Under the guise of supporting abuse victims, the Democrat-controlled Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) hosted a conference over the weekend with the main underlying purpose of advocating for an end to male-leadership in the denomination.
Aside from Beth Moore attacking complementarianism (the belief that men and women are equal, but have different gender roles) as the source of much sex abuse and claiming that egalitarians (those who want female preachers) also hold to Biblical inerrancy – a spurious claim that Southern Baptists have traditionally rejected – almost every speaking at the Caring Well Conference advocated for female church leadership.
The conference was largely a response to reports in the Houston Chronicle that alleged the presence of roughly 700 abuse victims in the SBC, a denomination of more than 45 thousand thousands and 14 million members (which is statistically no worse than abuse stats in any other denomination, and dramatically better than most).
The ERLC, which has abandoned the denomination’s fight against gay marriage, religious tyranny, and abortion, is eager to dwell on issue that would distract Southern Baptists from its traditional conservative principles.
The real theme of the conference was promoting female leadership, a faux pas among Southern Baptists for at least 30 years, when liberals were removed from SBC institutions in the so-called “Conservative Resurgence.”
Boz Tchvidjian, an advocate for abuse victims, preached to Southern Baptist pastors…
A system that claims to have little authority against abusive churches and pastors, I think would undoubtedly find such authority if an SBC church ordained a woman or a gay man. It’s time to start listening to all survivors, and not just those who feel safe or are approved…A system that excludes one entire gender from leadership, something [is] wrong with that. Yes we can have a theological debate any day, and I’m happy to have it. But my goodness.”
He continued…
“I’ve been dealing with this 25 years and I can tell you, if more women were in leadership in those rooms and making decisions, we wouldn’t have gotten rid of the whole issue — trust me, but to get their insights and their wisdom?
However, the facts indicate that abuse is no better in denominations with female or gay leadership.
A famous anti-Trump, liberal lady-pastor made national headlines this year for sexually harassing a gay member of her church staff. Bill Hybels, now suspected of sexually abusing staff members, is a fully egalitarian church. Contrary to Boz Tchvidjian’s opinion, the woman abused at Willow Creek would not have been abused had she not been in the room to make decisions.
These liberal Southern Baptists, led by former Democratic staffer, Russell Moore at the ERLC, want you to believe that the best way to prevent abuse is to allow female pastors in our churches.
We would submit to you that the notion of female pastors abuses the Word of God.
