A representative from the Collier County Sheriffs Office also confirmed that FBC Naples contacted them on July 3 regarding a suspicious incident., Wickers daughter, Allyson Stephens, said that on September 13, two detectives visited her home and questioned her about the Voices of FBCN email. First Baptist Church has had problems for years. I know that for those with kids this can be tough but if you think things will get better just remember, you cant fight city hall. I actually want you to see me as a black woman, because that has shaped my experiences in life how people have reacted to me, treated me, etc. We met his wife and daughters. Jonathan Akin is also national director of young leaders for SBCs North American Mission Board. "Marcus Hayes, a highly respected and a well-qualified pastor, remains the man that we believe God has called to be our next pastor," Dorrill said to a standing ovation from the congregation. After years of delay, Southern Baptists passed a series of reforms in 2022 aimed at addressing abuse in the nations largest Protestant, A former youth pastor at First Baptist Church (FBC) of Bentonville, Arkansas, has accepted a plea deal for his victimization of children, Several churches deemed not in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) have responded to action taken by the SBC Executive. Jemel Roberson was in my student ministry while I was a youth pastor in Chicago. I think this one would have died even if none of this soap opera garbage had taken place. Church members are upset over the treatment of the retiring pastor who served 27 years at FBC Naples FBC Naples, Florida's longtime senior pastor Hayes Wicker announced his retirement from pastoring the church in January 2019. On social media, too, some church members said race played no role in the failed vote. And as of March 1, the churchs $14 million budget had a shortfall of $1.2 million. However, no evidence of racism has yet been produced. Bob Caudill, a former deacon and spokesman for Concerned Members of FBCN, said that a month before the vote on Marcus Hayes, the group had circulated a petition requesting a special business meeting to discuss serious concerns at FBC Naples. ", "After reviewing a little deeper we find that "social justice" and racial inequality appear to be his priority as it pertains to the church and ministry!" Even Jesus said so much when he talked a man who started building a tower without counting the cost. ", Dorrill said there had been "a concerted campaign of misinformation filled with destructive and divisive content." But I dont see how the spirit of God can move among those people, unless they are willing to understand what has happened and admit that what they have done is absolutely atrocious, ungodly, unjust, and even in violation of their own bylaws.. Am I not allowed as a deacon and 15+ year member of the church to ask questions about leaders who in my opinion have lied and deceived the church for political gain? I was preparing to speak before the largest crowd we would ever have, he said. Racism had Nothing to do with voting!It had to do with biblical principals that many questioned ( CRT, SJM, "Woke" Church). "It had to do with biblical principals that many questioned," she wrote. Now, everything I just said is my opinion. A racist, leftist marxist movement and which claims blacks were muzzled for 150 years now its whites turn to be face the same treatment. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect accurate information regarding the participants at a meeting of FBC Naples leaders on April 23. Wicker said Dorrill banned him from pastoral search team meetings, and the chairmen of the personnel and finance committees told Wicker his oversight was not needed. Get directions, reviews and information for First Baptist Church - Naples in Naples, FL. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. Ungodly treatment of a Godly man and his entire family, not to mention those whose leadership and dedication to the Lord was well-known and long-standing. The Marcus Hayes vote was used to cry wolf. But a question and answer session with Hayes and his wife held by the church on Oct. 24 offers some glimpses into the opposition that built against the prospective new senior pastor and the apparent rift between church leadership and some in the congregation. Sad state of affairs. Ill never bother with a Church again, because this is always going to be an issue. The final vote was 81 percent in favor and 19 percent against. The deacons vote on it, and, if they approve the recommendation, the individual then is informed. "Unfortunately our church familys business has become fodder for spotlight-seeking bloggers and others who are commenting about Christians whom they do not know personally, and slandering a church that they know little about," Sonya Stearns, a member of the church, said in an email to the Daily News. To that point, no group had met with Hayes or the committee privately, Dorrill continued, before adding to applause from those gathered at the Q&A session: "This will continue to be a transparent search. Wicker spent 27 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Naples. He friended, then de-friended and blocked my wife on social media. Thats what REALLY happened. Thats why its so harmful to the church; its born of and encourages the myopic tendencies of American evangelicalism. announced his intention to transition gradually out of the churchs pastorate @DooWopCokeFan Please try to understand something: NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE THINK ALIKE. However, in May, Wicker said he agreed to videotape a short farewell message to members from a script both he and the personnel committee had approved. A portion of the 19% that voted against Marcus Hayes did so based on racial prejudices. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. For 27 years Hayes Wicker and his family faithfully devoted their lives to Gods calling in ministry at FBCN. The churchs Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response. Find a local church Explore; Giving; App; Sign In; Find a Church; Florida; Naples, FL Jude certainly understood this. He didnt rob a liquor store, assault some young person in his office, or do anything wrong that could be cited. Also, the concept of colorblindness is nice in theory but is biologically impossible (unless you are colorblind). Church leaders often seem to operate like smoke filled back room big city politicians. #JemelRoberson https://t.co/Y1dMXQY33N, But the Group of Concerned FBNC Members, citing the tweet, said Hayes should be questioned about his relationship with first responders, specifically police, "and his thoughts on such topics as Ferguson, police shootings involving people of color, etc. Some of these blacks are church leaders. Upvote 3 Downvote. But am I not allowed to vote based on my opinion without being called a racist? Greear, who had written a letter of recommendation for Marcus Hayes, called the open letter by FBC Naples leadership a bold, Gospel-faithful response of the leadership of FBC Naples. Greear added, Let us be united in lament that any vestige of this kind of sinful prejudice remains in our churches., Also, Danny Akin, president of SBC-affiliated Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), described the open letter as a strong and redemptive word from FBC Naples.. However, he stated, In the 22 years I was there (FBC Naples), I never heard a racist commentever. action has been taken to enact church discipline on the dissenters because of (The video is now private and requires a password to view.). Their considerations related to legitimate theological, moral, and political issues. The article above has been corrected to identify the group as Voices of FBCN. Former deacon, Blake Crawford, said Wicker was later exonerated of the charges in the anonymous letter by church accounting firm, Phillips Harvey Group. We are ambassadorswith a message of good news for people who walk in a land of darkness and dwell in the land of the shadow of death (Isaiah 9:2). He said the church was hopeful that Hayes would allow his name to be reconsidered as the church's next senior pastor or interim pastor. Jonathan Head November 26, 2011. Wicker said he was shocked by the accusations, but instead of fighting, he tendered his resignation. Christianity Today (CT) reported in November that Neil Dorrill had claimed at a Q&A session that inappropriate emails had been sent to Hayess church in North Carolina, Biltmore Church. There are many more than five things you should know about this situation that obviously you either do not know, or have chosen to ignore because they dont support your rhetoric. He nevertheless urged them to contend earnestly for the faith against all falsehood, while doing everything possible to deliver souls from destruction: snatching them out of the fire . No One Knows. Here is a prime example of CRT. But while we cannot know the heart of another, this doesnt sound like a case of hearts poisoned intolerance, of minds clouded by prejudice. fell short of the 85% vote required to install him as a pastor. Read the letter from the church to the Southern Baptist Convention, question and answer session with Hayes and his wife, Read the letter from First Baptist to church members regarding voting results, fatal shooting of a black security guard by a white police officer, Police release name of cop who killed black security guard who was corralling a gunman, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Roku Live Streaming, Copyright 2023 ITP Productions, Inc. dba ChristianWorldMedia.com, All Rights Reserved, Welcome to First Naples! Publisher Log-in By Jessica Pigg Last updated Nov 2, 2021 NAPLES Since Alan Brumback's call as lead pastor and his arrival in mid-September, First Baptist Church in Naples has seen baptismal waters stirred every weekend, having celebrated 42 baptisms in October and already scheduling another 15 in November. If there is any racism its from Pastor Hayes and his endorsement of Woke Movement. However, no one even begins to acknowledge that this system is the product of Hayes ministry. Hayes pastoral appointment of doing so out of racial prejudice and announced that Love for Jesus, for my fellow brother/sister and love for the truth. At the end of the service we found the pastor in The Commons area. Sadly, friction in the pastoral transition at FBC Naples has been present from the outset. It stinks to me of Greed. *Please note that the preceding is my personal opinion. More than 450 emails in support of Hayes were received by the church in the past four days, Dorrill said during the Nov. 2 service. to be clear. THAT IS OK! First Baptist Church Naples. Check the upcoming First Baptist Church - Naples schedule for concerts, shows, and events in 2023-2024 to find the best tickets for all events at First Baptist Church - Naples. Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. [email protected]. Leading the Q&A session, Dorrill alluded to the past year for the church, which saw its longtime senior pastor, Hayes Wicker, leave amid dissatisfaction by some church members over the circumstances of his departure. Wickers hopes for a smooth transition have been dashed. This group was engaged in an email campaign to inform church members about various concerns with Marcus Hayes. So we are ambassador-soldiers, reaching out to sinners with the truth even as we make every effort to destroy the lies and other forms of evil that hold them in deadly bondage. Marcus Hayes, an African-American who is on staff at Biltmore Church in the Asheville, North Carolina area, was the candidate. But key conferences and key organizations had a vested interest in sidestepping orthodoxy and demonizing any who pointed that out. So much for giving church members the benefit of the doubt. SATURDAY, Dec 10 (4pm) NO RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE. Interesting. We are so glad you've chosen to join us. Arkansas Youth Pastor Pleads Guilty to 13 Counts of Sexual Assault, Churches Respond to Action of SBC Executive Committee, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. Im not sure why you would describe Dr. Kings sentiments as ridiculous and ungodly. Theres only one human race. ( I wonder what the Aramaic is for fad.). Select the event you would like to attend below: FRIDAY, Dec 9 (7pm) NO RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE. Specialties: First Baptist Church Naples is a church family that is unified on several basic theological understandings, which are based in our understanding of God's Word. He didnt return multiple phone calls and e-mails. They arrived in Naples and gathered other Baptist families to meet with them in a small outbuilding behind the local grocery store, meeting for their first worship . Our church voted by a percentage of 81 % to bring Marcus Hayes as our next Pastor. Hundreds of members have left the church. Just fill out this form and let us know your needs. Help Guides Submit. In the tweet, the attorney, Lee Merritt, wrote in part that investigators claim "all the shooter saw was black" and said that was "exactly the problem.". The whole clergy-laity distinction, senior pastor, associate pastor, the professional, or called into the ministry Christians is not found ANYWHERE in the New Testament.NO WHERE! "A portion of the 19% that voted against Marcus Hayes did so based on racial prejudices," Executive Pastor John D. Edie wrote in an Oct. 31 letter to the Southern Baptist Convention. The 26-year-old guard, Jemel Roberson, was detaining a suspected gunman who opened fire at the bar where Roberson worked when the police officer fatally shot Roberson. If I had known that, there would have been no resignation whatsoever., I was shocked that they would make this immediate. While methods may change, our commitment to Biblical doctrine is a non-negotiable. Church leaders at First Baptist Church Naples have blasted a faction of their congregation, alleging "racial prejudices" contributed to a failed vote late last month to name a black man. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. about the pastoral transition process at the church, a process which has descended Greear, SEBTS President Danny Akin, and Rev. On Easter weekend, Wicker said he received a text message that several chairmen wanted to meet with him about church unrest. Wicker said he tried to ignore it. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Church leadership has told excommunicated church members that public response to their situation will result in a restraining order banning them from First Baptist Academy related activities. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. We live in UK now as did Naples Baptist 1st Associate Minisiter but come to Naples Baptist every Dec/Jan. We cant wait to meet you and get you connected! According to sources, Wicker wanted a long period of transition to the new leadership, with even an overlap to help the transition process. We reached out to leaders at FBC Naples about a dozen times, seeking evidence for the racism charge, as well as comment on other issues at the church, but no one responded. Totally the act of Satan in this issue because where the Spirit of the Lord is there is peace. It does not suddenly make a point valid or invalid. But more importantly, Ericksen said, members feel their voice isn't being heard by church leaders. Instead of the transition period Wicker announced, the staff strong-armed Wicker out after over a quarter of a century of service to the people of FBC Naples, sources told the Capstone Report. emails from the accused church members reveal that dissenters were Its no wonder why real born again, followers of the Lord Jesus Christ are walking away from churches, not the body of our Lord Jesus, the Ekklesia, but from this mess we call church. However, Mancini added that the situation at FBC Naples was not typical but did not want to comment on the unique circumstances at the church. God has done great things among us and we believe that greater things are yet to come! I lived it. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? How about Luke 16:11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Men who run a church into so much debt that it is soon bankrupt with one plague of pestilence, why do we believe Jesus gave such man any true riches or wisdom at all? But, then again, with such an unmistakable history of racism behind it, predicting which way the SBC would jump in response to a charge of racism would be too easy. I am responding simply to share that theres another side the story and I wish I/we had an opportunity to share such a story without fear of legal action (thats right, the church has threatened legal action against me as well as threatened that if I say anything at all negative about the church they will trespass me prevent me from dropping off and picking up my kids at First Baptist Academy. Naples, FL 34109 (239) 597-2233. Of course they did. And guess what? If not please hold your comments. These were ALL issues that these so-called dissenters were trying to have addressed PRIOR to the arrival of Marcus. Garippa said The Naples Gathering has 350 to 400 people attending, 85-percent of whom are former FBC Naples members. "We know this because of the campaign that started just days before by a few disgruntled people in our church.". Is not the sheer stupidity of this self-evident? This is why I dont attend a church and work on my relationship with God on a daily basis. ", Two members of the counting committee, he said, have admitted to leaking confidential early voting results from Saturday night to a lay leader in the church "who then used that information, we believe, to compromise the process.". Takeaway: So much for a democracy. Until this happens FBCN will be a former great ministry. And second, Mr. Hayes did nothing to convince me that he would embrace me as a disgraced member of the church. Our Pastoral Search Committee, lay leadership, and the Pastoral Staff all anticipated that our vote would be nothing less than an affirmative statement from our people that God had sovereignly chosen for Marcus Hayes to be our next Pastor. hating even the garment polluted by the flesh (Jude 23). Why not make an issue of Dorrills past before Hayes confirmation vote? Today, a former FBC Naples insider who is Dwight McKissic, a prominent African American SBC pastor in Arlington, Texas. Instead, Wicker was quickly forced out. And we are soldierscharged with pulling down ideological strongholds and casting down the lies and deception spawned by the forces of evil (2 Corinthians 10:35; 2 Timothy 2:34). But what was concluded was that all things were not fair nor were they right. Im inclined to believe it wasnt racially motivated. Location Berean Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church located in the beautiful community of Naples, Florida, just south of Ft. Myers. Regardless of what specific concerns were held, its important to know that 1) no evidence of genuine racism on the part of those holding them has surfaced, and 2) the efforts these members made to ask questions and express reservations were not taken seriously. Shopping. Such a loving bunch, arent they?!). I think there were people in the church who were afraid of having a black pastor, especially one who does not subscribe to the ridiculous and ungodly notion of colorblindness and one who holds the racial views that Hayes does. But the uniform refusal to comment from the church leadership is suspicious. @Michelle I believe you make valid points. In November, just weeks after the church excommunicated 18 members, John Garippa, a longtime FBC Naples member who led two popular Bible Studies at FBC Naples, left the church. Not lies. (The church publishes an annual directory with member email addresses.). If you promote that, take a LONG look in the mirror. No church creed has ever taught the nonsense that had become so pervasive in evangelicalism. Dorrill did not elaborate on how the process was compromised, and Bonnett did not answer emailed questions about the matter.
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