “Alcohol Abuse.” They settled last month, and immediately attempted to undermine the victim’s story in their announcement.

That’s not all. Yet, what have they done to protect the vulnerable?

Attention must be paid to high-profile cases like Chandler’s, because it helps inform the otherwise unaware. If it’s happening at the level of Village Church, where they have ample influence and money to lose, it is just as prevalent in smaller communities with far fewer peering eyes and advocating voices.

Sunday morning Aug. 28, Matt Chandler “confessed” and then walked off the stage to an ovation. None of those hurt by his church were afforded an opportunity like that. Most were treated to something resemblant of the opposite. That’s wrong. It is important that we help fix it.

Levi With
Denver, Colo.

RE: Removal of the Bible from Keller ISD

My question and concern centers around the constant issue of having the Holy Bible in school libraries. A Texas independent school district has removed the Bible for review, along with a book on Anne Frank.

Are we, as a Baptist group, doing anything about these things? I’m not a proponent of any religion other than Christianity, but if it means allowing Muslims to have access to the Quran at school for us to have ours there, I can concede.

I do feel we need to provide information to our children on other religions, rather than just have them listen to negative things they hear from Baptists and others, and we need to allow them to research with guidance.

I am a Freemason, and I sit in Lodge with many different Christians, as well as Muslims and Jews. I have witnessed a Muslim assisting a Jew. That shows we can get along.

Sharing our faith in respectful ways is not possible if we remove important information from kids’ access. If Christians don’t stand up and address this, we will not only lose access to religious information for kids in what may be the only place they can read, but we will be leaving many for a doomed eternity.

Paul Munsel
Cameron, Texas

To our knowledge, Keller Independent School District is the only district in Texas that has pulled the Bible and the graphic adaption of The Diary of Anne Frank. They have done so because each book was challenged by a parent, and both books were under review. The challenge to the Bible was not for its religious content, but for its sexual and violent content.

On August 19, Dallas Morning News quoted Keller ISD Superintendent Rick Westfall’s response to questions about the Bible being pulled: “I want to assure you that Keller ISD is not banning the Bible or the diary of Anne Frank, as has been suggested in some headlines and shared on social media, but I want to explain where this miscommunication came from.”

“Under the new [policy], books that have been challenged by community members as being inappropriate for schools are required to be removed from shelves and held in a parental consent area until the challenge process is complete. Previously challenged books are also being removed to a parental consent area to determine if those books meet the new standards in the policy and the guidelines that will soon be considered by the [school] Board.”

RE: Hardage acknowledges ‘missteps’ regarding GC2

The recent story of David Hardage suggesting Texas Baptist press the “pause” button on the GC2 statement is significant to me for two reasons.

First, as one who actively participated in the Baptist General Convention of Texas until I retired from pastoral ministry in 2008, I know firsthand the persistent, pervasive efforts we took to hold on to the Baptist Faith and Message 1963, rejecting the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

The GC2 is an end run around that settled stance, attempting to drag Texas Baptists into the pseudo-culture wars. I am profoundly glad Hardage received push back. Hopefully, this will be the death of GC2 in Texas.

Second, with the retirement of Bill Pinson as BGCT executive director in 2000, Texas Baptists have suffered through seasons of inadequate executive leadership that have atrophied a once effective state convention, leaving it a shell of what it once was.

Perhaps the upcoming change of executive directors will give the BGCT what it needs to step back into a bold and visionary heritage of leading to meet the challenges of the times.

Michael R Chancellor
Round Rock, Texas

Re: Editorial: Orbán at CPAC: Beware the misuse of Christianity

Thank you for your article about Orbán at CPAC. It is important that Christians listen to the entire message a leader like Orbán is saying. Unfortunately, too many are using “conservative politics” to mean the same thing as “Christian.”

Conservatives are grabbing at many things, hoping to avoid slipping down the slope of socialism and liberalism by refusing to consider anything a fellow Christian brother or sister—whether Republican or Democrat—says. We label one another “libtards” and “RINOs,” and these terms tear down a democracy rather than strengthen it.

We are called first to love the Lord and then to love our neighbor. Who is our neighbor? The one you sit on the pew with. The one you sit on the bus with. The one you work with. The one you serve your country with. The one from across the border struggling to keep his family alive. Yes, those are our neighbors.

We are supposed to be of God’s kingdom. Why can’t we start living that way now here on Earth with our fellow man?

Remember the song we sang as children: “Be careful little ears what you hear, little mouth what you say?” Or: “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world?” Now that we are grown, we cannot forget those simple songs with huge meaning.

It is OK to be involved in politics, and it is OK for Christians to have different ideas about politics, but don’t put words in the Lord’s mouth. And watch what those who want your vote are saying. Listen carefully. Read carefully.

Being a good citizen is important. Being a good Christian is vital.

Susan Barkley
Plainview, Texas

I really get tired of people who make pronouncements about things they know little about, or who don’t put things in their proper context. To understand the position of a leader from another country requires knowledge of many of the cultural contexts that formulate the leader’s values and methods.

It is so easy to look at things through our own progressive American lens and paint everyone who is trying to revitalize and save their country from disappearing as dangerous people.

For 11 years, my family lived and served in Hungary as Baptist missionaries.

There are only about 10 million Hungarians in Hungary, and about that many in the border countries cut off from Hungary by the Treaty of Trianon. If they die off, so does 1,000 years of beauty, culture, and their profoundly difficult and unique language.

That is the context for Viktor Orbán’s comments about keeping a pool of Hungarians and keeping the language alive. It is not racism. It is nurturing the survival of a phenomenal, historic and brilliant people group.

Ten million Hungarians also want to maintain much of their own culture. I happen to agree with the Hungarian people. It is their prerogative to choose their own leaders and preserve their culture. We have no business calling them names or insinuating they are something they are not.

I watched Orbán’s entire speech at CPAC. After watching all the changes that came into Europe with the European Union, and experiencing many of them firsthand, I understood exactly what Orbán was talking about. He doesn’t want Hungary to disappear or lose its sovereignty.

As a Baptist, I have no doubt Orbán’s Christian faith is personal and genuine—that he is a real believer. As you say, life in God flows from Jesus, not Constantine. He gets that.

Ed Jordan
Gwynn, Va.

RE: Editorial: Teacher, we bless you

As a retired teacher and administrator of 40 years, thanks so much for writing and publishing the teacher blessing editorial in the Baptist Standard. I have forwarded it to every current and retired educator I can find on my contact list.

In today’s world, the classroom teacher may be the best source of love and support some of our students receive. I pray for the safety and wellbeing of our students, teachers, and all other school employees and their families as they enter another new school year.

Thousands of our teachers and school employees face challenges each year. But they always rise to the occasion and provide the best love and support many of our kids receive. God bless them all!

Bruce Wood, Ed.D.
Terrell, Texas

RE: Editorial: Are we entering a pastoral drought?

This article needed to be written, and I would even say the convention needs to do an official study on the issue.

I and some of my colleagues have been saying this for years. We have been seeing the shortage, we have been seeing the pastor stay in the position longer, and we have seen a younger generation—Millennial and Gen Z—take a different “look” at institutional church and her importance.

I have witnessed a continued shrinking of Christian Studies department–with degrees offered and/or faculty—among our Texas Baptist schools over the last few years. I have seen “specialization” degrees, such as a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry, being pushed to students who may or may not want actually to be a youth pastor, with the understanding that youth ministry is the “entry point” to church work.

All of this and more is leading to the realization that, yes, we are entering a pastoral drought. The 300 open pastorates will increase when the Boomer pastors still hanging on finally do decide to retire. Gen X now represents the median age, and the Gen X pastors are not numerous enough to fill the gap in the numbers.

I do not see a quick fix, but it is a real problem. Thank you for finally bringing it out into the light for discussion.

Seth Pitman, pastor
First Baptist Church, Throckmorton

I just wanted to thank you for your editorial “Are we entering a pastoral drought?” Your insight that “the responsibility for this dry season [falls] on all of us” is something I hope every reader takes to heart. You are right. The truth about the pastoral dry season is complicated and uncomfortable.

Carson Reed at Abilene Christian University has insights on this topic as well.

I would add one more factor to the mix: Church members have forgotten how to love and respect their pastor. Love and respect go a long way to lighten the load for pastors, but many church members only see what the pastor can do for them, rather than what they can do for their pastor.

When my husband was on staff at First Baptist Church in San Angelo, one of our youth workers called one day and said: “I have an unexpected day off from work. What can I do to help you today?”

That kind of love and respect is far too scarce in most churches today.

Deanna Harrison, executive director
Pastors’ Hope Network
Tyler, Texas

RE: Voices: Two kinds of ‘Christian nation’—One is truly Christian

I have seen much love from American Christians. My brother had not attended church regularly in decades. After a severe hurricane, the only relief he received was from Samaritan’s Purse and Texas Baptist Men. He is now attending a small Baptist church in Ingleside.

Welcoming legal immigrants is certainly biblical, but supporting illegal immigration puts people’s lives at risk.

Broad generalizations based on anger are not helpful to advancing God’s word and are lies and sinful. You don’t rectify sin with more sin. We can all testify to this truth.

Mark Heard
Kerens, Texas

RE: Letter: Condemnation of Pride Month

The author of the recent letter “Condemnation of Pride Month” mentioned numerous biblical references where the Bible supposedly condemned those born LGBT. I didn’t notice any about Jesus commenting on the subject.

My mother was afflicted with a type of dementia the final decade of her life and was a resident of a nursing home in Texas seven years. She was quite devout about her beliefs, and we respected that.

She had long hair, and the staff of the nursing home wanted to cut it, so it could be kept clean. She refused, saying, “The Bible says a woman isn’t supposed to cut her hair.”

My son and I went to visit her, and he told her she should let the staff cut her hair. She repeated her objection to him, and he told her, “Grandmother, the Bible also says we aren’t supposed to eat pork.”

The next day, she let the staff cut her hair.

Most know the parable about the Good Samaritan. So far as I know, there aren’t many Samaritans in Texas, or Alabama where I live. If Jesus were here today, who might he use instead of the Good Samaritan? Someone born LGBT? A refugee? A poor person? A woman who had been raped and had an abortion? I think Jesus simply would point to someone considered “inferior” by the religious right.

Carl Hess
Ozark, Ala.

RE: Voices: Two kinds of ‘Christian nation’—One is truly Christian

The fable that America was founded as a “Christian nation” is a lie perpetuated by “Pharisees” of the American church.

First and foremost, if America were Christian, then Americans and their spiritual and political leaders would adhere to the teachings of Christ. America was founded upon religious freedom and economics, not godly values.

Look at the famous painting of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Do you see Black faces, women, American Indians, immigrants from all walks of life? A Jesus nation or family portrait has all in the family picture. Does the history of American values look like Jesus’ values?

Today, we have “American Christians” who support building walls against immigrants. My Jesus says to welcome immigrants. American Christians pray in the marketplace, while my Jesus says: “When you pray, go to your prayer closet, not like the hypocrites who love to pray in public.”

Jesus’ life and death were built around “love one another even as I have loved you.” I don’t see a lot of love coming from American Christians today or in our nation’s history.

Followers of Jesus, beware of the American Christians and their leaders. If my words sound hollow, read what the word of God says. God help us become followers of Christ instead of politics and men.

J. Owens
Kensington, Ohio

RE: Editorial: Sunday school and the (mis)use of Scripture

I read with interest your editorial. First, the use of Scripture on the In-n-out Burger cup: I normally don’t give a lot of regard to things such as this. I hope it is there in good faith and that it may reach some lost person or be a means to encourage a Christian to return to attending church. I also wonder if this is some kind of sales promotion. We don’t know.

On the child holding an unloaded firearm: I will agree it was over the top. My question is, “What is an assault rifle?” I have yet to hear a definition of what an assault rifle or weapon is.

This photo also can be interpreted to “train up a child.” As a child, I was “trained” or taught to respect firearms, and they were to be treated with respect. I grew up with a loaded gun in the house, and my brother, sister and I knew we were not to touch it.

My children grew up with a loaded gun in the house, and they were taught the same thing. My grandchildren have grown up with a loaded gun in the house, and they also were taught the respect of firearms.

Maybe we are just fortunate, but we were all “trained up in the way we should go:” “That firearm is loaded. Don’t touch it!”

F.A. Taylor,
Copperas Cove, Texas

RE: Condemnation of Pride Month

America celebrates LGBT Pride Month. The president, Congress, courts, corporations, schools, military, news media, medicine, sports, libraries, entertainment—even churches unite to promote LGBT pride.

Pride always is condemned as great sin in the Bible (Proverbs 6:16, 16:5). LGBT pride consists of four “abominations” God abhors and hates: (1) the act of sodomy (Leviticus 18:22), (2) male/female cross-dressers (Deuteronomy 22:5), (3) those who justify wicked people and condemn the just (Proverbs 17:15), (4) the proud (see above).

Throughout the Bible, the righteous and “thrice-Holy Lord God Almighty” pronounces LGBT people “wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly”—Genesis 13:13; 19:1-11; Leviticus 18:22; Deuteronomy 22:5; Judges 19, 20; Hosea 9:9; Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; Jude 1:7; Revelation 4:8; 21:2, 27; and elsewhere.

LGBT pride constantly stirs up strife in America. LGBT people force their evil upon all who refuse to be a party to it—Christian bakers, florists, athletes, employees, doctors and others. Any opposition to LGBT wickedness, even in protecting the youngest children, is attacked, condemned, boycotted, silenced and punished—Florida’s school law prohibiting LGBT indoctrination in kindergarten through third grade, Florida’s governor and Disney.

The Bible warns the national acceptance of sodomy “defiles nations” and “cries greatly” to God for their destruction (Genesis 18:20; 19:13; Leviticus 18:22-29; Jeremiah 5:28-29; Ezekiel 16:50).

Today America proudly commits even greater wickedness than Sodom did. God “destroyed” Sodom in his wrath for the very same sin America has legitimized as the law of the land and glories in today with great pride.

Michael W. Ellis
Belton, Texas

RE: Letters: Gun violence, imitating Jesus, HSU statement of faith

I am pretty sure I will be in the minority here, but I would like to state my opinion anyway.

Yes, according to the Second Amendment, we have the right to bear arms. However, I don’t think our forefathers had any idea people would use that amendment to the detriment of so many innocent people. They were just thinking of single-shot rifles and pistols.

Why would even a 21-year-old need an automatic weapon? In fact, unless you are in the military, why would a 31-, 41- or 51-year-old need that type of weapon?

Those types of weapons should be taken off the market for ordinary citizens to purchase. Of course, those who have used the weapons for mass murders should not be considered “ordinary citizens” in the first place.

And just for ordinary pistols, rifles and other firearms, the background checks should be more extensive.

This letter is not to be considered Republican or Democratic, just a concerned citizen.

Bill Altom
Gallatin, Tenn.

RE: BGCT sexual abuse prevention

Over the next two days, the Southern Baptist Convention Sexual Abuse Task Force will give its report to SBC messengers. While I am grateful the SBC has provided many impactful recommendations for the various states to implement and follow, I am thankful the Baptist General Convention of Texas had minimal items to address.

As the director of human resources for Texas Baptists and a member of the Sexual Abuse Task Force, I share the responsibility of addressing the issue of sexual abuse on a state-by-state level within the various churches affiliated with the SBC.

At the convention level, Texas Baptists run background checks on every employee, contractor and volunteer. We provide yearly training about sexual abuse and sexual harassment. We also train our people how to spot predators who groom, not only our children, but also must groom church leaders first.

For the churches who’ve been affected with sexual abuse, we have hundreds of statewide counselors prepared to deal with sexual abuse. We also provide education, resources and a direct link to MinistrySafe for the churches within the BGCT to utilize and strive to make sure no child or woman ever is raped or abused. This is due to the foresight of BGCT leaders who always have considered sexual abuse a high priority.

While I am thankful for the national call for SBC conventions and churches to increase their efforts in stopping sexual abuse, I am thankful additionally that Texas has been and will continue to be proactive in the fight against sexual abuse within the local church.

Ray Malone, director of human resources
Texas Baptists

RE: Editorial: Gun violence: More robust response, less blame shifting

Thank you for your editorial in the Baptist Standard on gun violence.

It is irrefutable that if the age to buy a gun in Texas were 21 rather than 18, the 10-year-olds who died in Uvalde would be alive today.

A limit on the size of clips would save lives. Like in our old western movies, when we all counted to six to know when the bad guy had to reload, the effect is the same for police whether the clip holds five or maybe 10 rounds. Do the math. When the shooter has a 20 or 30-round clip, the probability of additional people dying goes up.

The same is true when you use these guns with 20-plus round clips for home defense. There is a higher probability of some of those bullets going through a wall and killing or wounding someone in your family.

If you don’t think you can defend your home and family or shoot a deer with five or 10 shots, you should consider more practice or professional training.

The Second Amendment is not without limitations. Under the U.S. Constitution, we all have a health and safety interest in the lives of our citizens. A good example of this point is our First Amendment right to free speech. Yes, we have the right to free speech, but one cannot falsely yell, “Fire!” in a movie theatre.

My hope and prayer is the Uvalde children and teachers did not die in vain, and that all of us have reached the point when enough is enough.

Dan Hinkle
Sugar Land, Texas

RE: Editorial: Who should we be—unequivocally—in this world?

God has an answer for your question. American Christians have so far to go to be like Jesus. Unfortunately, my experience and education reveal American evangelicals are not much different from past generations found in the word of God.

God’s answer to your question is: “We have become like those of old, over whom you never ruled, those who were never called by you” (Isaiah 63:19).

Instead of being revolutionary like our Lord was, God’s people have become like the present-day society. We don’t spend daily time reading and knowing God’s word, we don’t spend time on our knees, and we don’t build our lives and relationships on the foundation of love one another.

God’s solution to the American evangelical church is still the same as it was thousands of years ago: 2 Chronicles 7:14.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Praying for this nation and you in your work.

J. Owens
Kensington, Ohio

RE: Appreciation for the HSU statement of faith

I was glad for the news of the Hardin-Simmons University board of trustees’ adoption of a statement of faith and sent the following note to HSU President Eric Bruntmyer to express my appreciation.

“President Bruntmyer, I am grateful for the recent statement of faith on human sexuality approved by the HSU board of trustees. You have our support out here in West Texas as you strive to be a distinctly Christian institution in the midst of a world that has lost its grip on choosing Christ over aberrant whims of the culture.

“It will be increasingly difficult to take a stand for Jesus as even elements of the church drift far from the Bible.”

President Bruntmyer and the HSU board of trustees need to be commended by those of us who support their stand.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Kevin Mitchell, pastor
First Baptist Church
Pecos, Texas

RE: BGCT messengers to consider GC2 statement of faith

It was with great sadness I read about the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board’s action to approve a statement of faith for messenger consideration. The GC2 proposal is the latest effort to move the BGCT into the fold of the SBC, a splintering, withering denomination.

The GC2 statement about abortion and sexual minorities should trouble every real historical Baptist. The anti-abortion statement is not a historical Baptist stance, but rather a Catholic issue Jerry Falwell brought over to his Moral Majority to gain traction and lift for his movement.

Baptists historically have championed the priesthood of every believer, a wall of separation between church and state, and personal liberty over one’s own body and the decisions made about it.

The explanation given to seek approval of the GC2 statement is a litany of fundamentalist language and dog whistles. “Like-minded, orthodox, evangelical Christians” means folk like us, orthodox as defined by us, evangelical from our point of view.

The explanation reads: “This organic movement has created an opportunity for Texas Baptists to lead the way in offering a new vision for collaboration: the GC2 Movement.” This “organic movement” will offer instead exclusion, not collaboration.

Michael Chancellor
Round Rock, Texas