tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post6873968600821885326..comments2024-03-17T16:21:14.907-05:00Comments on Stop Baptist Predators: Accommodated to unaccountabilityChrista Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-21561764010156379272008-09-20T20:39:00.000-05:002008-09-20T20:39:00.000-05:00And I'm reading the book of Hosea. And how Israel ...And I'm reading the book of Hosea. And how Israel was unfaithful to God. And how Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea. Just to be honest and upfront, Hosea loved a whore. And God loved Israel, who was "renting" herself out too. Both Hosea and God loved the whore. And I'm searching my own heart. And I've been through some of that betrayal in my own personal life. But now I'm looking at the SBC and wondering, (excuse me for being biblically explicit, because I will,) I do wonder why I even care about the SBC whore who has walked away from me. I loved her. But she broke my heart.<BR/><BR/>Just sayin'.<BR/>oc.ochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00910693449008506409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-35953862926249955032008-09-20T20:10:00.000-05:002008-09-20T20:10:00.000-05:00It really hurts me as a retired SBC pastor to read...It really hurts me as a retired SBC pastor to read these comments. It makes me ashamed of my former church. An apology from me means nothing except to say that all of us as pastors do not share the attitudes of the current leadership. <BR/>Even though I have never met any of you I love you and wish there was something I could do to help you deal not only with your pain but to force the SBC to do the right thing. Christa you are right in saying that an apology would be a good START and yes it is the Christian thing to do to offer assistance to ALL victims. There is so much more they could do if they really cared. I am so sorry they do not.<BR/>To all of you who have been hurt. Your complaints and desire for a response is valid and right. Just like you did not do ANYTHING to deserve what an evil person did to you you deserve more of a response than what you have received. Please know some of us are sorry and fully support every effort to bring about change and healing. God BlessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-30314413986028881082008-09-20T18:33:00.000-05:002008-09-20T18:33:00.000-05:00I've seen that same sort of pain in many clergy ab...I've seen that same sort of pain in many clergy abuse survivors who try SO hard to hang on to some connection to the faith community they once knew. Even the tiniest showing of compassion and care from WITHIN the faith community would mean so much to them. But instead, they just wind up getting their teeth kicked in at every turn. I've seen it so many times now, and every time it still makes me weep. I will never, ever, ever understand why Southern Baptist leaders don't try to bring in the wounded sheep and minister to them. Wouldn't that be the Christian thing to do? Wouldn't it be the decent, ethical thing to do? But noooooo. They just let the wounded sheep bleed out in the field. And you know what? The ground is now covered in blood.Christa Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-23183342986345143272008-09-20T18:25:00.000-05:002008-09-20T18:25:00.000-05:00OC: I know it hurts for you - I've seen that pain ...OC: I know it hurts for you - I've seen that pain in some of your prior comments. Sometimes I think it's the WAY the SBC left so many by the wayside that wound up making it even more painful than it might otherwise have been for many. It's as though the SBC decided to put on steel-toe boots and just kick all the "riff-raff" out of the way. And then they sort of got into it, fed off their own adrenaline and the sight of others' blood, and so they just kept kicking. And of course, the "riff-raff" are actually good, decent, ordinary people. But it seems as though the SBC as an institution has gotten so hyped up on its radicalized and self-aggrandized self-image to even notice or care.Christa Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-65957863461658391312008-09-20T17:39:00.000-05:002008-09-20T17:39:00.000-05:00Thanks John.Thanks John.ochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00910693449008506409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-67124333921166714032008-09-20T14:45:00.000-05:002008-09-20T14:45:00.000-05:00OC, it only hurts for a little while. When you are...OC, it only hurts for a little while. When you are free to worship without the "stuff" hanging over you you will be blessed. It is hard but well worth the trip.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-89231600248454375372008-09-20T12:59:00.000-05:002008-09-20T12:59:00.000-05:00PS. It hurts.PS. It hurts.ochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00910693449008506409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-36144315164355109862008-09-20T12:54:00.000-05:002008-09-20T12:54:00.000-05:00Christa,Probably way off topic and maybe not under...Christa,<BR/>Probably way off topic and maybe not understandable...but...<BR/>I know you are a fan of the Boss.<BR/>Me too.<BR/>But right now I'm listening to some old Boston stuff. And I have just understood something concerning the SBC. I'm not leaving it, it's leaving me. <BR/><BR/>"I see MaryAnne walking away..."<BR/><BR/>Just sayin'.<BR/>oc.ochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00910693449008506409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-28620887842456853702008-09-20T07:27:00.000-05:002008-09-20T07:27:00.000-05:00"There is the reason he could not be found: It wou..."There is the reason he could not be found: It would be too embarassing to their 'anointed' leaders to admit they hired a rapist."<BR/><BR/>I've often thought the same thing, Lydia - that it was the very fact of his high connections that helped to assure no one would find him (and to assure that there would be an extremely hostile reaction to my attempts at reporting him). Here's a prior posting that talks about some of his other high-honcho connections: <A HREF="http://stopbaptistpredators.blogspot.com/2008/01/oh-what-tangled-webs.html" REL="nofollow">Oh what tangled webs.</A><BR/><BR/>But of course, I've also seen plenty of cover-ups in smaller churches with less prominent pastors.<BR/><BR/>John: Not to worry - Though an apology from the SBC is certainly due, I'm not holding my breath while I wait for it.Christa Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-53183613367939729122008-09-20T05:25:00.000-05:002008-09-20T05:25:00.000-05:00Here is, to me, the height of hypocrisy and hubris...Here is, to me, the height of hypocrisy and hubris. There were more than 100 Baptist ministers from around Northeast Florida to Jacksonville's Trinity Baptist Church all getting together, all raising awareness and media concern about....wait for it....Gays. <BR/><BR/>Here is one comment:<BR/><BR/><I>Failure will result in the continuing moral decline of American society and government, said the Rev. Tom Messer, Trinity's pastor, and opens congregations to lawsuits if they refuse to marry same-sex couples. Messer said he's holding similar gatherings around the state.</I><BR/><BR/>So if they can do all this because of same sex marriage, why can't do they do more about sexual abuse?<BR/><BR/>Here is the link to the article:<BR/>http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/091608/met_332725297.shtmlJ. Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11877632554459535665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-76858575679987605582008-09-20T00:24:00.000-05:002008-09-20T00:24:00.000-05:00"He had been in children’s ministry all along, inc..."He had been in children’s ministry all along, including a long stint at the church of former SBC president Charles Stanley and a stint at the church of former Florida Baptist Convention president Dwayne Mercer."<BR/><BR/>There is the reason he could not be found: It would be too embarassing to their 'anointed' leaders to admit they hired a rapist. We must protect the leaders at all costs to victims. Who cares about them...just women and children not nearly as important as these men who have a lot of power, prestige and money to lose. <BR/><BR/>LydiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-64919677811186700112008-09-18T19:35:00.000-05:002008-09-18T19:35:00.000-05:00John,Amen and Amen! Especially, "They have never b...John,<BR/><BR/>Amen and Amen! Especially, "They have never been inclined to admit a mistake, failure, nor short coming because how can they KNOW God's will and ever do anything wrong.!"<BR/><BR/>Does that bring back childhood nightmares! Because they alone KNOW God's will and because they alone do NO WRONG makes them Baptist. I grew up thinking that being Baptist did not SAVE you, but that all Baptists were saved. I also grew up wondering if people who belonged to other denominations would go to heaven. Is that pathetic or what? <BR/><BR/>Now, I didn't just decide to believe that way. I got that from my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Baptist church, child abusers that they were, who definitely believed that way. And I got that from the church and church people who basically thought they were better than everyone else -- they had ARRIVED spiritualy -- it was unspoken but there none the less.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-57273371679665626672008-09-18T16:32:00.000-05:002008-09-18T16:32:00.000-05:00Except for the very weak statement concerning segr...Except for the very weak statement concerning segregation I cannot remember the SBC EVER apologizing about ANYTHING. You must understand that this organization is made up of a lot, NOT ALL, men who do their crossword puzzels with an ink pen! If you are going to wait for an apology you might want to memorize the dictionary while you wait. They have never been inclined to admit a mistake, failure, nor short coming because how can they KNOW God's will and ever do anything wrong.!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com