"RESOLVED: that we encourage all denominational leaders and employees of the Southern Baptist Convention to utilize the highest sense of discernment in affiliating with groups and/or individuals that possess questionable policies and practices in protecting our children from criminal abuse…"
Amendment to Resolution #3 Proposed by Peter Lumpkins
Thanks to the wonderful advancements in technology, I have been able to keep up with much of what has transpired at recent Southern Baptist Convention gatherings. This was the third year I have tuned into the SBC annual meeting via live streaming. The most exciting development I observed was the passing of Resolution #3 by the messengers who convened in Houston.
Here is a clip of what transpired for those who may be interested:
Peter Lumpkins, a Southern Baptist pastor and blogger from Georgia, published the vetted version of a resolution he originally submitted. The portion of the text in blue is the amendment he proposed in the clip, which messengers approved.
ON SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN
WHEREAS, The Bible is clear in its affirmation that children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3–5); and
WHEREAS, The Lord Jesus demonstrated His love for children by encouraging them to follow Him, correcting those who hindered them, and condemning those who harmed them (Matthew 18:3–6; Mark 10:13–14); and
WHEREAS, The sexual abuse of children remains an ever increasing criminal offense with more than 1.8 million reported victims of sexual abuse by more than 750,000 child abuse perpetrators identified in the United States alone; and
WHEREAS, Tragically, instances of sexual abuse have been perpetrated within Southern Baptist congregations, churches of other denominations, and other Christian ministries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Houston, Texas, June 11–12, 2013, call upon Southern Baptists to stand with our Lord Jesus in loving and protecting children as He does; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we remind all Southern Baptists of their legal and moral responsibility to report any child abuse to authorities in addition to implementing any appropriate church discipline or internal restoration processes; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we likewise call upon all Southern Baptists to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials in exposing and bringing to justice all perpetrators, sexual or otherwise, who criminally harm children placed in our trust; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we strongly urge Southern Baptist churches to utilize background checks like those provided through LifeWay Christian Resources (www.lifeway.com/backgroundchecks), databases of sexual predators such as the US Department of Justice sex offender database linked at SBC.net (www.SBC.net/localchurches/ministryhelp.asp), or other relevant resources in screening all potential staff and volunteer workers, particularly those who minister to children and youth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage pastors and church leaders to develop and implement sound policies and procedures to protect our children; and be it further
"RESOLVED: that we encourage all denominational leaders and employees of the Southern Baptist Convention to utilize the highest sense of discernment in affiliating with groups and/or individuals that possess questionable policies and practices in protecting our children from criminal abuse; and be it finally"
RESOLVED, That we urge all Southern Baptists to pray for children who are victims of abuse, to stand for their protection from abuse, and to support safe and healthy children’s ministries in our churches and communities.
**************************
UPDATE 6/20/13
Bob Cleveland addressed the convention (see clip at 10:25 mark), requesting that the second "RESOLVED" be amended as follows:
to "remind all Southern Baptists of their legal and moral responsibility to report any ACCUSATIONS OF child abuse" (amendment in caps…)
Messengers voted in favor of this change to Resolution #3.
In a comment under this post, Cleveland explained:
"that change recommends against the ability of a church to investigate allegations, themselves, and decide whether they should be reported. With that on the record, I'd imagine any SBC church would dare not fail to report such allegations, lest they be without defense should the allegations later be proven true."
***************************
Earlier this week Janet Mefferd interviewed Peter Lumpkins on her radio program. Here is the link to their conversation, which begins at the 7 minute mark. Mefferd has been proactive in addressing the abuse of children, and we applaud her efforts. During the interview, Lumpkins explained that it was the second amended complaint against C.J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries, et al that compelled him to pen this resolution.
Lumpkins called attention to Sovereign Grace Ministries' recent move to Louisville (where the SBC's flagship seminary is located) and the unofficial partnerships between Mohler (SBC) and Mahaney (SGM) – particularly with regard to Together for the Gospel. Mefferd asked about prior SBC resolutions involving children, and Lumpkins explained that those passed in 2002 and 2007 concerned ministerial integrity. What makes this resolution different in our estimation is the amendment (highlighted at the top of the post) that focuses on denominational leaders and employees.
Many SBC resolutions have been forgotten over the years according to Lumpkins; however, he explained to Mefferd that he will not let this one die. In his post recapping the interview, Lumpkins shared this exciting update:
"As I indicated in the interview I have no plans to allow this issue to drop. Already, I have verbal interest or commitment from pastors or churchmen/churchwomen in several states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and of course Georgia to present either the same resolution against the sexual abuse of children we passed at the Southern Baptist Convention or even penning a stronger one for state conventions to consider. Southern Baptists must speak both boldly and imminently on an issue which affects so significantly the protection of those whom our Lord repeatedly spoke in one way or another, "Suffer little children…to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Mark 10:14).
My goal is to have at least half of our state conventions meeting in 2013, passing either the identical resolution against the sexual abuse of children we adopted in Houston or an even stronger resolution, calling for and encouraging tangible accountability at all levels of convention cooperation."
In an e-mail we received from Peter Lumpkins, he informed us that he has about 10 state conventions with persons willing to bring the resolution to the state level in the Fall. He also called our attention to an encouraging comment he received from a fellow Southern Baptist (see below):
"Peter, send it to me and I'll submit it through the process in the Maryland/Delaware Convention."
There are a lot of things we can disagree about in the evangelical community, but we should ALL agree on the child sex abuse issue. We must overlook our theological differences and come together for this particular cause.
We are so grateful that Peter Lumpkins has embraced this important issue, and we pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ will rally behind him to eradicate the sexual abuse of children. Please pray that his efforts are successful and glorifying to Almighty God.
What a wonderful world it would be if children were protected instead of being abused.
Let's work together to make this dream come true…
Lydia's Corner: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24 Acts 10:1-23 Psalm 133:1-3 Proverbs 17:7-8
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And the tide turns….I certainly hope so.
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I refuse to be silent on this important matter. We must shout from the rooftops and throughout the blogosphere that we will not tolerate the abuse of children.
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Deb: “There are a lot of things we can disagree about in the evangelical community, but we should ALL agree on the child sex abuse issue. We must overlook our theological differences and come together for this particular cause.”
Yes! And yes!
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Please note that the resolution was also amended, in the second "RESOLVED", to "remind all Southern Baptists of their legal and moral responsibility to report any ACCUSATIONS OF child abuse" (amendment in caps…). That change recommends against the ability of a church to investigate allegations, themselves, and decide whether they should be reported. With that on the record, I'd imagine any SBC church would dare not fail to report such allegations, lest they be without defense should the allegations later be proven true.
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Perhaps at their next convention the SBC can add a resolution to the effect that SBC leaders (Mark Dever and Al Mohler) should also cease all affiliations with any individual who utilizes blackmail to silence opponents!
I am glad this passed and now I will be watching to see if Mark Dever and Al Mohler continue their partnership with C.J. Mahaney in Together For the Go$pel.
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@ Bob Cleveland:
Yes, that amendment is of vital importance.
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Peter Lumpkins — Good job. I’m glad the Lord raised you up at this time to speak out and act!
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TW wrote:
TW — The more I read on the Gospel Coalition’s own site, the more I wonder if the Coalition council members such as Al Mohler and Mark Dever, adhere to their own “Blue Code of Silence,” the “unwritten rule among police officers in the United States not to report on another colleague’s errors, misconducts, or crimes.”
Maybe it’s my imagination, but this video that the Gospel Coalition released 2 days ago has a odd feel to it. http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/06/18/the-gospel-coalition-where-weve-been-where-were-going/
Minute 5:40-6:45 – Gospel Coalition founders explain that their relationships with other high ranking pastors were more important to them than theology. In fact, after meeting the first time with this incredible group, they were worried that these famous leaders might not come back (6:09) and meet again. They sound like sorority girls.
Minute 5:10 – TGC co-founder Don Carson talks about these pastors having love for one another in a way they had never experienced before. He calls it a mark of the Lord’s blessing.
Perhaps this explains what’s wrong with the nearly 50 Gospel Coalition council members who have stood silently and given their tactic approval to the C.J. Mahaney endorsements by Mohler, Dever, Duncan, DeYoung, Carson, and Taylor.
Fortunately not all pastors are as wimpy as the council members. Here’s one pastor who rejected the wording and suggested his own: http://headhearthand.org/blog/2013/06/18/an-alternative-to-the-tgc-and-t4g-statements-about-sgm/
For The Gospel Coalition it seems that loyalty to other council members is more important than loyalty to Jesus Christ or even common decency — at least in the area of reporting child sex crimes in their churches and warning families who attend.
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@ Bob Cleveland:
I have updated the post. Thanks for proposing this important change to the second RESOLVED in Resolution #3.
So glad the messengers approved it, and I pray that this resolution makes a difference for children in Southern Baptist congregations and beyond…
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@ Janey:
Thanks for mentioned that clip on The Gospel Coalition website featuring the two founders – Don Carson and Tim Keller. I watched it yesterday and was also concerned.
And I appreciate your sharing the link to An Alternative to the TGC and T4G Statements About SGM. I hope others will take the time to read it because David Murray, the author of that post, gets it!
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TW wrote:
I cannot understand how anyone can consider such a man a Christian leader.
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Janey wrote:
That is a good phrase “common decency.” Common decency means to care for the least of these. Oh yeah, that’s right. Justin Taylor now defines the least of these as preachers and missionaries.
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Does anyone know whether the PCA resolution on sex abuse passed at their General Assembly yesterday?
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Now if they would just resolve to repent openly of all the past injustices and coverups.
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Jeff Crippen wrote:
And do so in an itemized and reasonably detailed manner, not just some global feel-good gloss-over statement.
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Who will police this resolution? What are the consequences for failure to comply? Who will oversee accountability and action? What discipline is there now for already documented cases of failure to report child sexual abuse by Baptist clergy?
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An Attorney wrote:
Exactly. Imagine how the survivors, say of Langworthy from Prestonwood, today feel after a week of this resolution passing?
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Should read:
“RESOLVED: that we encourage all denominational leaders and employees of the Southern Baptist Convention to utilize the highest sense of discernment in affiliating with groups and/or individuals that possess questionable policies and practices in protecting our children from criminal abuse and COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND DENY ALL FURTHER AFFILIATION WITH SAID GROUPS; and be it finally…”
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Amy wrote:
A resolution is not a mandate. It is an expression of an opinion.
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TedS wrote:
When the resolution was in its early stages on Lumpkins blog, it did have stronger language for there to be ceasing of affiliation. But, such a resolution would not pass in its initial form because it was too pointed. The resolution committee would rework it. Although everyone who has been keeping up with the news knows that SGM’s and CJ’s connection to SBTS and SEBTS plays a large factor in the resolution. I think you will see the state conventions have more strongly worded resolutions which are more in keeping with what the original resolution intended.
Here is the blog post which detailed the working of the resolution. You can read commentors thoughts as well and the feedback that they gave Peter.
http://peterlumpkins.typepad.com/peter_lumpkins/2013/05/resolution-on-sexual-abuse-of-children-by-peter-lumpkins.html#more
For what its worth, I’m Reformed and support Lumpkins original wording.
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SBC Chaplain wrote:
SBC Chaplain — It’s worth a lot!
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We’d better, before “Christian = Pedophile” to the outside. “Catholic priest” is already synonymous with child sex abuse in popular beliefs, and it looks like the SGM/IFB/SBC is doing their best to catch up.
Unfortunately, when you get to the “splinter church” Protestants, you have thousands upon thousands of One True Churches, each denouncing the others as Heretics and Apostates over Parsings of Doctrine/Ideology. As Jonathan Swift would put it, “Do you break your egg at the big end or the little end?”
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This is an email I received last weekend after our SNAP event at the SBC. I wrote about our encounter with this couple outside the SBC on my blog post about the awareness event…
Hi Amy,
My family and I prayed with you outside the SBC meeting in Houston. I will continue to pray for you and this crucial ministry to those injured by selfish individuals. Please keep us up to date on prayer needs etc.. Thank you for being a voice to those that have been silenced! Great meeting you!
In Christ,
Mike Kenney
Bridge Community Church
Rochester, NY
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I have talked to Dee more about that phone call I received from the Houston police prior to our event, which as anyone with eyes could see was not a “protest or rally” but simply an awareness/media event…with me and Pam and another survivor, Miguel Prats. I called that officer back that left me the voicemail. After a several minute long conversation with me asking him questions about how he was alerted to our plans, my cell phone and David’s, I came away with more questions and an unsettled feeling. He claims to have searched for “protest” and “rally.” I never used those terms on my blog, only “awareness event.” I asked if he called anyone else who had “protested” the SBC and he said no, only me and David. I asked if he was aware that Westboro Baptist was there, and their counter protesters. He said he didn’t know they were there. I said really? He seemed a bit nervous at this point, actually throughout the phone call. He explained that he had been off for a week. He then fumbled a bit and said that Westboro was someone else’s job, yet he had told me that his job was to “search for groups planning to protest or rally.” I finally realized that he had not mentioned my blog post but that he learned about me and our plans from the email that we sent out that Friday morning, June 7. We sent it to Gregg Matte, Doug Bischoff, Frank Page, Russell Moore and Fred Luter: http://www.scribd.com/doc/146329026/Survivors-Network-of-Those-Abused-by-Priests-SNAP-Letter-to-the-SBC
At some point late that morning, SNAP posted this letter online, but this officer told me he learned about us from the email we sent out. The voicemail I received from Officer Trinh came in about 11:00 am.
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Amy Smith wrote:
What church is that officer a member of? SBC/SGM/9Marks?
Pastor/Dictators have used local cops who are church members as their personal Enforcers before.
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@ Amy Smith:
Why would a police officer care if a person or persons wanted to stand there in front of a convention meeting holding picket signs or peacefully handing out leaflets or what not? That just seems a little weird to me.
I think for larger groups, and to hold a parade on a city street or whatever, you’d have to get some kind of prior permission or permit, but just standing on a sidewalk talking to people or holding a sign outside some event?
I’m not an expert at the law or anything, but something doesn’t seem right to me about any of that.
And why would the SBC care if a handful of people wanted to stand in a group outside their convention and chat with folks or hold signs or what not?
I wonder if the guy was even a police officer. I’d call the HPD and ask them if they have an “officer Jones” (or whatever his name is) that works for them. If not, there’s some police imposter out there, and I’d think the real police would be interested in knowing that.
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SBC Chaplain wrote:
Applause!
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Daisy wrote:
I got his badge number and called the main number for that division and confirmed he is an officer there.
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“Proximity Alert: Amended Complaint; Bold SBC Action Now Required?”
…attempt to impinge on the authority of abusive & negligent church authorities can only lead to disastrous consequences?
For whom?
hmmm….
Earlier this week Janet Mefferd interviewed Peter Lumpkins on her radio program. Every one knows that Janet has been energetically proactive in the addressing child abuse.
Thank-You, Janet!
During the Mefferd interview, Peter explained that: it was the second amended complaint against C.J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries, et al that compelled him to pen this resolution.
Again, ” it was the second amended complaint against C.J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries, et al that compelled him to pen this resolution.”
And again, ” it was the second amended complaint against C.J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries, et al that compelled him to pen this resolution.
Whew!
Huh?
In this interview, “Lumpkins called attention to Sovereign Grace Ministries’ recent move to Louisville (where the SBC’s flagship seminary is located) and the unofficial partnerships between Mohler (SBC) and Mahaney (SGM) – particularly with regard to Together for the Gospel.”
What?
….more rather, apparently T4G, its leaders, are possibly together for the destruction of the integrity of the Gospel?
Crunch!
Take but a casual “lõõk” into the abusive religious situation – that is simply what is occurring?
We have met the enemy, and it is that proverbial Neo-Calvinist 501c religious non-profit organization called SGM?
hmmm…
could b.
People aren’t being drawn to the Gospel, under these conditions, more rather, they are being repulsed by the actions of the pastorial authorities leading this blaintant assault upon Christian sensibilities.
Supporting Sovereign Grace Ministries without considering the current numerous claims that have been levied against this family of Churches, and it’s leadership authorities, is setting a negative moral precedence. Unfortunately, a continued and pronounced vote with the feet, is the only thing the SBC affiliation may possibly recognize. The defections continue. Members if SBC affiliated churches are taking strong actions,
…how so the leadership authorities of the Southern Baptist Convention?
Lip service perhaps, only to permit the child sexual abuse to continue in ever re-occurring rise?
Words are cheap….
SBC,
DO SOMETHING.
…the victims cries have reached heaven, it is only a matter of time before we hear, ‘they have heard your cry…”
When that occurs, SBC be somewhere else?
(sadface)
There’s the scarlet thread of abuse apparently running through the colourless skin of SGM life, and our duty is ‘clear’; to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.
The result is inevitable.
Sopy
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The PCA (Presbyterian Church Of America) Becomes Personally, ‘Resolved’ Declaring A Resolution on Child Sexual Abuse”
hmmm…
(The Following was Proposed to the 41st PCA General Assembly in Greenville, South Carolina) * :
“WHEREAS our Lord Jesus demonstrated his righteous anger at his disciples, rebuking those who would do anything to prevent covenant children from coming unto him, saying “to such belongs the Kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14); and”
“WHEREAS the Lord Jesus, who possesses all power and authority in heaven and on earth, taught and demonstrated in his humiliation, that power is rightly exercised to serve others, protect the weak, and speak for the oppressed (Mark 10:42-45, Exodus 22:21-24, Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Proverbs 31:1-9); and”
“WHEREAS a silent epidemic of child abuse exists in our culture wherein 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their eighteenth birthday (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006), including girls and boys who attend PCA churches, with 95% of victims being violated by someone they know and trust (Darkness2Light.org); and”
“WHEREAS child sexual abuse thrives in an environment that discourages open communication about the abuse and also thrives with both the calculated sin of abusers and by the inaction of church leaders who are nonetheless complicit in the abuse and culpable before the Lord; and”
“WHEREAS the law in almost all states mandates pastors, and even in some states volunteers, to report child abuse to civil authorities within 24 hours, and biblical due diligence requires churches to train its workers and volunteers to protect children by screening workers and volunteers, by strictly limiting one adult one child situations, and by maintaining a child protection policy informed by wise resources now widely available; and”
“WHEREAS the silence of the church, by not speaking out against this sin, or not supporting the courageous victims who disclose abuse, or not proactively taking the steps to prevent abuse, is a fundamental failure of servant leadership in such a time as this, and drives people away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and”
“WHEREAS many of our members have close relational ties with some Reformed and evangelical organizations, fellowships of ministers, and well-known leaders who have lately come under the closest moral and legal scrutiny, some facing criminal and/or civil litigation for neglect in reporting alleged criminal activity against children and harboring and protecting alleged sexual perpetrators against children, casting doubt in the eyes of some on the stance of the PCA toward child sexual abuse and our moral resolve to uproot it; THEREFORE, be it”
“RESOLVED that we plead with all pastors and church officers to take an active stance toward rooting out child sexual abuse in the church by leading their churches to study, implement, and maintain child protection policies pertaining to our moral and legal obligations in loving our covenant children and protecting their rightful interests as God’s image-bearers and heirs of the Covenant of Grace from the devastating actions of abusers in the church; and be it further”
“RESOLVED that we pledge our commitment to work and fully cooperate with duly appointed God-ordained government officials in exposing and bringing to justice all probable perpetrators, who morally and criminally harm the children placed in our trust, and not in any perceivable way display reluctance in fully cooperating with lawful authorities by attempting to handle the issue internally by subjecting either the supposed victim or alleged criminal perpetrator to private “church discipline” or relational “restoration” apart from the fulfillment of our mandated reporting duties to God-ordained government authorities; and be it further”
“RESOLVED that we exhort all pastors and church officers to use their power for the protection of the vulnerable, by any and all godly means, including speaking boldly about the horrors of child sexual abuse in our time, urging anyone with knowledge of these sins to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11), and by supporting victims who are easily intimidated, and often suffer in silence, without the clear support of those in positions of power; and be it finally”
“RESOLVED that the 41st General Assembly urge all members of the PCA to renew our allegiance to our Lord Jesus to love our covenant children as he loves our covenant children, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:14).” *
.
Early to be ” RESOLVED” gets to save the most children from child sexual abuse?
One can only hope,
There’s the scarlet thread of abuse apparently running through the colourless skin of Church life, and our duty is ‘clear’; to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.
The result is inevitable.
Elementary, my dear Wartburg…
(grin)
ATB
Sopy
___
P.S. Would the SBC now care to step up closer to the proverbial plate? Batter up?!?
* Reference: http://michaelnewnham.com/?p=12933 ; “Personal Resolution on Child Sexual Abuse”
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Headless Unicorn Guy wrote:
They still do.
For example: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nathan-finn/a/71/bb8
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“Carpet Roll-up: Ne-glect-ive Church Action?”
hmmm…
“WHEREAS the silence of the church, by not speaking out against this sin(child sexual abuse) , or not supporting the courageous victims (of child sexual abuse) who disclose abuse, or not proactively taking the steps to prevent (child sexual) abuse, is a fundamental failure of servant leadership in such a time as this, and drives people away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ…” – ‘PURPOSED’ portion of the’Resolve’ to the 41st PCA General Assembly in Greenville, South Carolina…)
What?!?
…did someone just blink?
.
…my offering plate no longer runneth over perhaps?
or,
…my members runneth out, perhaps?
Silence (of child sexual abuse) cost the last denominational church about three billion dollars, and quite a few closed churches…
Crunch!
….huh?
Have the leadership of the PCA finally seen the writing in the wall?
“Found in the balance wanting”, perhaps?
Ching! Ching!
could b.
(sadface)
What about the SBC, will they wake up before they have to roll-up some of those carpets?
hmmm….
One can only hope,
Wake up, that is…
ATB
Sopy
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Anon wrote:
Nathan Finn = Bee Jay Driscoll’s Luca Brasi.
Real Manly Manliness = “I SEE THINGS…” + “NATHAN WILL BEAT YOU UP! NATHAN WILL BEAT YOU UP! NATHAN WILL BEAT YOU UP!!!”
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@ Amy:
Amy, I have talked to friends involved in anti-abortion protests in Houston and this move by the HPD is actually pretty common. All it takes is one person to report something “suspicious” or a “terroristic threat” and the HPD is all over it much like you described in the phone call you received. I am so sorry that this happened to you. You did not deserve it. The officer who contacted you should have informed you that legally you can protest whatever you want as long as you remain on public property (usually the sidewalk) and the police are required to protect your freedom to be there. Your church leaders were also wrong in misleading the HPD and wasting their time. There are so many people who are on your side supporting you and praying for you.
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Amy wrote:
Oh okay. I still find it really strange that a police officer would be investigating a peaceful gathering of citizens.
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Not sure if anyone will read this cause the thread is kind of old. But in reference to the police officer… Many towns have local ordinances that prohibit even one person protesting something on a public sidewalk without a permit. My husband is a po in a wealthy suburban township and they have ridiculous ordinances out the whazoo including the requirement that someone get a permit to just go and hold a sign on a sidewalk. Typically the officers don’t enforce these ordinances unless they receive a complaint, though.
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aly k
Welcome to TWW. Amy is part of the SNAP network which has been protetsing for years. They are very careful to investiate the legalities surrounding their protest venue and willingly work with the police. This one is a little odd, coming on the heels of the incident at her church. But, maybe it is nothing.They definitely did not interfere with the quiet awareness event by Anmy and Pam so all’s well that ends well.
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@ aly k:
Aly, if you will read my earlier comments, you will see that I am familiar with Houston ordinances regarding protests. The officer who called Amy Smith acted in a way that was not appropriate for the city ordinances. I understand that different cities have different ordinances but the fact remains that in Houston Amy was singled for unjust treatment. She was completely within in the law to follow through with her plans. Protesters merely have to remain on public property (usually the sidewalks) and not impede the flow of traffic. HPD owes Amy an apology for the actions of this officer who was clearly (and unfairly) influenced by her pastor.
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Daisy wrote:
I still think there’s more going on than we’ve seen. Pastor/Dictators have used church-member cops as their personal Enforcers before, and Homeschool Anonymous today had a posting about some Man-o-Gawd years ago who tried to sic the FBI on an online critic’s parody site.