Wrote President of the Southern Baptist Convention and officers of the Ashley River Baptist Church and all the members of the Executive Board of the Southern Baptist Convention

I wrote a letter to Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, all the board members of the Executive Committee as well as all the leaders of the Ashley River Baptist Church concerning the unfortunate decision of Ashley River Baptist Church to host the Sons of Confederate Veterans on their 2014 Reunion.

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

                                                                   

                                                                   edwardsebesta@gmail.com

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. [2^nd Quarter, Vol. 15, 1995, pp. 7 Wesley Pruden; 3^rd 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