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Three days ago, the Southern Baptist Convention\u2019s Executive Committee met in Nashville to vote. This was supposed to clear the way for an investigation into sexual abuse within the SBC.<\/p>\nThree days ago, the Southern Baptist Convention\u2019s Executive Committee met in Nashville to vote. This was supposed to clear the way for an investigation into sexual abuse within the SBC.<\/p>\n
So, what on earth happened?<\/p>\n
As Liz Evan, an attorney and SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force member so accurately stated, \u201cThey (The SBC Executive Committee) have flagrantly defied the overwhelming will of the Messengers. A few dozen folks in Nashville decided they know better than the 17,000 Messengers appointed by the churches. Waiver of privilege was not something the Messengers delegated to the EC to consider in their discretion; waiver was a direct and specific command from the Messengers, and it was flouted.\u201d<\/p>\n
The SBC Executive Committee was supposed to honor the will of the Messengers. Only one problem with that. President and CEO of the SBC EC, Ronnie Floyd, and 55 EC members said ya\u2019ll don\u2019t matter, victims don\u2019t matter, children don\u2019t matter\u2026but WE do.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how Ronnie Floyd and his team of attorneys bullied and manipulated until people bowed to their will:<\/p>\n
Got it. He doesn\u2019t want his sins and those of others he enables to be revealed.<\/p>\n
Hmm, so the mission isn\u2019t to protect children and comfort those whose lives have been destroyed by predator clergy within the SBC. Ok??<\/p>\n
Vindicate Ronnie Floyd from what? What is he hiding? What are they both hiding? Oh wait,\u00a0that\u2019s why<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0they don\u2019t want to waive privilege\u2026<\/p>\n REALLY?? Their\u00a0fiduciary responsibilities<\/em><\/strong>? That\u2019s what they think matters more than the protection and souls of children??? Sounds like this lot have lost sight of something or someone\u2026Jesus.<\/p>\n Which brings us to the more pressing question.\u00a0Why?<\/strong><\/p>\n Why did Ronnie Floyd and these 55 EC members make sure the vote went against the will of the Messengers?<\/p>\n The short answer is simple and disturbing. The SBC leadership\u00a0doesn\u2019t want<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0to address sexual abuse. Period.<\/p>\n The reasons why they don\u2019t want to address sexual abuse are more plentiful. Here are some of them:<\/p>\n Most people sitting in the pews of \u201cFirst Baptist Church of XYZ\u201d have no idea what goes on at these meetings. They don\u2019t know the impact they have. It\u2019s not because\u00a0they\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>don\u2019t care. It\u2019s because their pastor goes home and tells them, \u201cNothing to see here. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.\u201d And all moves merrily along.<\/p>\n Others do read headlines and watch the news. They see that something is going on. But because their pastor and leaders won\u2019t tell the truth and refuse to have them trained properly on sexual abuse, they still don\u2019t appreciate the statistics and the reality of abuse victims in\u00a0EVERY<\/strong>\u00a0church.<\/p>\n As was made crystal clear in the SBC EC meeting this week, Floyd and the attorneys did all they could to scare the hell out of the EC members. Making them\u00a0ALL<\/strong>\u00a0think they could be sued personally by waiving attorney-client privilege. What\u2019s misleading is only those who did something illegal or immoral\u00a0might<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0have the chance of being sued. So, what are Floyd and attorneys really worried about?<\/p>\n It boils down to what it always boils down to\u2026money and power. And Floyd and his cronies aren\u2019t willing to surrender either. Even though the Messengers said otherwise, and 19 members of the EC\u00a0BEGGED<\/strong>\u00a0the others to let the chips fall where they may.<\/p>\n These 19 said on several social media platforms and others, \u201cif we don\u2019t have anything to hide there\u2019s no reason\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0to waive privilege. And if wrongs have been done, we must expose them!\u201d<\/p>\n To no avail\u2026<\/p>\n This we know is true. There are many documented cases of abuse within the SBC. And the SBC EC is doing all it can to keep these lies, crimes and cover-ups hidden.<\/p>\n Ronnie Floyd and many of those 55 EC members\u00a0KNOW<\/strong>\u00a0once they open the door, it will be a floodgate of victims in desperate need of compassion and help. And they simply\u00a0don\u2019t care\u00a0<\/strong>enough to do that. They don\u2019t want to be bothered with it because they have other goals in mind.<\/p>\n They are thinking about their calendar: Church planting, Cooperative Program Sunday, Annual Meeting, Baptism Sunday, Anti-gambling Sunday, Global Hunger Sunday, Easter, WMU, Lottie Moon, Christmas pageant, Prison ministry, Summer Missions\u2026etc.<\/p>\n And\u00a0ALL<\/strong>\u00a0these things, in and of themselves are obviously\u00a0very good<\/strong>. They do so much to help so many. But does that mean we\u00a0only have time for these<\/em>?<\/p>\n As my dear friend, Boz Tchividjian, was quoted on\u00a060 Minutes Australia<\/em>\u00a0saying:<\/p>\n \u201cYou cannot begin looking at the future and planning for the future until you have properly addressed the past\u201d.<\/p>\n He went on to say:<\/p>\n \u201cIf you love Jesus, then my goodness start acting like Him. In the most important moments of life. And that is, when you are approached by the hurting and wounded,\u00a0stop everything you\u2019re doing<\/strong>, and\u00a0reach out<\/strong>,\u00a0and expend yourself for them<\/strong>.\u00a0Isn\u2019t that what Jesus did over and over again<\/em>? That\u2019s what the church\u00a0should<\/em>\u00a0look like. And unfortunately, that\u2019s hard to find these days.\u201d<\/p>\n So, here\u2019s the last of our questions for you, the members of the SBC EC\u2026<\/p>\n What are your children worth to you? What are the victim\u2019s worth to you? Worth as much as you spend on coffee for your church? Worth as much as you budget for flowers?<\/p>\n Is your calendar so precious to you, that those most precious to Jesus aren\u2019t worthy of your time, money, and best efforts?<\/p>\n \u201cSuffer the little children\u201d, indeed\u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
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