By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM)—A false claim was secretly edited out of the highly controversial, May 15, “Report of the Independent Investigation,” published by Guidepost Solutions, which now has revealed its pro-gay sympathies, tweeting July 6 that it is “proud to be an ally to our LGBTQ+ community.” It is the second pro-gay group hired by the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to deal with accusations of sexual abuse coverup. News sources previously uncovered that Bradley, a regional law firm that now represents the SBC EC, supports the Nashville gay pride festival and the national bar association for LGBT legal professionals. SECRETS The now-debunked accusation in the report was deleted on or before June 3, without an editor’s note to explain the change. The controversy concerned an exchange between Jim Richards, then the executive director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, and Philip Bethancourt, then the executive vice president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Guidepost described the conversation on page 105 of the report with a statement that “divisions within SBC leadership were clear,” … [Read more...]

By Message staff ANAHEIM, California (LBM) – Messengers at the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting will tackle a long list of convention business June 14-15 in Anaheim, California. Steven Bates, chairman of the committee on order of business and a member of First Baptist, Winnfield, told the Message that messengers should be mindful that only 20 minutes are allotted for the introduction of motions according to the agenda. This year, though, following the report of the Sexual Abuse Task Force (Tuesday at 1:45 p.m.) presented by Bruce Frank, a member of Biltmore Baptist Church, Arden, North Carolina and the task force chairman, there could be a marked increase in discussion as well as additional motions being introduced. Bates’ committee has set aside an hour for the report and discussion. ”I don’t know how much discussion there will be,” said Bates. “Our committee in drafting the agenda has set aside an hour for the report and any discussion. If that is not ample time, then someone must make a motion to get additional time and the agenda can be modified. The problem is we have so many things that must be dealt with that this could push things back some.” The 288-page report -- that can be found on … [Read more...]