The letters are still working their way through the mail system as I type this post.
What is interesting is that the neo-Confederate movement has ridiculed the Southern Baptist Convention over their apology over slavery, yet the Ashley River Baptist Church has chosen to lend their facilities to a movement which mocks them.
I sent Dr. Floyd quite a bit of documentation. I think it will be somewhat surprising to the Southern Baptist to read the rather disrespectful and virulent condemnations of the Southern Baptist Church.
The letter sent to Dr. Floyd was sent by certified mail and the others were sent with proof of mailing.
The letter is as follows:
October
27, 2014
Edward
H. Sebesta
Dr.
Ronnie Floyd
President
The
Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention
901
Commerce Street
Nashville,
TN 37203-3699
Dear
Dr. Floyd:
I
regret to report that the Ashley River Baptist Church, a member of the Southern
Baptist Convention, hosted an event for the 2014 National Reunion of the Sons
of Confederate Veterans (SCV). It is reported in the July 30, 2014 issue of the
Times Examiner. I enclose a copy, and the article can be read
online at http://www.timesexaminer.com/historical/1914-2014-national-reunion-of-sons-of-confederate-veterans.
The
SCV is a group which promotes what I believe and I think any rational person
would believe are extremist and racist beliefs as documented in an article by
myself at Black Commentator, http://www.blackcommentator.com/526/526_confederacy_sebesta_guest_share.html.
I enclose a copy. I do investigative research regarding the neo-Confederate
movement. My research has been published by university presses, peer reviewed
academic journals, as well as by Black
Commentator. My resume is online at www.templeofdemocracy.com/resume.htm.
I enclose a copy.
When
churches lend neo-Confederate groups the use of their facilities they not only
give them support through the use of their facilities but additionally they
lend the prestige and credibility of their individual church and denomination
to that group. The church is also party to the enabling the agenda of the
neo-Confederates.
I
am disappointed in the Ashley River Baptist Church actions. The Southern
Baptist churches have had a record of not hosting the national conventions of
neo-Confederate groups. For national conventions from 1990 to 2014 only one
Southern Baptist church had hosted the United Daughters of the Confederacy,
which was First Baptist Church of Columbia in South Carolina. For 1990 to 2013 I don’t find any record of a
Southern Baptist church hosting the national convention of the Sons of
Confederate Veterans. I enclose tables of hosting churches and bar graphs of
the hosting by denomination. This
information can also be found online at the web page www.templeofdemocracy.com/churchesoftheconfederacy.htm.
I
had had written the four denominations leading in hosting neo-Confederate
national convention services not to host the SCV: Episcopalians (both
factions), United Methodist, Presbyterians and Roman Catholics (See again
enclosed bar graphs). There were indications that the SCV was having
difficulties finding a church.
I
did not write any organizations of Southern Baptists in South Carolina since I
thought Southern Baptists wouldn’t do such a thing. The Southern Baptist church
had seemed to be moving forward on the issue of race with such notable actions
as the 1995 apology for slavery. It had seemed that the Southern Baptists
comprehended that Christianity was a global effort with no one race or nation
privileged over another. Yet this doesn’t seem to be the situation.
The
neo-Confederate movement besides bringing back into print nearly every
antebellum book defending slavery have also been publishing some modern
theological defenses of slavery.
The
neo-Confederates have been condemning the Southern Baptist Convention for their
apology regarding slavery since the resolution was passed in 1995. (http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/899).
The notorious Southern Partisan had two condemnations published. [2nd
Quarter, Vol. 15, 1995, pp. 7 Wesley Pruden; 3rd Quarter, Vol. 15,
1995, pp. 56 Samuel Francis. Documentation enclosed.]
Though
the Sons of Confederate Veterans has not directly condemned the Southern
Baptists for their resolution, they have strongly promoted and praised the
writings that have condemned the Southern Baptists.
Gary
Lee Roper has written a book, “Antebellum Slavery: An Orthodox View,” 2008,
advocating a pro-slavery theology, in which on pages 281-82 he condemns the
Southern Baptist apology and calls those who passed it “pompous ignoramus.” I
enclose documentation.
This
book is promoted and praised by the Sons of Confederate Veterans in their
publication Chaplain’s Corps Chronicles
of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. In the April 2008 issue the SCV
Chaplain’s Corps praises the book and tells the readers it is a “must read.”
Documentation enclosed. (http://www.scv.org/pdf/chaplains/2008_Apr.pdf
).
The
book is also sold in the SCV catalog, SCV’s online store, and in their official
publication Confederate Veteran. I
enclose documentation.
Walter
D. Kennedy has written a book “Myths of American Slavery,” Pelican Publishing
Company, 2003. The Southern Baptists are denounced for their apology on pages
88-96 in a section titled “Radical Influence in the Southern Baptist
Convention,” in a chapter titled “Abolitionism Versus Christianity.” On page 89
the author states:
“The passing of the
so-called Racial Reconciliation Resolution by the assembled delegates defamed
and otherwise slandered the good name of Southern Baptists of the past 150
years. The resolution is nothing more than liberal double-speak for an act of
cultural genocide against the South.”
Elsewhere
on page 89 the resolution is called “infamous” and the author states, “The
duped delegates regurgitated on cue the abolitionist (i.e. liberal) propaganda
about the institution of African servitude and life in the Old South.” I
enclose documentation.
This
book is sold in the SCV catalog, SCV’s online store, and in their official
publication Confederate Veteran. I
enclose documentation.
The
Southern Baptists may have apologized over slavery in 1995 but in 2014 it is
aiding and abetting an organization that is promoting pro-slavery theology and
a neo-Confederate ideology that condemns the Southern Baptist Convention.
One
concern I have developed in investigating neo-Confederate groups is how they
are enabled by mainstream organizations such as corporations, churches,
government bodies and others. So I have decided to ask these groups to
reconsider their relations with specific neo-Confederate groups. It is all well
and good that I have written on extremist Confederate Christian nationalists
for the Canadian Review of American
Studies (http://www.templeofdemocracy.com/ConfederateChristianNationalism.pdf),
but I have realized that the enabling of a racist historical consciousness in
the general public and racist neo-Confederate groups by mainstream churches is
as detrimental to America as these fringe churches referred to in my paper. The
Christianity advocated by the SCV is largely similar. You can review their
Chaplain’s Chronicle online at http://www.scv.org/about/chaplainsChronicle.php
and http://chaplain-in-chief.com/.
In
the summer of 2013 I had a successful campaign getting corporations to stop
supporting the SCV as reported in a Black
Commentator article which is available online at a free guest link at http://www.blackcommentator2.com/527_cover_scv_donation_loss_sebesta_guest.html.
(Link is also in my online resume.) It took eight days for this campaign to
succeed. I regret to say that so far the temples of Mammon were much more
willing to give up neo-Confederacy than the churches of Christ.
I
ask that the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention not host the events of
neo-Confederate organizations.
Finally
as other denominations inevitably move away from hosting neo-Confederate groups
the neo-Confederate groups will seek alternatives and the Southern Baptist
Convention risks being the leading church hosting neo-Confederate organizations.
This transition seems to have already started.
Sincerely
Yours,
Edward
H. Sebesta
PS:
My website is undergoing redesign, but there will be redirects for all the
pages that were on www.templeofdemocracy.com
and the web pages mentioned should be easily found. The resume will be
Curriculum Vitae, etc.
CC:
See the tables on the following pages:
No
|
Name
|
Title
|
Mailing
Address
|
1
|
Dr.
Ronnie Floyd
|
President
|
The
Executive Committee, SBC, 901 Commerce St., Nashville, TN 37203-3699
|
2
|
Michael
W. Routt
|
Chairman
Executive Committee
|
Senior
Pastor Circle Drive Baptist Church, 801 N Circle Dr, Colorado Springs, CO
80909
|
3
|
John
L. Yeats
|
Vice
Chairman Executive Committee
|
Executive
Director Missouri Baptist Convention, 400 E High St, Jefferson City, MO 65101
|
4
|
Carol
A. Yarber
|
Secretary
Executive Committee
|
Retired
Office manager, Athens, TX
|
5
|
Shane
B. Hall
|
Admin.
Comm. Chair Executive Committee
|
Pastor
First Southern Baptist Church, 6400 S Sooner Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73135
|
6
|
Stephen
N. Rummage
|
Bus.
& Fin. Comm. Chair
|
Senior
Pastor Bell Shoals Baptist Church, 2102 Bell Shoals Rd, Brandon, FL 33511
|
7
|
Benjamin
F. Kelley
|
CP
Comm. Chair
|
Vice
President/Executive Director Baptist Health Care Foundation, Montgomery, AL
|
8
|
Debby
Akerman
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Myrtle
Beach, SC, WMU national President. 100 Missionary Ridge Dr, Birmingham, AL
35242
|
9
|
Kenneth
W. Alford
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Crossroads Baptist Church, 3001 Country Club Dr, Valdosta, GA 31602
|
10
|
James
W. Averett
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
Southern Company, Birmingham, AL
|
11
|
Mark
H. Ballard
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
President
Northeastern Baptist College, Northeastern Baptist College
PO Box 4600 Bennington, VT 05201-4600 |
12
|
Tom
Biles
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Executive
Director Tampa Bay Baptist Assocaiton, 1060 W Busch Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612
|
13
|
Charles
W. Boling
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Director
of Missions, Williamson Baptist Assoc., 10093 Old Bainbridge Trail, Marion,
IL 62959
|
14
|
Wilma
J. Booth
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
teacher, Elgin, IL
|
15
|
Tim
W. Brasher
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
CEO,
Scottsdale, AZ
|
16
|
Charles
R. Chambers
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
CFO
Consultant, First Baptist, Toledo, OH
|
17
|
M.
Kent Choate
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Community
Groups Pastor, The Church At, Broken Arrow, OK SEND VIA HEADQUARTERS
|
18
|
Tony
L. Crisp
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Eastanalle
Baptist Church, 482 County Road 725, Riceville, TN 37370
|
19
|
B.
Scott Davis
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Pitts Baptist Chuch, 140 Pitts School Rd NW, Concord, NC 28027
|
20
|
Eddie
W. DeHondt, Jr.
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Minister
Rose Park Baptist Church, 5560 Buncombe Rd, Shreveport, LA 71129
|
21
|
Procopio
U. DeLeon
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Scientist, Laurel Springs, NJ.
|
22
|
David
O. Dykes
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Green Acres Baptist Church, 1607 Troup Hwy, Tyler, TX 75701
|
23
|
J.
Paul Fleming
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Executive
Pastor Forestville Baptist Church, 2 Old McElhaney Rd, Greenville, SC 29617
|
24
|
Robert
O. Freshour
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
First Baptist Church-South Lyon, 60820 Marjorie Ann St, South Lyon, MI 48178
|
25
|
James
W. Gregory
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor First Southern Baptist Church,1400 N 3rd E, Mountain Home, ID 83647
|
26
|
Ron
F. Hale
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Adult/Pastoral Care, West Jackson Baptist Church, 580 Oil Well Rd, Jackson,
TN 38305
|
27
|
David
A. Hall
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Chuch, 2106 Churchville Rd, Bel Air, MD 21015
|
28
|
David
E. Hamilton
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
West Heights Baptist Church, 336 W Oxford St, Pontotoc, MS 38863
|
29
|
Ted
I. Haney
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Financial
Planner, Lynn Haven, FL
|
30
|
Bedford
F. Hanson
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Mountain View Baptist Church, 4250 Poison Spider Rd, Mills, WY 82604
|
31
|
Phil
Harper
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Accounting
Professor, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
|
32
|
Phillip
Herring
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Minister
of Education, First Baptist Church, 312 Kempsville Rd, Norfolk, VA 23502
|
33
|
Timonthy
Hight
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Grace Life Baptist Church, 1640 Peppers Ferry Road, Christiansburg, VA
24073
|
34
|
Mike
Holloway
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Cook Baptist Church, 2000 Cooktown Rd, Ruston, LA 71270
|
35
|
Rebecca
S. Illingsworth
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Legal
Secretary/Recruiting Assistance, Royse City, TX
|
36
|
Ralph
Jenkins
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Airway Hieghts Baptist Church, 12322 W Sunset Hwy, Airway Heights, WA 99001
|
37
|
William
E. Kinchen
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Semi-retired
insurance, Jackson, MS
|
38
|
David
W. King
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Rancher,
Stanley, NM
|
39
|
Bobby
L. Kirk
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Farmer,
Real Estate Broker, Doddsville, MS
|
40
|
Franklin
D. Kovaleski
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
NFHS, Anderson, IN
|
41
|
Michael
L. Lawson
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor First Baptist Church, 400 S. Travis St., Sherman, TX 75090
|
42
|
Steven
W. Loggins
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Director
of Missions, Mount Olive, AL
|
43
|
R.
Ron Madison
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Mount Zion Baptist Church, 228 Mt Zion Rd, Huntsville, AL 35806
|
44
|
Timothy
D. Maynard
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Fruit Cove Baptist Church, 501 Florida 13, St Johns, FL 32259
|
45
|
Paul
E. McPherson
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
CPA, Magnolia, AR
|
46
|
Christopher
D. Metcalf
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Lihue Baptist Church, 3223 Elua St, Lihue, HI 96766
|
47
|
Terry
H. Montgomery
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
President/CEO
Charlotte, NC
|
48
|
John
H. Moore
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
Physician, Associate Pastor Branson First Baptist Church, 400 S Sunshine St,
Branson, MO 65616
|
49
|
D.
Wayne Myrick
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
CEO,
MG Design & Construction, Verbena, AL
|
50
|
Robert
Neely
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastoral
Associate/Sales, Spartenburg, SC
|
51
|
Timothy
A. Ohis
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Believers Southern Baptist Church, 13909 West 21st St N, Wichita, KS 67235
|
52
|
L.
Douglas Passmore
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
First Baptist East, 3302 SE Lee Blvd, Lawton, OK 73501
|
53
|
Jeff
L. Paul
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
First Baptist Church, 302 S Missouri St, Archie, MO 64725
|
54
|
Pat
J. Pavlian
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Mortgage
Banker, Highland, CA
|
55
|
David
C. Perdue
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Business,
Memphis, TN
|
56
|
Michael
E. Pope
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Dentist,
Somerset, TN
|
57
|
Bill
Price
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Vocational
Evangelist, Covington, GA
|
58
|
James
A. Ray
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Banker,
Clearwater, FL
|
59
|
Charles
Rhinehart
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Engineer,
Youngsville, LA
|
60
|
Wayne
Robertson
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Morningside Baptist Church, 425 Connell Rd, Valdosta, GA 31602
|
61
|
Lovina
K. Rush
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
Commerce Bank, Holt, MO
|
62
|
Cheryl
S. Samples
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
Educator, Dallas, GA
|
63
|
Michael
L. Scifres
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
pharmacist, Eufaula, OK
|
64
|
Jay
F. Shell
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Attorney,
Batesville, AR
|
65
|
John
Mark Simmons
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Highland Hills Baptist Church,
615 College Dr, Henderson, NV 89002
|
66
|
Danny
S. Sinquefield
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church, 2775 Shelby St, Bartlett, TN 38134
|
67
|
Rotland
E. Slade
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Meridian Southern Baptist Church, 660 S 3rd St, El Cajon, CA 92019
|
68
|
John
E. Smith
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Munfordville Baptist Church, 501 N West St, Munfordville, KY 42765
|
69
|
Roger
L. Spradlin
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Valley Baptist Church, 4800 Fruitvale Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93308
|
70
|
Robert
E. Stennett
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Attorney,
Scott Depot, WV
|
71
|
Michael
R. Stone
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Emannual Baptist Church, 217 W Carter Ave, Blackshear, GA 31516
|
72
|
Dale
R. Suel
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Amherst Baptist Church, 100 Willow Ridge Dr, Amherst, NY 14228
|
73
|
Robert
D. Summerlin
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Lone Oak First Baptist Church, 3601 Lone Oak Rd, Paducah, KY 42003
|
74
|
Stephen
K. Swofford
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
First Baptist Church, 610 S Goliad St, Rockwall, TX 75087
|
75
|
Thomas
B. Tucker III
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor Sisk Memorial Baptist Church, 115 Massey St, Fort Mill, SC 29715
|
76
|
G.
Harris Waner Jr.
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Attorney,
Calloway, VA
|
77
|
Jeffrey
B. Watson
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Attorney,
Winston-Salem, NC
|
78
|
Stanley
J. Welch
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Senior
Pastor West Asheville Baptist Church, 926 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
|
79
|
Bradford
M. Wheeler
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Pastor
Capitol Hill Baptist Church, 525 A St
NE, Washington, DC 20002
|
80
|
Bill
D. Whitaker
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Retired
Pastor, Glasgow Baptist Church, 401 S Green St, Glasgow, KY 42141
|
81
|
Andy
H. Wilson
|
Executive
Committee Member
|
Executive
Leader -- Ministry & Operations, First Baptist Church, Springdale, AR.
1709 Johnson Rd, Springdale, AR 72762
|
82
|
Rev.
Dave Patterson
|
Senior
Pastor
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
83
|
Rev.
Ron Shearer
|
Pastor
of Education
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
84
|
Rev.
David Martin Sr.
|
Pastor
of Worship
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
85
|
Rev.
Kent Williams
|
Pastor
of Youth and Missions
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
86
|
Ms.
Lauren Thomas
|
Director
for Children's Ministries
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
87
|
Mr.
Albert Jenkins
|
Ministry
Assistant for Finance
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
88
|
Ms.
Lynn Chamberlain
|
Ministry
Assistant
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
89
|
Mrs.
Veronica Rodoski
|
Ministry
Assistant
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
90
|
Mr.
Fred Lane
|
Head
of Maintenance Department
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
91
|
Ms.
Heather McDonald
|
Child
Development Director
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
92
|
Mrs.
Lindsay Welch
|
Child
Development Assistant Director
|
Ashley
River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
|
Continued
next page.
No.
|
Denomination
|
Officer
|
Title
|
Address
|
1
|
National Baptist
Convention, USA, Inc.
|
Dr.
Jerry Young
|
President
Elect
|
Pastor
Dr. Jerry Young, New Hope Baptist Church,
5202 Watkins Dr., Jackson, MS 39206
|
2
|
National
Baptist Convention of America International Inc.
|
Rev.
Samuel C. Tolbert Jr.
|
President
Elect
|
National Baptist
Convention of America International, Inc., 777 S R L Thornton Freeway, Suite
# 210, Dallas, Texas 75203
|
3
|
National
Missionary Baptist Convention of America
|
Dr.
Nehemiah Davis
|
National
President
|
NMBCA, 6925 Wofford Dr., Dallas, Texas 75227
|
4
|
Progressive
National Baptist Conventions, Inc.
|
Dr.
James C. Perkins
|
President
|
PROGRESSIVE
NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION, INC., 601 - 50th Street, NE , Washington,
DC 20019
|
5
|
Full
Gospel Baptist Church
|
Bishop
Paul S. Morton Sr.
|
Presiding
Bishop
|
Bishop Paul S.
Morton Ministries, 3350 Greenbriar Pkwy SW, Atlanta, GA 30331, United States of America
|
6
|
Full
Gospel Baptist Church
|
Bishop
John W. Walker III
|
Presiding
Bishop-Elect
|
Bishop Joseph Walker
Ministries, P.O. Box 330374, Nashville, TN 37203
|
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