Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

ERLC BOARD OFFICERS SHARE EXPLANATION, RELEASES NEW STATEMENT

By The Baptist Paper

Brent Leatherwood — Photo by Van Payne / The Baptist Paper

NASHVILLE — The following statement was released early evening July 23 to provide an explanation and clarity about the recent announcements related to ERLC president Brent Leatherwood. It came from the executive committee of the board of trustees (essentially the officers of the board) for ERLC following a special-called informational meeting via Zoom with the full board. Tony Beam of South Carolina is now chair of the board. He previously served as vice chair.

Full statement from ERLC

“As the executive committee of the trustees of the ERLC, we take seriously the obligation given to us to ensure the execution of the ministry assignment of this institution that’s over 100 years old. In recent days, we have failed to fulfill that trust in ways that ensure the stability of this organization. Over the past 24 hours, we have experienced a flurry of activity which has been destabilizing. To that end, it is incumbent on us to clearly address concerns. [Read more…]

TENNESCENE: JUL. 24

LEADERS

Van Richmond

Van Richmond, a pastor and church planter for 12 years, has recently written When Scripture Meets the Streets: What the Bible Says About Everyday Events. The book features everyday stories from everyday people that are paired with God’s wisdom and counsel to show His loving concern for your life. An Air Force veteran of 30 years, Richmond said his “hope and prayer is these stories from life and the related Scriptures will serve as both inspiration and guidance.” The book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. His wife, Lynn, serves as convention manager for the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.

John Rogers recently retired as pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Mohawk. He and his wife Tina served the church for 21 years. [Read more…]

TBDR TEAMS RESPOND TO TEXAS, IOWA

By David Dawson
Communications specialist, TBMB

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Claude Moore unloads debris in front of a residence in Okoboji, Iowa. Moore was part of TBDR’s response to the severe flooding that ravaged the area in late June. Heavy rains resulted in rivers rising to record-breaking levels, breaching levees and impacting thousands of homes.

SPENCER, Iowa — For many people, summertime means operating at a somewhat slower pace. However, the opposite is true for Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers. 

In the wake of multiple disasters — including a recent hurricane in Texas and flooding in Iowa — the TBDR teams are experiencing a hectic stretch, with volunteers responding to both states during the back half of July. 

Stanley Roach, DR director for Knox County Baptists, is overseeing the response in Iowa. Contacted by the Baptist and Reflector on July 17, Roach and his team were on the way to a job site in Spencer, preparing for a very busy week.

“They told us when we got here that were about 50 homes that were on the list for assistance,” said Roach. “And they’ve been adding even more (since we arrived).”  [Read more…]

UPDATED: LEATHERWOOD WAS NEVER TERMINATED

By Jennifer Davis Rash
The Baptist Paper

Brent Leatherwood — The Baptist Paper photo

NASHVILLE — Within hours of releasing a statement on the evening of July 22 saying Brent Leatherwood had been “removed” from his position as president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the organization announced the following morning that Leatherwood remains in the position. Meanwhile, the chair of the ERLC’s executive committee, Kevin Smith, has resigned and since posted an apology on social media.

The details of what triggered the initial decision to remove Leatherwood as president remains unclear.

Smith later apologized in a since-deleted social media post for a “consequential procedural mistake,” The Tennessean reported. “The mistake was mine; I apologize.” [Read more…]

CHURCHES ASKED TO OBSERVE B&R DAY ON AUG. 18

By Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches are encouraged to participate in Baptist and Reflector Day on Sunday, Aug. 18.

Since 1835, Tennessee Baptists have had a newspaper, observed B&R editor Lonnie Wilkey. “We had a newspaper even before we had a convention. That’s how important some of the early Baptists in Tennessee felt about having a source for news,” he said.

A state paper is more than a source of providing news and information, Wilkey noted. “In the hands of God, it can be a tool to inspire and motivate people to ministry that will bring glory to God and ultimately expand His kingdom,” Wilkey added. “My hope and desire is that we still have people 189 years later who see the need for a resource such as the Baptist and Reflector.”  [Read more…]

LEATHERWOOD TO REMAIN ERLC PRESIDENT

By Brandon Porter
Baptist Press

Leatherwood

NASHVILLE — Brent Leatherwood remains president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. ERLC executive board members say board Chairman Kevin Smith acted alone in an announcement of Leatherwood’s removal on July 22 and violated the entity’s bylaws.

A early morning release from the ERLC executive committee says:

“As members of the ERLC’s Executive Committee, we formally retract the press release which was sent yesterday.

“There was not an authorized meeting, vote, or action taken by the Executive Committee. Kevin Smith has resigned as Chair of the Executive Committee.” [Read more…]

FIRE ENGULFS HISTORIC SANCTUARY AT FBC DALLAS

By Baptist Press staff

Firefighters work to extinguish the fire at First Baptist Dallas. — Photo courtesy FBC Dallas

DALLAS — The historic sanctuary at First Baptist Church Dallas burned Friday evening, July 19. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. The Victorian-style, red brick sanctuary building was erected 1890 and is a recognized Texas Historic Landmark.

According to media reports, Dallas Fire and Rescue received a call at 6:05 p.m., Friday evening regarding a building on fire in Downtown Dallas. Firefighters responded and within 15 minutes of the first call, a second alarm was requested. Then around 7:30 p.m., the scene was upgraded to a three-alarm fire. A fourth alarm was called in around 8:15 p.m. The Dallas Morning News reported that “more than 60 units were dispatched to respond to the structure fire.” [Read more…]

SNAPSHOTS IN TIME: G.M. SAVAGE

By Baptist and Reflector

Savage

As you walk among Union’s campus, you’ll see buildings with different names. These names are connected to many who greatly impacted Union’s growth and history. One such name often associated with Union is Savage which is on the current chapel and named in honor of G.M. Savage. 

George M. Savage was born in 1849 in Rienzi, Miss. One of 19 children born to a Baptist preacher, Savage began preaching in 1865 at age 17. He entered college in 1869 and was ordained as a pastor in 1870 having been invited to preach at his home church. While in college, Savage was a tutor and enjoyed teaching. [Read more…]

PASTORS ADDRESS ‘GROSS SCRIPTURAL MISINTERPRETATION’ OF BLOOD ON EAR

By Jennifer Davis Rash
The Alabama Baptist

Photo by Jennifer Davis Rash / The Alabama Baptist

MOBILE, Ala. — In the days following the July 13 assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, an application of Scripture related to the situation (see image below) is making the rounds on social media and drawing growing concern from ministry leaders in the process.

Derek Allen, pastor of First Baptist Church Tillman’s Corner in the Mobile area, addressed the concern July 17.

“I don’t want to be unnecessarily cruel, but this post is way out of bounds,” Allen wrote on Facebook. “If you are a follower of Christ and have shared any version of this post, please take it down. In the future, please check with a solid, conservative Bible scholar/pastor before posting something like it. There are so many issues with it that I’m not sure where to start.” [Read more…]

LGBT PUBLIC POLICY SHIFT APPEARS TO BE IN FULL SWING ACROSS U.S.

By Brandon Porter
Baptist Press

Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and former President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law addresses the GOP’s convention in Minneapolis July 16. — Screen capture from PBS News

NASHVILLE — A political shift in LGBT policy is evident across the country this week. Legislation passed in California July 15 gives public schools the ability to conceal when students change their names and pronouns. On the same day, the Republican National Convention passed a platform that was stripped of “anti-LBGT” language, policy leaders say.

The California legislation, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 15, prohibits school districts from requiring teachers to inform parents when students tells school leaders they want to change their name or the pronouns used to refer to them.

“It protects the child-parent relationship by preventing politicians and school staff from inappropriately intervening in family matters and attempting to control if, when and how families have deeply personal conversations,” Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Newsom told Fox News. [Read more…]

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