DOJ Investigation of the SBC Results in its First Indictment – Matthew Queen

Posted on by May 28, 2024avatar

“If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”
― Will Rogers

Nearly two years ago, on Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention said that several of the denomination’s major entities are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024 the first indictment stemming from the investigation was handed down. Matthew Queen, an SBC pastor and former Professor/Provost at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was charged with falsification of records. Below is the press release, followed by the actual indictment.

Violation of 18 U.S. Code § 1001

The crime of making a false statement is governed by 18 U.S. Code § 1001. According to the statute, a violation includes anyone who willfully and knowingly:

  1. Falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
  2. Makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
  3. Makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry.

In other words, there are three broad ways to violate this statute. The first is to conceal a material fact through fraud. This can occur without a person directly lying to the FBI. For example, handing over written documents after secretly removing an incriminating one could count as a violation of the statute.

The second prong of the statute relates directly to false statements. It is unlawful to make any materially false or fraudulent statement or representation. This goes beyond a direct lie and also covers indirectly misrepresenting the truth.

Finally, the third section covers non-verbal acts that are covered by the statute. These include providing the FBI with any forced or false document knowing it includes a materially false statement.

As you read in the above indictment, in October, 2022 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary received a Subpoena from a grand jury requesting all information they had regarding sexual abuse with anyone employed or affiliated with the Seminary.

In November 2022, after the Seminary had received the Subpoena, a Seminary employee received a report regarding an allegation that a current student had committed sexual abuse. The employee immediately forwarded the report  to the Seminary’s campus police. The Seminary took no further action regarding the allegation and did not report it to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Christian Flores was the student who allegedly raped a woman. Flores had been a Christian Studies major in the SWBTS undergraduate program which was rebranded in recent years as Texas Baptist College. Additional background information on the arrest of Christian Flores can be found on The Roys Report.

Of note, SWBTS said Flores was suspended and later withdrew from the school. “The Seminary also stated it reported the matter to the DOJ as it was required to do.”(Baptist Standard, “Former Southwestern Seminary prof Matt Queen indicted” -May 22, 2024)

Christian Flores

Timeline of Matthew Queen

On January 25, 2023 the SWBTS employee who had forwarded the rape report to the campus police created a document highlighting the Seminary’s failure to take any action. The next day, January 26, 2023 a member of the Seminary’s executive staff met with the employee who had created the document. Matthew Queen was also in attendance at the meeting. Queen  heard the executive staff member tell the employee who created the document to make the document “go away.”

Matthew Queen met with an FBI agent and the U.S. Attorney’s office on May 23, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. During that meeting Queen allegedly lied, stating that he had not heard the executive staff member tell the employee who had created the document to destroy it.

Three days later, on May 26, 2023, Queen told another employee that he found a notebook in his office containing notes about the conversation he had witnessed on January 26. The notes omitted the fact that the executive staff member had told the employee who had created the document to destroy it.

In June 2023 Queen caused a copy of the notes to be provided to the U.S. Attorney’s office. On June 20 (about one month after his first meeting with the FBI agent and the U.S. Attorney’s office) they met again, this time in New York. Queen produced the original notebook. Queen allegedly lied, saying he had written the notes on January 26, 2023. Queen then changed his story and said he had written the notes in April 2023. Queen then apparently admitted he had written the notes following his May 23, 2023 meeting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI.

Finally, on June 21, 2023 Queen testified under oath that on January 26, 2023 he had in fact heard the executive staff member instruct the employee who had created the document to make it “go away.”

“After the seminary learned of Queen’s actions in June 2023, he was immediately placed on administrative leave and resigned as interim provost,” the school stated. All employees alleged to have acted improperly in this matter are no longer employed by the seminary.”
(Baptist Standard, “Former Southwestern Seminary prof Matt Queen indicted” -May 22, 2024)

I received the following information from Federal documents in the Queen case:

Full docket text for document 6:

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo:Initial Appearance as to Matthew Queen held on 5/21/2024. Defendant appears with counsel Sam Schmidt; AUSA s Jacqueline Kelly and Mitzi Steiner are also present. Bail is set as $50,000 PRB; one (1) FRP; surrender travel documents and no new applications; supervision as directed by PTS; mental health evaluation/treatment as directed by PTS; travel limited to (1) District of residence (Held under seal on 5/16/24); (2) the Continental U. S. for work with advance notice to PTS; (3) S. Carolina in September 2024 for family vacation; SDNY for Court appearance and to speak with counsel; advise PTS of any change of residence or telephone number in advance of change; no contact with victim/witnesses and Government will provide a list of names. Defendant to be released on own signature with remaining conditions to be met by 5/23/24. Conference before USDJ on 5/23/24 and Speedy Trial Time is excluded until 5/23/24. 

Attorney Sam A. Schmidt is a distinguished New York attorney specializing in representing defendants in Federal crimes. He has been an attorney for 48 years, so he is very experienced. I would guess his services go for $1,000 or more per hour.

Congratulations to Ricky Fuchs and his staff for quickly purging the Lone Prairie Baptist Church website. They had no sign of Dr. Queen ever having been on staff there. But thanks to The Wayback Machine I was able to locate the evidence below.

We saw above that Matthew Queen was given the “left foot of fellowship” from his gig at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in June 2023. Queen had also been a paid staff member of Lane Prairie Baptist Church for several years, his last week of service at the church was February 18, 2024. I find it incredible that senior pastor Ricky Fuchs was unaware of Queen’s alleged lying to a Federal grand jury. But apparently, Fuchs pulled the old Sergeant Schultz line:

I wrote the following email to Pastor Fuchs:

If you think that Fuchs answered my email, I have some ocean-front property for you in Arizona! As you can see from Fuchs’ Face Book post, he counts it a blessing to have a guy with, IMO, no integrity.

Fuchs kept Queen on the payroll through February 18, 2024. That’s something for you Lane Prairie Baptist Church members to think about when Fuchs is pressing you to dig deeper to support his favorite projects or preachers!

Queen was able to collect a paycheck without missing a beat. His first sermon at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church was February 25, 2024.

April 14, 2024 was the official “Installation” service for Dr. Queen.  Guess who showed up to preach? Yep, Ricky Fuchs. I wonder if Queen paid him an honorarium?

Below is another FaceBook post by Reverend Ricky. See the screenshot above to gain an understanding of how one good ‘good ole boy’ can slobber over another ‘good ole boy’ without thinking twice about being honest.

Now listen to the first 2 minutes of Fuchs praising Queen and using the insincere line that he feels he already knows the church members in the pews.  He doesn’t know these people from Adam, yet pretends he does. I really wonder how any self-respecting individual could sit through a sermon by either one of these men. And then Fuchs goes on to make a joke about coming to Friendly Avenue Baptist to take care of some unfinished business of church discipline on Queen.  Yuck, yuck… the people all laugh. If ever a case called for church discipline I should think Queen’s lying to a Federal grand jury would be such a case, but nope, just a couple of godly men laughing about discipline.  If Fuchs has ever carried out church discipline on any member he should apologize to them.

Below is a clip of Queen promoting his upcoming sermon series on I Corinthians. He preached 3 sermons. Last week he had a fill in, Pastor Brian Upshaw from the North Carolina SBC staff.

As I already mentioned, Queen had some unfinished business with the federalis in New York.

This last clip is from the end of the church service at Friendly Baptist yesterday. I get the feeling that the church leadership will be pushing church members to stand with Queen.  I wonder if anyone thinks that the Doctor has possibly disqualified himself from the ministry? He has plead not guilty to the charges. I, along with many others, will be following this case closely.

Comments

DOJ Investigation of the SBC Results in its First Indictment – Matthew Queen — 70 Comments


  1. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Excellent work, Todd.

    We’ve been following the Feds and Queen online, and here you’ve put everything together for us in one spot. Handy dandy.

    Who is paying the megabucks for the alleged Federal offender’s mega legal fees? The working-for-real-wages churchfolk? Do they realize this is where their hard earned $$$ is going? Defending a liar, allegedly?

    Time to stop the grift, maybe.


  2. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Todd, remember how there were rumors online in the last month or so that the Feds had wrapped up their investigation into the SBC? This disturbed a number of people who had talked to the Feds about various possibly criminal SBC shenanigans. I wonder if this indictment is out there to demonstrate “we haven’t stopped working.” I hope so.


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    They messed with the wrong bunch (DOJ) and now it’s time to pay the piper.
    For years, the authorities were too squeamish and scared to go after religion.
    Those days are drawing to a close.


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    I do not believe that these evil people know, or follow, the same God that I know.
    I have asked God to fix everything. The God that I know, worship, and trust, will…..in His way and time.


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    Muslin fka Dee Holmes: Todd, remember how there were rumors online in the last month or so that the Feds had wrapped up their investigation into the SBC? … I wonder if this indictment is out there to demonstrate “we haven’t stopped working.” I hope so.

    Hi Dee,
    Yes I remember. I believe the indictment demonstrates the DOJ is still working on the case and it was also a “shot across the bow” of the listing ship known as the SBC. It’s a warning to the big-shots in the SBC that they had best be honest or they can expect the same results Queen is receiving. Damian Williams said as much in the press release:

    “The criminal obstruction charge announced today should exemplify the seriousness of attempts by any individual to manipulate or interfere with a federal investigation.”
    -U.S. Attorney Damian Williams


  6. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Ava Aaronson: Who is paying the megabucks for the alleged Federal offender’s mega legal fees? The working-for-real-wages churchfolk? Do they realize this is where their hard earned $$$ is going? Defending a liar, allegedly?
    Time to stop the grift, maybe.

    I’m sure there will be some members intelligent enough to opt out of the “Go Fund Me” tithing scheme at the Friendly church, some may even make a permanent exit. Unfortunately, a majority of the members will likely ante up and support their “pastor.”

    One thing I forgot to point out in the body of the article is if the inner-sanctum of the SBC will blatantly lie to the FBI and invent phony notes, is there any doubt they would be dishonest with survivors of SA and their advocates? Men like Employee #2 who was on the Executive staff of the SWBTS instructed Employee #1 (who seems like she was doing the right thing) to make her document “go away.” This speaks loudly and clearly on the mindset of SBC leadership. I wonder if Employee #1 was fired? If not it’s only because the SBC is currently under the microscope of the DOJ.

    Oh well, it’s comforting to know that the SBC is getting rid of the real problem – women preachers!


  7. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”
    ― Will Rogers

    Unless you’re Godly(TM).
    Then you start digging faster and deeper.

    Attorney Sam A. Schmidt is a distinguished New York attorney specializing in representing defendants in Federal crimes. He has been an attorney for 48 years, so he is very experienced. I would guess his services go for $1,000 or more per hour.

    i.e. The Very Best Money Can Buy.

    Congratulations to Ricky Fuchs and his staff for quickly purging the Lone Prairie Baptist Church website. They had no sign of Dr. Queen ever having been on staff there.

    i.e. As of now, He Never Existed.
    To remember otherwise is Thoughtcrime.

    But apparently, Fuchs pulled the old Sergeant Schultz line
    And Feldwebel Schultz had a good reason for seeing/hearing/knowing Nothink.
    He was trying to survive as the German Reich collapsed around him, becoming nastier and nastier as it crumbled.

    April 14, 2024 was the official “Installation” service for Dr. Queen.

    Don’t you mean “Coronation”? “Canonization”? “Deification”?

    Guess who showed up to preach? Yep, Ricky Fuchs. I wonder if Queen paid him an honorarium?
    “One Hand Washes the Other…”


  8. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Yes, Dr. Queen declared his opposition to women pastors when seeking his new job:

    https://storage2.snappages.site/PF9TQS/assets/files/Dr.-Matt-Queen.pdf

    Friendly Avenue Baptist Church
    Senior Pastor Candidate Dr. Matthew B. Queen

    p. 15 of pdf
    “In order to explain my own theology and personal confession of faith in relationship to the following confessional and doctrinal statements: The Baptist Faith and Message (2000), The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978), and The Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (1988), I respectfully submit this questionnaire and my responses to it.
    Matt Queen
    Prospective Pastor Candidate
    Friendly Avenue Baptist Church”

    p.26 of pdf
    “I completely and without reservation affirm the statement, ‘While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture,’ in Article 6 of the Baptist Faith and Message (2000)….the Holy Spirit does not and will not endow women with the spiritual gift associated with the office of pastor. Furthermore, the office of pastor is limited only to those men who are qualified as such by Scripture. I fully subscribe to the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.”


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    https://storage2.snappages.site/PF9TQS/assets/files/Dr.-Matt-Queen.pdf

    pages 5-14
    Dr. Matthew Queen Ministry Resume

    p. 34
    Letter of Recommendation from Dr. Stephen Rummage, Senior Pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church, and President of the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference

    “…I’m so excited my friend Dr. Matt Queen has been recommended by your search team to be the next pastor of Friendly Avenue!…He is a skilled and wise leader with the compassionate heart of a shepherd. He will be a
    wonderful pastor for your church….I know you will join me in rejoicing over what God is doing in bringing a godly pastor and his sweet family
    together with your great church. I believe God is going to accomplish mighty things in Greensboro through Friendly Avenue Baptist Church under the visionary leadership of Dr. Matt Queen.”


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    Jerome: p.26 of pdf
    “I completely and without reservation affirm the statement, ‘While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture,’ in Article 6 of the Baptist Faith and Message (2000)….the Holy Spirit does not and will not endow women with the spiritual gift associated with the office of pastor. Furthermore, the office of pastor is limited only to those men who are qualified as such by Scripture. I fully subscribe to the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.”

    Wow. I love that he was able to show his “biblical” stance on women as pastors while he had already, knowingly, failed to act lawfully with regards to a SA accusation and then lied to the FBI about it.

    But, hey! He has great theological convictions.

    Oh.

    And yes, “I’ll plead “not guilty” to the charges.”

    Disgusting.


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    DOJ Investigation of the SBC Results in its First Indictment

    Does this mean the PERSECUTION!!!!!!! Card is in play?


  12. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    What is it about the spirit at Southwestern Seminary that causes senior staff there to say things like “break her down” and “make it go away” in regard to sexual abuse on their campus?! It’s not a Holy Spirit, that’s for sure.


  13. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Great post, Todd. As you know, some people think the DOJ investigation went away. They were just getting started.


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    Jerome,

    AS always, Jerome, thank you!


  16. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    The events have a kind of “nested onion” feel to them, to me.

    MQ is indicted for misrepresentations regarding what he observed at a meeting where a fellow employee was pressured to eliminate a document that indicated that the employer institution had previously failed to report evidence of a sexual assault.

    Onlookers might be justified in wondering what all this implies about the core values of the institution.


  18. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Samuel Conner: Onlookers might be justified in wondering what all this implies about the core values of the institution.

    Precisely, Samuel.


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    dee: some people think the DOJ investigation went away. They were just getting started

    They stick like glue until they get their man … in this case, it will be men I think … more shoes will drop.


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    Jerome,

    The dudebros stand by their man … until the potato becomes too hot to handle. Then they go silent to protect their own skin.


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    Samuel Conner: wondering what all this implies about the core values of the institution

    Protect the reputation of SBC at all costs! It goes down, we go down. Big salaries go away, retirement vaporizes.


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    Max,

    Like I’ve said for awhile now, there’s gonna’ be huge payout.
    Just like the Catholic scandals in Boston.
    Not to mention the very real possibility of complicity charges to the SBC cuz’ they knew about it and did nothing.


  23. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Max: Protect the reputation of SBC at all costs!It goes down, we go down.Big salaries go away, retirement vaporizes.

    That sums up today’s pyramid scheme church in a nutshell. RUN!


  24. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Max,

    “What is it about the spirit at Southwestern Seminary that causes senior staff there to say things like “break her down” and “make it go away” in regard to sexual abuse on their campus?! It’s not a Holy Spirit, that’s for sure.”
    ++++++++++++++

    the same mindset with which evangelical men ignore me,
    refuse to make eye contact with me,
    refuse to greet me in any context, even when they are my guest
    refuse to shake my extended hand in greeting & appreciation,
    refuse to say thank you to me or any word of appreciation for my efforts at my own expense for an event which they benefited from…

    there’s more I could say.

    like the graduation party I attended a few days ago for a young man graduating from high school. his mom and I lead our moms prayer group – we’ve been praying for him for over 10 years.

    there was a time of sharing thoughts/memories about the young man and this landmark event in his life.

    the parents’ bible study leader who was facilitating passed over the mom and grandma in favor of all male family members and male friends.

    it was all quite remarkable. christian male leaders leading with leadership as they lead.

    it was disgusting.

    especially knowing the investment & self-sacrifice the mom and grandma had put into this young man’s life.


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    elastigirl,

    How did they get like this?
    Seriously, what happened to evangelical men that turned them into such you-know-what-holes?


  26. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    elastigirl,

    Just like the taleban. Confirms my pet “theory” that all fundamentalists share the same religion, the taleban and the IFB and other ev. fundies are just different denominations of the fundy religion.

    (Mind you, I’m not saying that there are not some good people in those systems, but good people that have to go out of their way to forget the goodness part.)


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    Muff Potter: Seriously, what happened to evangelical men that turned them into such you-know-what-holes?

    Fundamentalism, Calvinism, and assorted other “isms” put a mean spirit in them … teachings that men are superior to women, women can’t use their God-given gifts, sit down shut up, do what I tell you … it may be “religion” but it ain’t Christianity.


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    Max,

    It sounds more like fundamental Islam.


  31. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Muff Potter,

    i think christian culture dumbs people down and brainwashes them. even the most astute.

    conditions them to turn off scrutiny, making them think it’s a sin (divisive) and a lack of faith, and rewarding them for being passive compliant lemmings.

    the powerbrokers (male) felt threatened by women. so they spiritualized “male” and “female”, and made the elevation of males and the diminished subjugation of females both righteous virtues.

    the gimmick that makes this work is calling it leadership (appealing to men’s need to be a hero).

    and again, making it an unspoken sin for a man not to ‘lead’ (aka, favoring other males while disappearing females), as part of the system of unspoken theology.

    …but this old news


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    elastigirl,

    i’ve watched the SBC conventions from afar…. my, the men are unimpressive. hard to picture them as having the gumption, high standards, & general ‘right stuff’ of what it takes to be successful in other career fields.

    but they prance about with inflated sense of self.

    it’s all amazing to behold.

    don’t feel like wearing my nice-hat today.


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    Gus,

    “Just like the taleban. Confirms my pet “theory” that all fundamentalists share the same religion”
    ++++++++++++++

    High levels of religiosity have been linked to lower levels of intelligence in a number of recent studies.

    (no real surprise, there.

    i think people can compartmentalize their own intelligence, and reduce its capacity down, depending on the context. by faith, of course. ridiculous

    fundamentalism shows up in religious contexts in general [islam, buddhism, chrisianity, hinduism, judaism, new atheism) and political groups.])

    “The relationship between intelligence and multiple domains of religious
    belief: Evidence from a large adult US sample”
    Gary J. Lewis ⁎, Stuart J. Ritchie, Timothy C. Bates ⁎
    Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom


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    elastigirl: i’ve watched the SBC conventions from afar…. my, the men are unimpressive. hard to picture them as having the gumption, high standards, & general ‘right stuff’ of what it takes to be successful in other career fields.

    but they prance about with inflated sense of self.

    it’s all amazing to behold.

    don’t feel like wearing my nice-hat today.

    I have unfortunately seen men of the cloth cut from the same cloth, but in different denominations. There is much to be said for insisting on a prior tentmaking trade.


  35. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    elastigirl: i’ve watched the SBC conventions from afar…. my, the men are unimpressive. hard to picture them as having the gumption, high standards, & general ‘right stuff’ of what it takes to be successful in other career fields.
    but they prance about with inflated sense of self.

    I agree.


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    Todd Wilhelm: One thing I forgot to point out in the body of the article is if the inner-sanctum of the SBC will blatantly lie to the FBI and invent phony notes, is there any doubt they would be dishonest with survivors of SA and their advocates? Men like Employee #2 who was on the Executive staff of the SWBTS instructed Employee #1 (who seems like she was doing the right thing) to make her document “go away.” This speaks loudly and clearly on the mindset of SBC leadership. I wonder if Employee #1 was fired? If not it’s only because the SBC is currently under the microscope of the DOJ.

    Those who worship the Father of lies. Who is really in charge? Dare one say? Who is at the helm of the org?


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    Samuel Conner,

    You nailed it…. Cover-ups really tell the values of an org…. How many more are involved, and how many more times as a cover-up like this take place?


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    elastigirl,

    Interesting study, thanks for the link.


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    The plot thickens . . .

    From The Tennessean this morning:

    Second SBC pastor implicated in ‘conspiracy’ to destroy evidence in federal abuse inquiry
    A Florida pastor, during his tenure as an administrator at a top Southern Baptist seminary, instructed another seminary employee to make a document about an abuse report “go away,” according to court records.

    The records, filed by federal prosecutors and unsealed last week, came to light amid an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation into aspects of the Southern Baptist Convention and how the SBC and its affiliated entities handled reports of abuse.

    The records on the Florida pastor, who prosecutors didn’t identify, are part of the case against North Carolina pastor Matt Queen, also former administrator at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, who is accused of falsifying records in an attempt to cover up an abuse report. In a news release last week, FBI Assistant Director James Smith said Queen was part of a “conspiracy to destroy evidence related to the ongoing investigation of sexual misconduct.”

    The Florida pastor, who served as the seminary’s chief of staff at the time, is Heath Woolman, currently the lead pastor of Fruit Cove Baptist Church in St. Johns, Florida, according to two people familiar with the events outlined by federal prosecutors and an analysis of records from Woolman’s tenure at Southwestern.

    I copied the first part of the article to share; the rest is here but may be under a paywall: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2024/05/29/sbc-florida-pastor-implicated-abuse-cover-up-doj-probe/73823428007/


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    Headless Unicorn Guy: Does this mean the PERSECUTION!!!!!!! Card is in play?

    Some may try to play it. We know that when Charles Grassley went after various Charismatic preachers over their lavish lifestyles, some criticized him.

    And there are a lot of liars on or backing the right wing of the SBC, from the Caners to Jon Harris (“Professor Joseph Jay”).


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    Also interesting: it appears the “Staff” web pages at both Friendly Avenue and Fruit Cove churches have been taken down.


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    Muff Potter: It sounds more like fundamental Islam

    same spirit covered with a thin veneer of Christianity


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    elastigirl: christian culture dumbs people down and brainwashes them

    If the pulpit can keep the pew there, they can get them to believe lies, keep the gravy train moving, and get away with darn near anything.


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    There are six SBC seminaries, dozens of SBC-affiliated colleges, extensive home and foreign mission agencies, and 1100 Southern Baptist associations with 47,000 churches across the U.S. I suspect lots of shoes will be dropping as the DOJ investigation continues.


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    Max: What is it about the spirit at Southwestern Seminary that causes senior staff there to say things like “break her down” and “make it go away” in regard to sexual abuse on their campus?

    “No more person, no more problem.” — Comrade Stalin


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    Luckyforward: From The Tennessean this morning:

    Second SBC pastor implicated in ‘conspiracy’ to destroy evidence in federal abuse inquiry
    A Florida pastor, during his tenure as an administrator at a top Southern Baptist seminary, instructed another seminary employee to make a document about an abuse report “go away,” according to court records.
    …..
    The Florida pastor, who served as the seminary’s chief of staff at the time, is Heath Woolman, currently the lead pastor of Fruit Cove Baptist Church in St. Johns, Florida, according to two people familiar with the events outlined by federal prosecutors and an analysis of records from Woolman’s tenure at Southwestern.

    This second guy, Heath Woolman’s, Lead Pastor bio is now password protected on the Fruit Cove Baptist Church website, but it touted his association with two organizations we know to be problematic:

    “He has written for 9Marks…and the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention.”

    Oh, and “Additionally, he is a 7th-degree black belt in Taekwondo”


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    Max: They stick like glue until they get their man … in this case, it will be men I think … more shoes will drop.

    And they’re under some serious time pressure.
    They have to get it done before the 2024 elections.


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    The timing on this is interesting … two weeks before the SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis. Do you reckon they will get serious about the matter this time around? At past meetings, they simply made a few resolutions about sexual abuse in the denomination, committed to be more diligent about protecting the flock, prayed a bit, held hands in unity, sang Kumbaya, and returned to their jobs across the convention business as usual … and here we are again.


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    Luckyforward:
    Also interesting:it appears the “Staff” web pages at both Friendly Avenue and Fruit Cove churches have been taken down.

    Not “taken down”, Comrade.
    As of now, They Never Existed!
    (Don’t Ask Political Questions.)


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    Jerome: Oh, and “Additionally, he is a 7th-degree black belt in Taekwondo”

    i.e. “I Can Beat You Up! I Can Beat You Up! I Can Beat You Up! ME MAN! RAWR!”


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    Jerome: Heath Woolman … has written for 9Marks … he is a 7th-degree black belt in Taekwondo

    Whew! Don’t get any meaner than that in “Christian” ministry! I figured he must be NeoCal and 9Marxist when I read the announcement on him … that indoctrination is not doing SBC any good, just putting women into further bondage.


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    https://baptistnews.com/article/dockery-comments-on-indictment-names-two-other-employees-involved/

    “[SWBTS] President David Dockery identified Terri Stovall, longtime-serving dean of women, as ’employee 1′, the person who created a detailed report of a credible accusation of sexual abuse committed by a student. He named her, he said, with her permission….Stovall had asked to be identified by name because she believes she did the right thing.”

    “Dockery also identified former Chief of Staff Heath Woolman as ’employee 2′ in the indictment, the person who allegedly told Stovall to make her report ‘go away’.”


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    Headless Unicorn Guy,

    ““No more person, no more problem.” — Comrade Stalin”
    ++++++++++++++++

    well, Stalin could say such a thing and act on it, with all his power as a dictator.

    these SBC munchkins… it’s like they live in a manufactured reality believing they have power & entitlement & impunity to do these kinds of things.

    it’s so…brazen, i guess.

    the same astonishing entitlement of the male emcee at the grad party who controlled things by favoring the male relatives and male friends while ignoring the mom and grandma, thinking it was entirely appropriate to do so, in a public setting no less.

    a really messed up bubble of oxygen-poor air of self-importance, unaware of reality.


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    elastigirl: power & entitlement & impunity

    … are not fruit of the Holy Spirit


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    Jerome: “Dockery also identified former Chief of Staff Heath Woolman as ’employee 2′ in the indictment, the person who allegedly told Stovall to make her report ‘go away’.”

    Now, Mr. Woolman gets to go away.

    “By your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). You would think these “men of God” would know that!


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    Whew. Due to storms, we haven’t had electricity since Sunday morning, so I’m catching up!
    Great post, and great comments and links.

    Sheesh. Documented evidence of at least two generations of SBC head honchos covering up abuse.
    I am so happy that I walked away from the SBC in 2016. Methinks the phrase ‘conservative resurgence’ has nothing to do with the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit,


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    Nancy2(aka Kevlar): Methinks the phrase ‘conservative resurgence’ has nothing to do with the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit

    As I’ve said before, SBC’s “Conservative Resurgence” was really a “Calvinist Resurgence” in disguise … and the non-Calvinist masses fell for it … too late to do anything about it now; the NeoCals now control all SBC entities.


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    Max,

    I think that the resurgence was initially intended to regain a Victorian style male privilege and control by the traditional baptists. They were too willing to let anyone who agreed with them come aboard, and, in so doing, left all of the doors wide open to Calvinists (the new-fangled Calvinists – not the old-school ones) to set up to seize complete control before the trads knew what was happening.

    So, now we have an SBC turned into an SCC (Southern Calvinist Convention) in exchange for absolute male dominion and privilege.


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    Nancy2(aka Kevlar): So, now we have an SBC turned into an SCC (Southern Calvinist Convention) in exchange for absolute male dominion and privilege.

    So long as the potlucks and social events calendar remains unchanged, I’d venture to say that they don’t give a rat’s a$$.


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    Muff Potter: So long as the potlucks and social events calendar remains unchanged, I’d venture to say that they don’t give a rat’s a$$.

    After spending 70+ years hanging out around Southern Baptists (I’m done now), I agree with the accuracy of your assessment. They don’t care much about things like theology or what goes on in SBC ivory towers, but if you take away their chicken dinners you’ll have a war on your hands!


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    Nancy2(aka Kevlar),

    Al Mohler knew exactly what he was doing when he pitched in with the CR boys, while also revising the Baptist Faith & Message to make it more Calvinist-friendly.


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    Muff Potter: So long as the potlucks and social events calendar remains unchanged, I’d venture to say that they don’t give a rat’s a$$.

    Isn’t there a Verse somewhere about “Selling a Birthright for a mess of pottage”?


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    Nancy2(aka Kevlar): So, now we have an SBC turned into an SCC (Southern Calvinist Convention) in exchange for absolute male dominion and privilege.

    “I AM THE ALPHA! ME MAN!! RAWR!!!”

    And doesn’t The ALPHA have total sexual rights over his inferiors?


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    elastigirl: well, Stalin could say such a thing and act on it, with all his power as a dictator.

    Give ’em time…

    these SBC munchkins… it’s like they live in a manufactured reality believing they have power & entitlement & impunity to do these kinds of things.

    “For you don’t count the dead
    When GOD’s On Your Side…”


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    Nancy2(aka Kevlar): I think that the resurgence was initially intended to regain a Victorian style male privilege and control by the traditional baptists.

    “The Victorians thought that history ended well, because it ended with the Victorians.”
    — G.K.Chesterton


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    Max: “Southern Baptists Pledged to Launch an Online Database of Abusers. It’s Still Empty.”

    The Potemkin Database?


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    Nancy2(aka Kevlar),

    It smacks of making religion into a branch of politics, for what effect they had in mind . . .


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    Headless Unicorn Guy: “The Victorians thought that history ended well, because it ended with the Victorians.”
    — G.K.Chesterton

    There is the joke about why the sun never sets on the British Empire (which was at its height during the Victorian Age). Answer: Because God can’t trust the British in the dark.


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    But then the traditions of the British Navy for many years was “Rum, Buggery, and the Lash.”