*I use scare quotes because the Woke phenom is only relevant in a certain context: it is very Americentric (talking like all white people are the same, for example), and not culturally or ethnically sensitive at all when on looks at the ethnic makeup of the church IN OTHER COUNTRIES. More Emails: FBC Naples Concerned Party Defends Itself Against Accusations of Racism, VIDEO: A look at the problems at FBC Naples, FBC Naples Insider Speaks Out About Alleged Racism and Unbiblical Excommunications at FBC Naples, Leaked Emails Show That FBC Naples Members Had Serious Concerns About Marcus Hayes Biblical Qualifications. The process did not adhere to or reflect any biblical model. Experienced first hand Church Bullying, Over blown egos, inability and refusal to be biblically teachabe. Bonnett told the Daily News in an email Wednesday no revote has been scheduled. That's not what happened at First Baptist Church of Naples, Florida. First Naples glorifies God by being a multigenerational, multiethnic, multiplying church, that raises up the next generation of disciple makers, church planters, missionaries, and world changers, to reach Naples to the Nations. Wicker also was pastor for 20 years to evangelical author and founder of Prison Fellowship, Chuck Colson. 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. @Bernie Lutchman you are so correct. A portion of the 19% that voted against Marcus Hayes did so based on racial prejudices. Yet Caudill said that when he spoke up in meetings, the 79-year-old deacon was deemed divisive.. The deacons vote on it, and, if they approve the recommendation, the individual then is informed. Ricardo Barbosa December 25, 2014. It may interest you to go over to TWW and read their article, as well as the comments from members of that church who state they were unfairly misrepresented in their vote against this new pastor. Notice carefully: Our task as ambassadors is to bring good news to people. However, no one even begins to acknowledge that this system is the product of Hayes ministry. Interesting. The refusal to release specific documents to any donating member, also a violation of not only the by-laws (which was the same verbiage as the state law) but also the state of Florida Not-for-profit Compliance Act and the IRS which governs their 501(c)(3) status. Boy oh boy. If there is any racism its from Pastor Hayes and his endorsement of Woke Movement. "It has nothing to do with race," said William Ericksen, a member of the church for five years and part of the group. It provides an identity for its most passionate acolytes. With two young children at home, she dedicated her time to being a stay at home mom until 2007 when the Lord opened the door for her to be a preschool teacher at First Baptist Academy in Naples. 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. First, there are blacks who strenuously object to books like Woke Church, as well as intersectionality, and reparations for slavery. Publisher Log-in
concerned with factors other than racism, such as Marcus Hayes As a seasonal member of FBCN during the events you cover here I can share how troubling this is. So sick of this hate and evil which is exactly what this all is. 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. Great! Instead he was charged with this amorphous set of wrongdoings that were later largely or totally shown to be untrue. As a side note, is the implication that if a white* person disagrees with a person of colour on the legitimacy of Woke political philosophy/identity-building/self-definition in the church, that person must necessarily be a racist? Last Selected and edited comments from an article by Carl Trueman, Revoice, Evangelical Culture, and the Return of an Old Friend (July 31, 2018). Rather than bringing members who are accused of sin before the church body for examination, members are being removed from the church rolls through actions taken directly by deacons and pastoral staff without a vote of the church body. (I)t seems from social media posts that, with no investigation, some convention leaders have chosen to believe this narrative, Caudill wrote. @Michelle I believe you make valid points. Dorrill near the end of a Nov. 2 service told the congregation that "the integrity of our election last weekend was compromised. Hi. United States Sad state of affairs. 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? To find sermons, announcements, and other resources, click on the link below. We recall the old Church too. Let us pray for you. We cant wait to meet you and get you connected! Takeaway: One could reject the concerns of the church members and not label them racist. 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. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. However, leaked Items. "To our knowledge, he has never handleda multi-million-dollar budget, building programs, fundraising and/or staffing issues as required by a Senior Pastor," the group wrote. The church leadership released a statement explaining how the church membership wasnt supposed to vote their conscience, but rather rubberstamp the search committees recommendation: As most of you know, in Southern Baptist life,when a Senior Pastor comes in view of a call by the recommendation of a Search Committee, the actual vote is most always viewed as a ceremonial and celebratory affirmation of the Spirits leading within the hearts and minds of the Search Committee that has extended the call. Racial prejudice a factor in rejection of black pastor, read the headline of a piece published in the Baptist Standard. To those who are part of the Group of Concerned FBNC Members, the church's allegations of racism have no standing. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. First Baptist Church Naples, she said,"is not a racist church by any stretch of the imagination. Edie, the church's executive pastor, however, called Hayes "one of the most qualified men in Southern Baptist life to be a Senior Pastor of any church in this country.". I'm New. their sin. FBC Naples also sent several cease and desist letters from prominent law firm, Holland & Knight, to several church members suspected of having involvement with the Voices of FBCN email. Well-sourced. The controversy, which quickly spread in religious circles online, has suddenly thrust the North Naples church into an unwelcome spotlight, much to the dismay of some members. Why is that? In 2016, under the leadership of its former pastor, the church changed its bylaws to adopt the85%approval rule, instead of a simple or super-majority, Stearns continued. 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. Yet despite all thats happened, Wicker said, I pray people would not use this to come against megachurches or seeing all committees as bad., Similarly, Caudill stated, First Baptist Naples still has potential to be used greatly by God. The Holy Spirit inspired him to write his short epistle to people who were struggling with some of these very same issues. close to Wicker, contacted Pulpit & Pen with disturbing details Wade Burleson is also part of the smear campaign, too. The Marcus Hayes vote was used to cry wolf. ADMISSIONS ATHLETICS BLOG CALENDAR CONTACT EMPLOYMENT FIRST NAPLES CHURCH GIVE . Location Berean Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church located in the beautiful community of Naples, Florida, just south of Ft. Myers. (The church publishes an annual directory with member email addresses.). I was shocked that they would make this immediate, Wicker said. What would Jesus make of Wokeness intersectionality, and indeed, the movement for resegregation by some of those who are of the Prominent Woke, in light of Galatians 3:28? According to the inside source, soon after his employment at FBC Naples ended, Wicker was banned from the church campus. @DooWopCokeFan Please try to understand something: NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE THINK ALIKE. This is nothing new. What have we done, indeed? Sandra received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from our local college, Florida Gulfcoast University in 2001. Considering slave owners slept with slaves (even in my own ancestry), whites befriended their black help all while denying their equal rights it is possible to have friends and even spouses of other races and still have issues with bias and prejudice. Following worship services on December 7 and 8, receptions were held to honor Edies six years at the church. Today, a former FBC Naples insider who is Ready to start serving? Until this happens FBCN will be a former great ministry. church as large as FBC Naples. At the same time, some members were concerned about some of his social media posts that might indicate support for a pro-abortion, pro-LGBTQ Democrat presidential candidate, his endorsement of the problematic book Woke Church, his blocking some FBCN members on his social media platforms, and other theological, political, and administrative issues. Colson thought so highly of an oath of integrity that Wicker had written that Colson included the oath in his landmark book,The Body. At least four emails were "broadly sent," he wrote, with others privately sent. I just wish so many from my former church would open their eyes and see whats going on. Click below to hear stories and testimonies of how the Lord has been working in and through our First Naples Family. Catholic Idolaters Claim to Find St. Peters BonesAgain. And in 2006, Wicker served as head of the SBC Pastors Conference. 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. Read: Police release name of cop who killed black security guard who was corralling a gunman, Hayes quote-tweeted a November 2018 tweet by an attorney who represented Roberson's family after the fatal shooting. The leadership structure for the past 500 years in pretty much all of our churches is just refurbished Roman Catholicism. The following Tuesday, April 23, Wicker met with FBC Naples leaders including Dorrill, Chairman of the Personnel Committee Troy Boone, Chairman of the Finance Committee Don Collier, and Chairman of Deacons Terry Cole. "First Baptist Naples is, ethnically, a predominantly white church but we are not a racist church." Caudill said no one replied to his letter. What Happens Now? We asked him to allow us to hug him. Thats what REALLY happened. 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? The situation at FBC Naples should serve as a solemn reminder to church members everywhere to ensure that their by-laws provide church members biblical protections from rogue staff members who would seek to dominate their church. Second, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged color blindness. I am sickened by the way he was treated and am grateful for this exposure. Hayes pastoral appointment of doing so out of racial prejudice and announced that This sequence of events raised many questions for me and my wife, Caudill said. If I had known that, there would have been no resignation whatsoever., I was shocked that they would make this immediate. He didnt mentioned anything in the question and answer sessions or his sermon that gave me any indication reconciling and unifying our church was even on his radar. A racist, leftist marxist movement and which claims blacks were muzzled for 150 years now its whites turn to be face the same treatment. I am Caucasian from Eastern Europe. It was all being done vindictively and not in a righteous, godly manner., Concerned families gravitated to the Caudills, who had served in SBC churches for over 50 years. No, Again. The church did not hold a reception to honor Wickers decades of ministry, nor was Wicker permitted to address the congregation. 3000 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, FL 34109, U.S. Giving. SBC Elites cite distinguished lawyer and Southern Baptist Matthew Martens; however, Martens has written persuasively, Supporters of a constitutional amendment to ban women pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), New intel points to Covid origin in a lab leak, remember when this was a, NAMB PR VP Mike Ebert emerges as key witness in McRaney v. NAMB What will, Briefing: What You Need to Know About the First Baptist Naples Crisis, Neo-Marxist Southern Baptists turn Stalinist after election defeat, Who Can Preach? "It had to do with biblical principals that many questioned," she wrote. Yet Caudill said that instead of calling a special meeting in accordance with church bylaws, the leadership at FBC Naples excommunicated 18 of the Concerned Members, including Caudill. You would call Martin Luther King an Uncle Tom Im sure. An economy of power, people, and indeed money which is non-ecclesiastical but highly influential within evangelical churches. (Lets not even get into the bullying by church staff) Lets just focus on the by-laws for one second. 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. Regardless of who is at fault for what, this is NOT what Church should be. Thanks for submitting! I read about this over at The Wartburg Watch. Food. First Baptist Church Naples. This is why I dont attend a church and work on my relationship with God on a daily basis. Stop reading things into what a person says or writes (Im sure you will do this to me) as being racist. Hi, Carla. We've got a Bible & Life Group that's perfect for . Church leaders have alleged that race played a role in the failed vote to affirm Hayes, causing a firestorm of heated discussion on social media and spawning posts by religious websites and blogs. 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! SUNDAY, Dec 11 (4pm) NO RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE. announced his intention to transition gradually out of the churchs pastorate Now it certainly will as the debt load is unsustainable. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? I would know. "We know this because of the campaign that started just days before by a few disgruntled people in our church.". According to sources, Wicker wanted a long period of transition to the new leadership, with even an overlap to help the transition process. You may recall this line from his I have a dream speech: I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I believe Dr. King was right. Clarified a few things I had heard through the SBC grape vine. Jonathan Head November 26, 2011. Caudill said no one replied to his letter. It isnt white people who have turned on the evil and hate. Sylee Gibson, an excommunicated member who works in law enforcement, added that the man chairing the FBC Naples senior pastor search team is a Florida businessman with a checkered pastNeil Dorrill. 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. We also contacted Marcus Hayes and Biltmore Church about the alleged emails but they declined to comment. Our warfare is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12); and our duty as ambassadors does not permit us to compromise or align ourselves with any kind of human philosophies, religious deceit, or any other kind of falsehood (Colossians 2:8). Southern Baptist Faith & Message Explained, Woke Purges, Show Trials: What First Baptist Church Naples reveals about the future - Capstone Report, BREAKING: FBC Naples sics lawyers on dissenting church members - Capstone Report, SBC Elites defend credibly accused standard to ruin lives, Bart Barber flipflops on pledge to bring vote to ban Women Pastors in SBC, Evangelical Elites lied you to about the origins of Covid, Woke SBC Elites Delete History To Hide Their Schemes. Caudill added that Dorrill advised Caudill that any pastoral candidates suggested by Wicker would be dead on arrival., In the months leading up to Wickers resignation, the church hired Auxano, a church consulting company, to advise the church on the pastoral transition process. No One Knows. Looking for past sermons? But key conferences and key organizations had a vested interest in sidestepping orthodoxy and demonizing any who pointed that out. However, he stated, In the 22 years I was there (FBC Naples), I never heard a racist commentever. Thank you. It stinks to me of Greed. Just fill out this form and let us know your needs. to be clear. Marcus Hayes, an African-American who is on staff at Biltmore Church in the Asheville, North Carolina area, was the candidate. The decision to excommunicate us 48 hours after a failed vote, without ANY confrontation, was nothing more than a knee jerk reaction to make people pay and to establish a scapegoat. Naples Christmas Celebration. Is not the sheer stupidity of this self-evident? I saw that simply as a distraction from the devil.. The campaign, he said in an email to the Daily News, consisted of social media, texting, phone calls and a series of emails. In addition to this ungodly action, a criminal investigation was instigated by church leadership over email addresses that were allegedly stolen from the church by an anonymous group calling itself Voices of FBCN. I have no hate here. Coffee. The congregation must find a way to publicly be able to bring Hayes Wicker and his family back into this fellowship as loved and former members. fell short of the 85% vote required to install him as a pastor. It was appalling and heartbreaking to witness. For the church's leadership, "it exposed a sickness in what we characterize as a cancer within our fellowship," he continued in the letter, which also asked for forgiveness from Hayes and his wife and "any other person who has been offended, hurt, or damaged by the outcome" of the vote. 1-877-582-9246. . But while we cannot know the heart of another, this doesnt sound like a case of hearts poisoned intolerance, of minds clouded by prejudice. Have attended a lot of Southern Baptist Churches. 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