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A Sinking Ship or Weathering the Storm: #SBC21 in 21 Tweets

A Sinking Ship or Weathering the Storm: #SBC21 in 21 Tweets

Last updated on: June 17, 2021 at 7:40 am by Kristin Du Mez

A Sinking Ship or Weathering the Storm: #SBC21 in 21 Tweets 2021-06-17T07:40:39-04:00 Kristin Du Mez

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This week’s Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting has been widely viewed as a moment of reckoning. With a far-right takeover afoot, with Black pastors threatening to leave the SBC should Mike Stone or Al Mohler be elected president, with Russell Moore’s leaked letters revealing the ugly tactics members of the SBC Executive Committee were accustomed to wielding to consolidate their power and ignore misogyny, abuse, and racism within the SBC, all eyes turned to Nashville.

For those of us who aren’t attending this week’s annual meeting, Twitter offers us illuminating glimpses into defining moments. And for those who don’t spend an inordinate amount of time doomscrolling on Twitter, I’ve compiled a collection of tweets for your reading (and viewing) pleasure.

First, though, a caveat. As Baylor historian Elesha Coffman pointed out (over on Facebook), it’s important to keep the SBC in perspective: “Granted, the SBC is a flaming train wreck that’s hard to look away from, but it isn’t ‘the church,’ nor is it a reflection of ‘American politics.’ It’s *a* church that embodies problems within the *Republican party.* Don’t give their conflagration more oxygen than it deserves.”

That said, as sociologist Andrew Whitehead noted, the SBC is a dominant force in American Protestantism:

Why so much focus on the #SBC21 meetings this week? Well, if we’re talking Protestant Christianity in the US the SBC accounts for *a lot* of Protestant Christians.

Red = SBC adherents are more numerous than any other Protestant group in that county. pic.twitter.com/Z3vvEqaKrG

— Andrew Whitehead (@ndrewwhitehead) June 14, 2021

And, as Laura Klenda reminded us, the influence of the SBC isn’t just about numbers:

Why am I watching the SBC closely this week? B/c as the largest denomination in the world, they impact American Evangelicalism. Materials from Lifeway are translated and distributed worldwide, and impact the expectations of Christians worldwide of what a “good walk” looks like +

— Laura Klenda ��‍♀️ (@KlauraLenda) June 16, 2021

Let’s get started, then. To understand a fairly large portion of #SBC21 tweets in the days leading up to the meeting, we should probably begin with this one. Here we have a video trailer released by the Conservative Baptist Network warning of the dangers of CRT (critical race theory), “cultural ideologies,” calls to lay down white privilege, and calls for white evangelicals to surrender their power, assertions that the gospel isn’t good news without economic and social restoration, and the like–all of which can be summed up in the alleged “liberal drift” of the SBC.

NEW VIDEO: The Southern Baptist Convention is drifting, and it’s time we wake up and realize that we are not where we need to be, nor are we headed in the right direction.

Watch the full video here: https://t.co/MyZfeZyZ9l pic.twitter.com/g67vv8tpvw

— Conservative Baptist Network (@BaptistNetwork) June 9, 2021

In response, certain conservative pastors resolved to #TaketheShip, and here’s the tweet that launched a thousand pirate GIFs.

Received many kind and thoughtful gifts and congratulations tonight. But I think this one from @Queen2Five might have been my favorite! #TaketheShip pic.twitter.com/BgtcGZSqXe

— Allen S. Nelson IV (@cuatronelson) May 17, 2021

Of course, it is helpful to remember that “liberal” means different things to different people, and that it’s nonsensical to call individuals like Russell Moore “liberals.”

I’ve spent most of my professional life fighting *actual* theological liberalism. When I see people claiming a “liberal drift” in #SouthernBaptist Convention, or trying to “cancel” some evangelical SBC-ers as “liberals,” I’m not sure they even understand their own words. #SBC21

— John Lomperis (@JohnLomperis) June 15, 2021

Still, there’s a long history of ultra-conservatives in the SBC doing just that, and it was no surprise that they fell back on familiar tropes. Most notably, perhaps, Tom Buck of the reactionary Founders Ministries insisted on the need for men to be properly attired as they fight the church’s battles:

Baptists don’t need pastors who “have lace on their skinny jeans.” @TomBuck @FoundersMin

— Bob Smietana (@bobsmietana) June 14, 2021

Such statements are easy to ridicule, but it’s worth keeping in mind that the power these men wield is real, and that their actions have consequences. Often devastating ones.

I’ve been silent for 3 years. I didn’t address or acknowledge individuals that sought to harm me.
I can’t continue. Abuse of power cannot continue. All of what I share below is backed up with documentation. This very small yet very loud group does not represent the Jesus we know. https://t.co/xidxKqH16u

— Megan Lively (@megannlively) June 10, 2021

It is survivors like Lively who have refused to let the actions of these men go unchallenged. Another survivor of abuse in SBC circles, Hannah-Kate, went to Nashville to hand out copies of a survivors’ joint statement, and outside the convention hall she directly confronted Mike Stone, the right-wing candidate for the presidency of the SBC.

Moments ago, @PastorMikeStone told @freedomsbride — just outside the #SBC21 convention hall — that she was “doing harm” to the denomination. As she walked away in tears, pastors and messengers came up to shake his hand and wish him luck tomorrow.

— Jonathan L. Krohn (@JonathanLKrohn) June 15, 2021

Pastor Stone’s apparently callous response incensed some observers, even as he characterized the encounter as “polite” and not unkind.

I have just left being with Hannah-Kate, because I walked up immediately afterwards and she was sobbing. Multiple other pastors corroborated. I don’t care where you land or what team you’re on in this convention, anything short of comforting words for victims is unacceptable. https://t.co/Y7pGB0CCnN

— Griffin Gulledge (@griffingulledge) June 15, 2021

The role of survivors’ testimonies has been critical to surfacing issues of abuse–and mishandling of abuse–within SBC circles. Yet this has not come without enormous cost to survivors themselves, as Kyle James Howard pointed out:

I’m hesitant to say this cuz I don’t wanna come off as being dismissive of the bravery & faithfulness of survivors at the SBC; but I think I have a track record solid enough for folks to know where I’m coming from.

Why we got so many wounded sheep in this den of Vipers?

— Kyle J. Howard (@KyleJamesHoward) June 15, 2021

Howard is right. The fact that this advocacy largely falls on the shoulders of survivors themselves should be seen as a colossal failure of leadership on the part of the SBC leaders.

Meanwhile, Hannah Anderson offered a steady stream of incisive commentary on the proceedings, pointing out the value system at the root of this treatment of survivors:

In the SBC, women are “permenantly disqualified” from holding the pastorate so I am really very okay with sexual predators being banned from ever holding the pastorate again regardless of repentance.

— hannah anderson (@sometimesalight) June 15, 2021

Jennifer Greenberg, too, noted that the independence of SBC churches that had apparently hindered the SBC’s ability to crack down on sexual predators in their midst was nowhere to be seen when it came to condemning Saddleback’s recent affirmation of female pastors:

That was fast.

So, if you ordain three ladies it gets responded to in a matter of months, but if you abuse three ladies things get dragged out for decades. Interesting.

— Jennifer Greenberg � (@JennMGreenberg) June 15, 2021

Allison Leigh also juxtaposed the SBC’s emphasis on modesty (and yes, there is apparently a song “Modest is Hottest”) while refusing to hold sexual abusers accountable.

There’s something pretty wrong with a denomination that would perform a song about modesty for women, but won’t hold sexual abusers in their pulpits accountable or even look into it. Talk about hypocrisy.

— Allison ✨⚡️� (@itsallisonleigh) June 15, 2021

Back in Nashville, outgoing president J.D. Greear issued a powerful challenge to attending messengers in an attempt to stave off the right-wing insurgency:

Pastor @jdgreear‘s outgoing message as president suggests it’s Pharisaical for the SBC to hide behind “legal smokescreens or NDAs”, police complementarianism while maligning female abuse victims, focus on condemning CRT rather than lamenting racial bigotry. #SBC21

— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) June 15, 2021

— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) June 15, 2021

Greear’s call was heeded, but just barely:

Announcement of Ed Litton victory over Mike Stone – 52% to 48% pic.twitter.com/bUkcc9TUwG

— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) June 15, 2021

The most immediate crisis was averted. African American pastor Dwight McKissic, who had announced that he’d be leaving the SBC were either Al Mohler or Mike Stone to be elected president, said he would be staying:

Repeatedly being asked, am I going to remain in the SBC. Integrity demands that I do so. Resolution 9 was/is untouched & Ed Litton, a man who has a good track record & right heart on race, was elected president. Therefore, I will remain. SBC is in good hands with Litton.

— Dwight McKissic (@pastordmack) June 16, 2021

He noted, however, that the recent departures of Beth Moore and Russell Moore had helped rally opponents of the ultra-conservative insurgency:

When Beth Moore & Russell Moore walked away from the SBC, pointing out the fact that the presence of racism & abuse coverups was being tolerated among us, they literally prepared the way for today’s votes of redemption & trajectory. We owe them a great debt of gratitude. Thanks.

— Dwight McKissic (@pastordmack) June 16, 2021

Messengers also resisted the Executive Committee’s efforts to expand their power.

That was a big moment when @vancepitman and @DannyAkin spoke against the Executive Committee’s attempt to expand their power. #SBC21 nearly unanimously voted against the EC, signaling that the convention doesn’t want to give more power to an organization under investigation

— Phillip Bethancourt (@pbethancourt) June 15, 2021

On Wednesday, news also broke that the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will entertain an audit of abuse and coverups in the SBC:

BIG NEWS: The ERLC will consider a proposed, third-party audit of sexual abuse and coverups in the Southern Baptist Convention. #SBCtoo #SBC21 #SBC2021 #SBC

“This is a monumental step forward for the SBC,” said @R_Denhollander https://t.co/WIrGKMM0RH

— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) June 16, 2021

Washington Post reporter Sarah Pulliam Bailey tweeted a picture of survivors embracing after the vote to add oversight to the invetigation into the SBC Executive Committee on mishandling of abuse:

Women who have been abused in Southern Baptist churches embrace each other after members here voted following several days of advocacy.

Members just voted overwhelmingly to add oversight of an investigation into the SBC Executive Committee on mishandling sexual abuse.⁩ #sbc21 pic.twitter.com/dzzRbzatru
— Sarah Pulliam Bailey �️�️�️ (@spulliam) June 16, 2021

And this, from Tiffany Thigpen:

#Survivors! WE DID IT! #SBC21 Thank you #messengers !!! pic.twitter.com/a2mzp7BJk2

— Tiffany Thigpen (@ThigpenTiffany) June 16, 2021

Rachael Denhollander put this development in historical perspective (take a few minutes and read this entire thread):

Today, SBC messengers voted to conduct a convention-wide audit of abuse and mishandling, and also to investigate the actions of convention leaders related to sexual abuse. It’s a critical step, but what what I want you to really see, is what it took to get here:

— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) June 17, 2021

Jacob Denhollander celebrated his wife’s tireless advocacy to help the SBC do the right thing, finally.

In the space of 3 years, @R_Denhollander basically single-handedly introduced the phrase “third-party investigation” into the wider vocabulary of Christians, showed how it could be done, & now has helped the largest denomination in the country do the right thing.

I’m so proud.

— Jacob Denhollander (@JJ_Denhollander) June 16, 2021

And, Phil Vischer finally got to tweet the tweet he’d been waiting to tweet:

As we predicted, the pirates did not do anything. #sbc21 pic.twitter.com/jsXMI0aLBa

— Phil Vischer (@philvischer) June 16, 2021

Lest one think that all this signifies the defeat of the ultra-conservative wing, Rod Martin, member of the SBC Executive Committee, sums up the lessons that his faction is taking away from their failure to win the presidency:

Tough beat. But it’s the work of a single year. We fought the entire denominational machine, plus all their MSM friends.

We didn’t win. But this result shows we can.@BaptistNetwork @PastorMikeStone

— Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) June 15, 2021

Martin is right. But the events of this week made clear that neither side will be going down without a fight.

**Ok, sure, I went a couple over 21 tweets here. My original draft had 21, but people kept tweeting.

Southern Baptist Convention

About Kristin Du Mez

Kristin Du Mez is Professor of History at Calvin University and author of Jesus and John Wayne. You can read more about the author here.

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