EDITOR’S NOTE: “Justice looks like …” is a special series in the Voices column. Readers will have the opportunity to consider justice from numerous viewpoints. The series is based on each writer’s understanding of Scripture and relationship with Jesus Christ. Writers present their own views independent of any institution, unless otherwise noted in their bios.

You are encouraged to listen to each writer without prejudgment. Then, engage in conversation with others around you about what justice looks like to you.

Click here for more information about the series. Click here to read the full “Justice looks like…” series.

I have witnessed injustices in my life.

During my time in college, I comforted a young lady who had mustered the courage to press charges against the young men who sexually assaulted her, only to find a system that did not defend her or find her case important.

I witnessed children being taken away from their mother, because the mother did not have the money, citizenshipstatus or resources to defend herself.

When I think of justice, I often think of the justice system, and the times it has failed those it should have protected.

But, what about me? When have I failed to protect the vulnerable in my community?

What about you? When have you failed to protect your neighbor?

Awareness of others and oneself

I am a social work student, and I am a pastor. As a social worker in training, we are taught to develop the skills oftuning in to our client and of self-awareness. Tuning in develops empathy. You put yourself in your client’s shoes. Self-awareness is the ability to recognize your beliefs, attitudes, biases, emotions, values, strengths, weaknesses and what motivates your behavior.

As a pastor, I encourage my congregation to love their neighbor as themself. I encourage reflection, confession and repentance.

Tuning in to the other and self-awareness pair well with the Christian teaching of loving our neighbor. Liberation theology calls this conscientization—the dynamic of awakening, of helping people become aware and that they have the power to bring about change.

Justice looks like awakening—awakening ourselves to the plea of others, tuning in to the pain of others, developing empathy, and doing something about it.

Justice is an action

In Spanish, to do righteous acts is to do justicia—justice. Miguel A. De La Torre, in his article Breaking Barriers: Reading the Bible in Spanish, writes: “For English speakers, righteous means morally right or justifiable, acting in an upright, moral way. The definition implies an action that can be performed privately.”

But “righteous” in Spanish is “justice.” And justice “only occurs in community … [and] cannot be reduced to a private expression of faith; it is a public action,” he continues.

Good Samaritan displays justice

The parable of the good Samaritan tells the story of a man robbed, beaten and left “half dead” beside the road. A Jewish priest and then a Levite stumble upon the man, but each continues his way.

A Samaritan also stumbles upon the man, stops and helps the injured Jewish man. One should note: Samaritans and Jews were enemies. However, the Samaritan interrupted his journey and went out of his way to help the injured Jew. Hetook him to an inn, stayed with him, and when he left the inn, gave the innkeeper enough money to provide for the care of the injured man.

Jesus then asked an expert of the law, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

“The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’

“Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise’” (Luke 10:36-37).

This parable expresses justice. It shows us justice is a public action. It shows justice in awakening oneself to the plea of another, self-awareness and action.

The Samaritan man tuned in by empathizing with the injured Jew left on the side of the road. He must have become self-aware by recognizing his own beliefs, biases, emotions, values, strengths and weaknesses. He was a Samaritan, and we can assume the injured man was a Jew.

The Samaritan must have recognized the racial tension and the power of resources he had—a donkey to carry the man to an inn, bandages, oil, wine and just enough money to take care of the man—and that he may have to reimburse the innkeeper for any additional expenses.

In the story we see the Samaritan man put justice into practice by doing something about the man left on the side of the road.

Practicing justice

In life, we will stumble upon injustices like the injured man left beside the road. The question is, will we fail to protect our neighbor? Will we allow ourselves to awaken to the plea of another?

Despite the differences we may have with the other—like the Samaritan and the Jew in the parable—will we use our power and our resources to do justicia?

Nataly Mora is pursuing a Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work at Baylor University and Truett Theological Seminary. She is an intern at the Center for Church & Community Impact and a pastor at Park Lake Drive Baptist Church in Waco. The views expressed are those solely of the author.

Click here to read the full “Justice looks like…” series.

Three Wayland Baptist University students were killed in a Saturday afternoon car wreck in Floyd County on June 19.

Sheriff’s deputies and the Lockney Volunteer Fire Department were summoned to the intersection of FM 2286 and FM 2301 near Providence, about 10 miles east of Plainview.

The Floyd County Record reported deputies said a westbound SUV occupied by two males and one female apparently failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into the rear axle of a northbound semi-trailer. The SUV rolled and landed in a nearby ditch.

Three occupants of the SUV pronounced dead at the scene were Brian Anthony Anderson, 24, a recent graduate from Lancaster, Calif., who planned to pursue a master’s degree at Wayland; Christian Angel Orozco, 20, a junior from Saginaw; and Elena Mia Vazquez, 19, a sophomore from Houston.

“We are so devastated by this terrible loss of life,” WBU President Bobby Hall said. “Our Wayland family, including our board of trustees, are praying for the families of these students. We grieve with them and we pray for peace and comfort during these unimaginable circumstances.” ­

All involved in Wayland athletics

Anderson, Orozco and Vazquez all were current or past members of Wayland’s wrestling program.

Anderson graduated in May with a fitness management degree and planned to pursue a Master’s in Education degree at Wayland this fall.

Orozco, a pre-engineering major, who sat out last wrestling season, was expected to return to Wayland this fall.

Vazquez arrived on the Wayland campus this past fall for both track and wrestling, but soon shifted to wrestling and had become an active member of the program. She was pursuing a degree in chemistry.

WBU wrestling coach Kiiler Stephens said all three were good friends and well-liked by the team.

“All three were just beautiful, amazing people,” he said. “We are deeply saddened and my heart goes out to their families and their friends.”

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our students who we lost today,” said Claude Lusk, vice president of operations and student life. “Words fall short of describing what these families are experiencing. Words also fall short of the grace, peace and comfort that we will be asking our heavenly Father to shower on these families. We ask that you keep these students and their family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”

Wayland’s Campus Minister, the Baptist Student Ministry director, and counselors were available on campus at the Jimmy Dean Hall lobby late Saturday evening for students or employees.

Lusk added that because so many Wayland students are on summer break, the university also will provide professional counseling for students through their 24/7 online TimelyMD Care program.

Based on reporting by Jonathan Petty of Wayland Baptist University. 

The Baptist Standard won awards from two national press organizations for its work in 2020, including “best of class” recognition and an “award of excellence” from the Associated Church Press in the independent website category.

The Standard also received a “award of merit” from the Associated Church Press in the “editorial/opinion: news service/website/blog” category for a May 8 article by Trent Richardson, “Voices: Am I worth fighting for?”

Richardson, who was a student ministry intern at Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, wrote the article in the immediate aftermath of the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, who was pursued and fatally shot while jogging near his home in Georgia. Richardson described his own experiences of being unjustly profiled because he is a young Black man.

“So long as the church stays silent, she has the blood of Black men and women on her hands,” he wrote.

In an awards competition sponsored by the Evangelical Press Association, the Baptist Standard received an “award of merit” in the “denominational publication: digital” category.

The “Justice looks like…” opinion articles received a “higher goals” award in the “standing column” category.

Specifically, the judges evaluated “Voices: Justice looks like making things right” by Pastor John D. Ogletree of First Metropolitan Church in Houston and “Voices: Justice through the eyes of an Arab Israeli Christian” by “R.E.,” who works as a cross-cultural mobilizer with Texas Baptists and whose full name is withheld for security reasons.

The following occurred during the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.

1. We voted for the resolution on the abolition of abortion, with a very important one-word amendment.

2. We voted for the motion to make sure a third party investigates the SBC Executive Committee and reports their findings to a group other than the Executive Committee, which has power to reject the counsel of the Executive Committee attorney, to be sure we now are treating with respect and genuine concern all who come forward with allegations of sexual abuse.

3. We voted for the resolution that sexual abuse offenders are permanently disqualified from the office of pastor or other church staff, because they obviously are not above reproach.

4. We also made it clear, at a very minimum, we expect the Executive Committee to investigate all sexual abuse allegations and report its findings to messengers so we may exercise our right to disfellowship any congregation who knowingly harbors sexual predators or does not report the matter, enabling predators freedom to skip on to the next church and keep getting church staff jobs.

5. We deliberately were thwarted by the Committee on Resolutions the right to vote on any resolution that might possibly even mention directly critical race theory.

6. We voted for the most diverse slate of candidates in the history of the SBC, with one white, one Black and one Hispanic in the presidential and both vice presidential slots, and elected the first Hispanic to give the convention sermon next year.

7. We passed Vision 2025, which includes five original components on increasing evangelism and baptisms in various ways, while adding a sixth component that insists we must fight simultaneously against sexual abuse and racial discrimination in any and all of our churches.

8. We voiced our concern that some entities may have overstepped their bounds in making or trying to make major changes without the voted approval of the sole member and then sought approval of their decisions after the fact, now confusing some of the assignments of Lifeway and NAMB, until better recommendation(s) can be brought next year.

9. We heard excellent messages from both our SBC presidential address and the convention sermon that exhorted the good and rebuked the worst in all of us, calling us up to higher and better.

10. We heard from six seminary presidents who are doing an excellent job standing strong on Scripture and working together to train the next generation for ministry and missions. This is the real story of the results of the conservative resurgence: SBC seminaries standing for biblical truth and remaining happily accountable to our individual local churches for what they teach.

This cat—the SBC—landed on its feet, despite the way it was flipped in the air several times and had us all concerned. We came wondering and left encouraged.

Kevin Mitchell is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Pecos and is a member of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board. The views expressed are those of the author and not intended to represent any institution or entity.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS)—Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting directed newly elected President Ed Litton to set up a task force to address concerns Southern Baptist leaders have mistreated abuse victims and mishandled allegations of abuse.

The denomination’s Nashville-based Executive Committee has hired Guidepost Solutions to review its handling of abuse allegations. The new task force will either take over that review or set up a separate third-party review.

North Carolina pastor Ronnie Parrott and Tennessee pastor Grant Gaines had proposed setting up the task force during the SBC’s annual meeting. Their proposal initially was referred to the Executive Committee during a meeting Tuesday.

But Gaines appealed to messengers, and they overruled that decision by a more than two-thirds majority.

Leaked letters and audio clips

Concern over sexual abuse had dominated conversation leading up to the SBC’s annual meeting, which drew 15,726 messengers to Nashville’s Music City Center.

In early June, leaked letters from former SBC ethicist Russell Moore became public. Those letters included allegations that abuse victims had been mistreated by leaders of the Executive Committee. A leaked “whistleblower report” included an audio clip of Executive Committee president Ronnie Floyd, saying he was not concerned about what abuse survivors say about the SBC’s response to abuse.

“I am not worried about that,” he said. “I’m thinking about the base. I just want to preserve the base.”

A recent report from Rehoboth Baptist Church in Georgia also alleged SBC leaders had failed to look into allegations of abuse against a former staffer at the church who had moved on to allegedly abuse children at other churches.

Executive Committee staffers also have been criticized for mishandling the case of abuse survivor Jennifer Lyell. A leaked email from a former Executive Committee staffer referred to abuse advocates as being misled by the devil.

Messengers want third-party investigation

The task force approved by messengers had a wide mandate.

“Said task force shall ensure that the third-party review includes an investigation into any allegations of abuse, mishandling of abuse, mistreatment of victims, a pattern of intimidation of victims or advocates, and resistance to sexual abuse reform initiatives,” the motion for the task force read.

Since the Executive Committee was being investigated, the committee could not be in charge of the investigation, Gaines asserted.

Troy Bush, the pastor of Rehoboth Baptist in Georgia, agreed.

“We believe that the Executive Committee does not have the ability to handle this task force investigation,” he said.

Sarah Gregory, a messenger from First Southern Baptist Church in Mountain Home, Idaho, disagreed with the motion, saying it was unbiblical.

“The Holy Spirit does not need the Southern Baptist Convention to be judge and jury in these matters,” she said. “The local body of believers is responsible and accountable to God, in these matters, and no one else.”

Deal with sin in their midst

A West Virginia messenger said Southern Baptists deserve to know the truth about abuse. The messenger read from a Bible story about the people of Israel being defeated because they had sin in their midst.

“God’s people did not have victory because they had not dealt with their sin,” the messenger said.

Floyd told messengers the Executive Committee believed the motion would make the denomination stronger.

“I want all of you to know I hear you,” he said. “The Executive Committee respects the messengers. We need this deliberative process. We know that this will make our convention stronger.”

The request for the task force comes on the day after Southern Baptists adopted a resolution that stated the messengers believe “any person who has committed sexual abuse is permanently disqualified from holding the office of pastor.” They also recommended affiliated Southern Baptist churches apply this standard to all church leaders.

Nathan Finn, the vice chair of the resolutions committee, said the resolution served as a way to supplement the procedural votes to address abuse that have occurred during the meeting.

“We felt like this is a way that we can come alongside all the positive momentum that says our first instinct needs to be to care for those who have been abused more than protecting our own reputation,” he said during a Wednesday news conference with resolution committee members.

Adelle M. Banks contributed to this report. 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS)—Ed Litton, senior pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the SBC annual meeting June 15.

Litton has made racial reconciliation a hallmark of his work since at least the 2014 riots after the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. His election is considered a defeat for hard right conservatives in the Southern Baptist Convention’s recent battles over race, sexual abuse and gender roles.

Litton won in the second round of voting Tuesday, defeating Georgia pastor Mike Stone, a former SBC Executive Committee chair and favorite of the Conservative Baptist Network, which has been critical of SBC leadership, saying it has become captive to liberal ideas.

In the first round, Stone and Litton each received about a third of the 14,300 votes cast, with Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler drawing about a quarter of the vote. Randy Adams, executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention, was a distant fourth.

Litton, who served as the SBC’s first vice president in 2001, becomes the 63rd president of the SBC and will take over from J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, N.C., who served an extra year term due to the cancellation of the 2020 annual meeting amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Fred Luter, the only Black pastor to serve as president of the SBC, from 2012 to 2014, announced in January he would nominate Litton on Tuesday. The two have been friends for more than 20 years and met when they swapped pulpits for a “Racial Reconciliation Sunday” event.

“From there, our relationship developed to more than just colleagues to bring races together,” Luter told Baptist Press, the SBC’s official news organization.

Luter and Litton were among the signers of “Justice, Repentance and the SBC,” a December 2020 statement published after heads of six Southern Baptist seminaries issued a statement rejecting critical race theory.

Ahead of the election on Tuesday, Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, called Litton someone who could unite Southern Baptists and get them focused on evangelism, not fighting among themselves.

“Take it from Fred, vote for Ed,” Luter told the crowd of more than 15,000 messengers.

The 2021 SBC presidential election comes at a time of tension for the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. The denomination has declined by close to 2 million members since 2006 and its rate of baptisms has been stagnant for years.

Southern Baptists also have been divided over issues of race and immigration, support for former President Donald Trump, gender roles and allegations of mishandling sexual abuse cases.

Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, recently told the New Yorker magazine he would leave the denomination if Stone or Mohler won, and other African American pastors had voiced similar sentiments.

After graduating Grand Canyon University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Litton served in church and state convention posts in Texas and Arizona before helping to found Mountain View Baptist Church in Tucson. He became pastor at Redemption—then known as First Baptist North Mobile—in 1994. In 2007, his first wife and mother of their two children, Tammy was killed in a car accident. In 2009 he married Kathy Ferguson, who had lost her husband, also a pastor, in an auto accident seven years earlier.

Baptists Preaching is a column from the Baptist Standard. It is not an effort to advance any one theology or style but to present what a collection of Baptists considers a word from God. Likewise, Baptists Preaching offers a repository of Baptist preaching for future study and research. To recommend a sermon to be featured in Baptists Preaching, please contact eric.black@baptiststandard.com.

Jeb Barr: What Consumes Your Mind Controls Your Life (2 Samuel 13)

Jeb Barr, pastor of First Baptist Church in Elm Mott, likens the danger of target fixation—what can result in a pilot flying into the ground—to desires other than God that occupy our mind. Desires not submitted to God can become dangerous.

The story of Amnon and Tamar is a tragic example. Amnon became consumed with his desire for Tamar—his sister—raped her and then despised her. His consumption resulted in her desolation and the fracturing of the family.

Barr suggests diagnostic questions for self-examination. With regard to desire: Is this desire from God? Is this desire for God? Have I forgotten what he has already given me? With regard to fear, anger and hate: Is my fear, anger or hate justified? If so, is their place in my mind compatible with a close walk with God? Is my response to them honoring God?

This sermon was delivered Sun., Feb. 28, 2021, for the morning worship service of First Baptist Church in Elm Mott. It is part of a series on 1 and 2 Samuel titled “Learning to Be Led by God.”

https://baptiststandard.com/wp-content/uploads/BP_Jeb-Barr.mp3

Stephen Hatfield has been the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Lewisville 28 years. From deep in the heart of one Texan, he shares his background and thoughts on the church and ministry. To suggest a BGCT-affiliated minister to be featured in this column, or to apply to be featured yourself, click here.

Background

Where else have you served in ministry, and what were your positions there?

• Pastor, Baring Cross Baptist Church, North Little Rock, Ark.
• Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grandview.
• Pastor, First Baptist Church, Venus.
• Summer youth associate, First Baptist Church, Arlington.

Where did you grow up?

Little Rock, Ark.

How did you come to faith in Christ?

When I was 9, I crossed the line of faith at a revival service where my dad was the visiting evangelist.

Where were you educated, and what degrees did you receive?

• Ouachita Baptist University, Bachelor of Arts.
• Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Master of Divinity and Ph.D.

About ministry life

Why do you feel called into ministry?

I made my commitment to Christ and made my commitment to ministry when I was 9—as best as a 9-year old could do.

What is your favorite aspect of ministry? Why?

Teaching and preaching, though I do not spend enough time preparing. I enjoy bringing passages and applications together.

What did you learn on the job you wish you learned in seminary?

How to handle and balance the expectations of people.

What is the impact of ministry on your family?

My wife Marcie and I have five children—all married—and 15 grandchildren. They all live near us, and three of our kids are active members of our church. The other two are involved in the churches near where they live.

My oldest daughter has served on our ministry staff for years. She began as our student minister and now serves as our young adult minister.

If you could get one “do over” in ministry, what would it be, and why?

I would speak less and listen more.

About Baptists

Why are you Baptist?

I was born a Baptist; I had no choice. When I was able to understand my heritage, I chose to stay because of several Baptist distinctives, which include my freedom to interpret Scripture as God’s Spirit guides me and the idea I can approach God on my own.

What are the key issues facing Baptists—denominationally and/or congregationally?

The COVID pandemic has changed everything. Baptists must rethink and relaunch ministries and programs to meet the needs of people.

What would you change about the Baptist denomination—state, nation or local?

I would not change anything. We have done our best to be that “rope of sand with strength of steel.” People who call themselves Baptist do so because Baptists champion freedom.

About Stephen

Name something about you that would surprise people who know you.

I am extremely claustrophobic.

Who were/are your mentors, and how did/do they influence you?

My dad, Lawson Hatfield, was and still is the major influencer in my life. Though he has been in heaven for many years, his memory still guides me. Daddo was a pastor, and for most of his ministry years, he was the Sunday school director for the Arkansas Baptist Convention. His smile was contagious, and his ability to bring people together was amazing. He reminded me even though my name is Hatfield and my heritage was to bear grudges for generations, I did not have to live that way.

Huber Drumwright was the first professor I met when I began my years at seminary. He encouraged me and helped me find a place of service.

I served as Bill Tolar’s grader for many years at Southwestern. The man was a fact machine, a brilliant scholar, simply one of a kind. Over the years, I crossed paths with many former students who remember me as the guy who graded Tolar’s tests.

Other than the Bible, name some of your favorite books or authors, and explain why.

I was introduced to the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien in college. The “Ring” volumes are stories at their best. And if you cannot see the obvious parallels to the battle between good and evil, then I don’t know what else to say.

I read whatever N.T. Wright writes. He always seems to approach a passage from a creative and powerful perspective.

What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? Why?

Ephesians 6:10-18. I love the imagery of Paul comparing our spiritual armor to the armor of a Roman soldier who guarded the apostle.

Who is your favorite person in the Bible, other than Jesus? Why?

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He exercised tremendous emotional intelligence as he dealt with all the circumstances of Jesus’ birth and formative years.

EDITOR’S NOTE: “Justice looks like …” is a special series in the Voices column. Readers will have the opportunity to consider justice from numerous viewpoints. The series is based on each writer’s understanding of Scripture and relationship with Jesus Christ. Writers present their own views independent of any institution, unless otherwise noted in their bios.

You are encouraged to listen to each writer without prejudgment. Then, engage in conversation with others around you about what justice looks like to you.

Click here for more information about the series. Click here to read the full “Justice looks like…” series.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalms 89:14).

The word “justice” carries with it the concepts of fairness, respect, equity, peace, impartiality and decency (Oxford, 2020).

These concepts are implicit in the U.S. Constitution. All citizens have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness based on the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

These implicit concepts of freedom have been denied Black Americans. Consider that the slave trade began in America in 1619. The end of slavery was mandated in 1865 by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. From 1877 to 1964, Black Americans were subject to the segregationist rules of Jim Crow laws that denied justice—fairness, respect, equity, peace, impartiality and decency—thus treating these citizens differently than other Americans.

I do believe, however, there are places to begin the process.

Where to start

There must be a restructuring of how laws are applied disproportionately to Black Americans and other people of color. The church universal must speak out on issues of injustice, not only Black and brown church leaders. Finally, individuals who profess faith in Christ must hold one another accountable for justice and righteousness.

There must be a restructuring of how laws disproportionately disadvantage Black Americans and other people of color. Over 3,000 lynchings of Black Americans occurred from 1882 to 1968. Within this era, there were homes and churches burned and Blacks murdered without any judicial or legal remedy.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended the segregationist Jim Crow laws and, in essence, gave civil liberties to Americans who had been denied those liberties. Even so, with the murder of Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, through to May 25, 2020, the eyes of the world have been focused on modern-day lynching, as seen in the televised murder of George Floyd at the knee of a public servant, a police officer.

Politicians use redlining disproportionately to leave Black Americans and other people of color without funding from banks to purchase new homes in different areas of a city or to get approval for loans to repair their homes. The vestiges of this practice remain in effect across the United States.

I suggest justice must look like something we have never seen or experienced before as a country and people.

Task forces could be established to monitor how civil liberties are being upheld in industries and penalties applied when infractions occur.

Speaking out

The church universal must join Black and brown church leaders in speaking out on issues of injustice.

In an interview on Trinity Broadcasting Network, Tony Evans spoke out on the silence of white church leaders as it relates to the plight of Black Americans being killed in the streets over the last five years. Evans suggested the absence of equity among God’s rule has been absent and silent. He further stated, “People will affirm things they believe in morally but not speak on things that involve the dignity of other people.”

Evans urged the church and her leaders to adopt, not just a “nine-month life agenda, but a whole-life agenda” that agrees Black lives matter. Only then do we represent God’s agenda as the church, he said.

The responsibility of speaking out, educating and teaching is not only on those being wronged; all those who believe in justice must speak out. All our leaders are needed to advocate for fairness, respect, equity, peace, impartiality and decency.

Justice involves all of us

Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” This speaks to my final suggested action.

We the people must take responsibility if there is to be change. I can—you can—no longer afford to sit by idly as injustice continues.

It will require us to hold each other accountable to speak up and speak out when we witness or experience injustice.

God requires not only righteousness from us, but justice also. It is our responsibility as we enact the Scripture that says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Rev. Debra F. Bell is owner and senior consultant for P3Coaching and Consulting. Debra is a certified coach, trainer and speaker with John Maxwell Team. She currently serves at The Church Without Walks and as the assistant director of career services at Houston Baptist University.

Click here to read the full “Justice looks like…” series.

NASHVILLE (RNS)—Audio clips leaked by a Southern Baptist whistleblower appear to corroborate accusations Southern Baptist Convention leaders were reluctant to take action against churches accused of mishandling abuse.

The audio contains a recording of Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBC’s Executive Committee, telling SBC leaders in an October 2019 meeting he is concerned about preserving the base in the denomination—even if that leads to criticism from abuse survivors.

‘I just want to preserve the base’

“As you think through strategy—and I am not concerned about anything survivors can say,” Floyd says in the recording, taken during a meeting to debrief the Caring Well Conference, held to address the handling of sexual abuse allegations within the SBC. “I’m not scared by anything the survivors would say. OK. I am not worried about that. I’m thinking the base. I just want to preserve the base.”

The audio also contains a May 2019 recording of Georgia pastor Mike Stone, a 2021 candidate for SBC president, saying a working group deciding how to deal with churches accused of mishandling sexual abuse had been “bullied” and “thrown under the bus.”

“There’s this human factor, where good people are thrown under the bus, trying to do their best,” he said during an Atlanta meeting on sexual abuse. “And now we are asking the group to trust some of the ones who threw them under the bus.”

The recordings and a “whistleblower report,” released by College Station pastor Phillip Bethancourt, reveal more details about the divides between SBC leaders over how to deal with sexual abuse in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

The report comes on the heels of the leaking of two letters from former SBC ethicist Russell Moore, who resigned recently as president of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, detailing his disagreements with Stone and other SBC leaders.

In his letter, Bethancourt said he made the recordings of meetings involving Moore, Stone—who was then chair of the SBC’s Executive Committee—and Floyd in 2019. At the time, Bethancourt was on the staff of the ERLC.

Bethancourt said in his letter that he only shared clips and not the full audio of the two meetings because the names of abuse survivors are mentioned. He said he would release the full recording of the meetings to a third-party investigator if Southern Baptists decide to appoint one to look into the matter.

Calls for independent investigation

Since Moore’s letters were leaked, a number of pastors have called for a third-party investigation into how the SBC leadership has responded to abuse allegations.

“Southern Baptists are at a crossroads as we head to the 2021 SBC annual meeting in Nashville. I don’t know which direction Southern Baptists will choose,” Bethancourt wrote in his letter. “But I do believe these ancient words: The truth will set you free. The future of the SBC will only stand if it is built on a foundation of truth.”

Stone has denied Moore’s allegations that he tried to delay efforts to deal with abuse. He did not immediately respond to a request June 10 for comment.

In a statement to Religion News Service, Floyd said he called a confidential meeting of SBC leaders in May 2019 to discuss how to respond to abuse in the denomination.

The meetings, Floyd said, “reflect leaders engaging in a scriptural process of coming together with others who have differing opinions on complicated issues and of discussing those differences honestly with a goal of how to best move forward.”

He called Bethancourt’s release of the audio recordings from the meetings an “attempt to mischaracterize them” as trying to avoid the reality of sex abuse.

Want to care for abuse survivors but disagree about how

Floyd also said Baptists want to care for abuse survivors but don’t agree on how to do that.

“However, the SBC is not divided on the priority of caring for abuse survivors and protecting the vulnerable in our churches,” he said.

Floyd apologized for any offense his remarks may cause. He also said the Executive Committee is responding to calls for an independent investigation into its handling of abuse allegations.

“Regardless of how some are attempting to characterize past action and future intent,” he said, “since last weekend the Executive Committee staff leadership has been in the process of talking with and potentially securing a highly credible outside firm with the intent of conducting an independent third-party review of the accusations recently levied at the SBC Executive Committee.”

The recordings also highlight a dispute over the Caring Well Conference run by the ERLC in October 2019, which dealt with abuse in the SBC. During that conference, attorney and abuse advocate Rachael Denhollander accused SBC leaders, and in particular the Executive Committee, of mistreating survivors of abuse.

In the recording of a meeting in October 2019, after the conference, Floyd talks about the pushback he received over the conference.

“How are we supposed to respond, in your minds, to people who say, why in the world would we have a conference and let people degrade the Southern Baptist Convention, attack its leadership, our churches—and all those things. How are we supposed to do that and say what they want to say and yet the whole entire sexual abuse study was funded by the Executive Committee.”

Moore defended his agency’s approach to the conference, saying the SBC was not part of a cover-up of abuse. He also warned that had the ERLC limited what survivors at the conference could say, news of those limits would have ended up in national newspapers.

Urging SBC entities to address sex abuse

Bethancourt was the first—but not the only—Southern Baptist to stand at a microphone on the convention floor and make a motion at the 2019 meeting urging denominational leaders to pay closer attention to sexual abuse issues.

He requested each of the SBC’s entities—including the Executive Committee—to report on their efforts at the 2020 meeting that was to be held in Orlando, Fla., before the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation.

He asked that they consider three topics.

“One: What is their entity doing to foster effective abuse awareness, prevention and care?” he said, after describing himself as a messenger from a Franklin, Tenn., church.

“Two: What additional steps has their entity taken to address abuse since the 2018 SBC annual meeting in Dallas, Texas? Three: How is their entity partnering with the efforts of the Sexual Abuse Advisory Group to address abuse?”

Later that day the Committee on Order of Business announced that proposal would be referred to the entities.

Just before Bethancourt made his motion, Floyd, the Executive Committee president, was introduced by Stone, then the chairman of the Executive Committee, who noted that the office Floyd was filling had been “unexpectedly vacated.” Floyd was succeeding Frank Page, who resigned after “a morally inappropriate relationship.”

Right after Bethancourt spoke, two other people made motions urging other steps related to sex abuse. One asked for the International Mission Board to include in its report the full update of a law firm’s examination of sexual abuse allegations in that agency. Another sought the Executive Committee’s consideration of a plan to aid churches that might need funding to investigate sex abuse in their midst.

The second request was ruled out of order and the third was referred to the Executive Committee.