“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD (be) God, follow him: but if Baal, (then) follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” — 1 Kings…
After the Guidepost report: Dwelling with evil while living into hope
Like many Southern Baptists, former or current, I have read much of the abominable report released by Guidepost Solutions. It documents the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s response to numerous sexual abuse allegations and includes an audit of the Credentials…
Rights, responsibilities and the two-fold commandment of love: A reflection on gun violence in America
“I did not want to weep for Martin; tears seemed futile. But I may also have been afraid, and could not have been the only one, that if I began to weep, I would not be able to stop.” James…
Mass murder and the soundtrack of our lives
Some days my outlook is determined by my outfit. If that sounds shallow to you, you’ve never worn a pair of cut-off leopard print shorts. If you have, you know the possible trajectory of where one’s day can go from…
Letter to the Editor: Where are the repentant SBC leaders?
Letter to the Editor March 25, 2022 Dear Editor: Thank you for writing an open article that appears to be uninfluenced and uncontrolled by those in the center of the spotlight of this (SBC) controversy. The Guidepost independent report and…
This is more than just sin
The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee refused to act on hundreds of reports of abuse. This is more than just sin. The efforts of survivors and advocates to bring the truth to light was called, “a satanic scheme to completely…
Remember the women: The Southern Baptist cover up of sexual abuse
If you pay only minimal attention to news outlets, you know the story of the week is the Southern Baptist Convention’s stunning cover up of clergy sexual abuse. The glaring headlines of Christianity Today, The Washington Post and The New…
Don’t overlook the depth of the disease in the SBC
As news is breaking from the investigation of the Southern Baptist Convention’s handling of sexual abuse, my heart breaks for women in the denomination I once called home. It is devastating to read about the treatment of victims and about…
Tear down the SBC Executive Committee and replace it
Institutional, systematic evil hides in dark corners and whispers in hushed tones. It can undermine the innocent and protect the guilty. Systematic evil is evil in its most destructive format. It is evil with the largest victim count. It is…
It’s time to stop giving Christianity a pass on white supremacy and violence
I’m still reeling from the experience of standing in George Floyd Square in Minneapolis on the same afternoon a white supremacist terrorist gunned down 10 people in a predominantly Black area of Buffalo, N.Y. I reflected on that experience in…
SBC report shows how five words turn abuse victim from ‘survivor’ to ‘whore’
Five words highlight the depths of Southern Baptist Convention leaders’ depravity. Guidepost Solutions released the report of its independent investigation into the SBC Executive Committee’s “response to sexual abuse allegations” Sunday, May 22. Among other examples, the 288-page document tells…
Former foster youth need to know they are not abandoned
A few years ago, I noticed a small crack in the hallway of my doctor’s office. It was only five or six inches long, but my eyes drifted back to that spot each time I returned for a checkup. Then…