Following worship services on December 7 and 8, receptions were held to honor Edies six years at the church. Multiple sources claiming to be from FBC Naples have reached out to Pulpit & Pen and Reformation Charlotte and we are currently assessing the accounts of these individual. But more importantly, Ericksen said, members feel their voice isn't being heard by church leaders. The leadership spread negative comments about the pastor and accused him of acting in bad faith, according to sources close to the church. Hayes pastoral appointment of doing so out of racial prejudice and announced that An economy of power, people, and indeed money which is non-ecclesiastical but highly influential within evangelical churches. Generally, at Southern Baptist churches incoming pastors are approved by a majority of the church body upon recommendation from an elected search committee and/or pastoral staff, Stearns wrote. Just like there are women who are pro-Gloria Steinem feminists, and there are women who are not fans of Gloria, black people are capable of holding differing opinions too. And as for Neil Dorrill, that was also brought up well before the arrival of Marcus. "Is that what the gospel is all about?". FBC Naples, recently listed as the 64th largest SBC church in the country, appears to be withering in the wake of the scandal. They make me want to Puke profusely second only to Calvary Chapel. Two days after the meeting with Pastor Edie and Chairmen Boone and Collier, Wicker said he was told to vacate church premises immediately. Notice carefully: Our task as ambassadors is to bring good news to people. I spoke at length with this individual and how no reason to doubt the veracity of the individuals accounts. Where in the N.T. For 27 years Hayes Wicker and his family faithfully devoted their lives to Gods calling in ministry at FBCN. 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. Why not make an issue of Dorrills past before Hayes confirmation vote? The dissenters, and their surrogates, have done a good job (whether they realize it or not) of explaining why Hayes was rejected and much of it is deeply racially tinged, including: Hayes rejection of the notion of racial colorblindness, Hayes support of Eric Masons book Woke Church and intersectionality, Hayes support of slavery reparations for descendants of African American slaves, and Hayes alleged statements in support of more black leadership in SBC member organizations. So very sorry, but not everything is about race and not everyone is a racist. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Any copyrighted material displayed or referenced is done under the doctrine of fair use. And if He wanted us all to be the same, He wouldve made us the same. Like when my colorblind friends didnt understand my discomfort when we chose to stop on a road trip in a small town with confederate flags waiving everywhere. And before you go tagging me as a racist, I am in a biracial marriage myself. The petition for a special business meeting was never even ACKNOWLEDGED by the leadership is a Violation of the bylaws. Naples Christmas Celebration. FBC Napless accusations and treatment of Pastor Wicker upset dozens of church members. 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. It was appalling and heartbreaking to witness. ", When asked during the Q&A session whether he considers himself a conservative, Hayes said he is "as conservative as they come.". . 11,847 were here. Find a local church Explore; Giving; App; Sign In; Find a Church; Florida; Naples, FL If this pastoral candidate supportes a book that divides the church along ethnic lines and stirs up divisions in the body of Christ, it is sad that he received as many votes as he did. If those sound like difficult assignments to keep in balance and maintain in proper perspective, it is because they are. I think this one would have died even if none of this soap opera garbage had taken place. Selected and edited comments from an article by Carl Trueman, Revoice, Evangelical Culture, and the Return of an Old Friend (July 31, 2018). Grateful that FBCN is moving toward amputating the racists, tweeted Rev. Almost unbelievable saga of incompetence. Dorrill also serves on FBC Naples finance committee. 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 can tell you I am not a racist. And as of March 1, the churchs $14 million budget had a shortfall of $1.2 million. "My heart goes out to his family," Hayes wrote. Wicker said the future for him and his wife is uncertain. Come see the Living Christmas Trees. Church discipline for dissenting members was greeted with wild applause. Interesting. But what was concluded was that all things were not fair nor were they right. I was shocked that they would make this immediate, Wicker said. Giving. And they said, Surely, you will not die. Last fall, First Baptist Church (FBC) Naplesa prominent Southern Baptist megachurch in southwest Floridamade national headlines for rejecting an African American pastoral candidate because of some alleged racist members. The shooting drew national headlines, outrage and questions about whether race factored into the officers decision to open fire. 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. 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. Our Vision. Gretchen Church, who said on Twitter that she has been a member of First Baptistfor more than 17 years, tweeted that racism had nothing to do with voting. Exactly right. Wicker responded with a 16-page letter refuting the charges against him. 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. I am Caucasian from Eastern Europe. The campaign, he said in an email to the Daily News, consisted of social media, texting, phone calls and a series of emails. Does my agreement with Dr. King and my deep concerns about intersectionality, et al, make me a racist? However, the email also expressed concerns about Hayes ability to reconcile the deeply divided church. into an embarrassing public debacle. For adults and children ages 4+, we offer private and group lessons on the church campus with experienced musicians who are devoted to giving their . When you see me, you will see I am a black woman. Again, more lies and half-truths. Havent hurt enough yet. Would highly recommended." - Tabitha C "Better prices than other sites." - Diana E. Instead he was charged with this amorphous set of wrongdoings that were later largely or totally shown to be untrue. 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. 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. United States God used their faithfulness and devotion to create a mighty ministry through FBCN. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Our constitution and bylaws stated that a Senior Pastor must be affirmed by at least an 85% or higher vote. Marcus Hayes based upon prejudice, our church loves all people of all colors equally," Stearns wrote. We were on cloud nine. The church also launched a schoolFirst Baptist Academy. (Hey, and I know white people who love Woke Church!) During Wickers 27-year tenure, FBC Naples grew from 400 weekly attendance to over 3,000. And it is must never be carried out with retribution in mind, but always with the hope of restoration. We likewise contacted SBC President J.D. The FBC Naples leaders vowed to deal with this sinful cancer and added that church discipline had already started. Now with COVID-19 churches this size are facing a very quick death. Hayes did not suddenly abandon his faith in the few months between his announcement that he was stepping aside, as he was being felt led to do, to make room for younger leadership and his sudden dismissal by the FBCN leadership. I am saying that, as I have countless experiences of colorblind people saying or doing insensitive, offensive things because they forgot Im black. And thats shepherding many hundreds of people over many years., In its open letter to the SBC, FBC Naples lay leaders and staff wrote that they know racial prejudice contributed to Marcus Hayess failed vote because of the campaign that started just days before by a few disgruntled people in our church., Presumably, the campaign to which the letter is referring is an email that was sent from the Concerned Members to those who had signed the petition shortly before the Hayes vote, requesting a special business meeting. Soon, one way or another there will be a woke pastor in the pulpit of FBCN. Numerous now-former church members have been purged from the church membership roll. Did people voice concerns and questions about Marcus? Kenneth Bonnett, pastor of communications for the church, declined to offer specifics about the church's allegations, saying "it would not be proper for us to share that content openly.". On social media, too, some church members said race played no role in the failed vote. To find sermons, announcements, and other resources, click on the link below. 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. Nothing new in this article. According to sources, Wicker wanted a long period of transition to the new leadership, with even an overlap to help the transition process. 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? Greear, SEBTS President Danny Akin, and Rev. After Marcus Hayes failed to receive the necessary 85 percent affirmative vote to install him as pastor, the leadership of First Baptist Church Naples, including the church staff, launched a pogrom against dissenters. First Naples glorifies God by being a multigenerational, multiethnic, multiplying church, that raises up the next generation of disciple makers, . Yet Caudill said that when he spoke up in meetings, the 79-year-old deacon was deemed divisive.. Privacy Policy There is no room in our Gospel for racism, none whatsoever. In November, Caudill sent a letter to several prominent SBC leaders, including President Greear and SEBTS President Danny Akin, urging them to retract their statements supporting the racism narrative offered by FBC Naples. The article above has been corrected to identify the group as Voices of FBCN. It seems rather patronizing to minorities to assert that every minority persons ideas must be legitimate because the propounder is of a certain colour. He didnt have the experience. It isnt white people who have turned on the evil and hate. (Hayes this month took his first senior pastor position at a church in Texas.). The day after excommunicating the 18 members, FBC Naples lay leadership and pastoral staff sent an open letter to the SBC, accusing some who didnt vote for Hayes, whos a member of the SBC Executive Committee, of racism. It is not necessarily the opinion of any entity by which I am employed, any church at which I am a member, any church which I attend, or the educational institution at which I am enrolled. Is not the sheer stupidity of this self-evident? Stop making everything about race. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. 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. Enough racists voted against the pastor. A racist, leftist marxist movement and which claims blacks were muzzled for 150 years now its whites turn to be face the same treatment. This sort of trashing of fine people is becoming commonplace is an SBC I was once very happy to be a part of. This is nothing new. If all things had been equal and fair, our story would not have reached as far and wide, and stoked the emotions that it has. 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. "We all realize that the year of 2019 has been very difficult in the life of our church," Dorrill said. 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? Honestly, the system that ousted him is the machine he created. On May 28, Caudill said the church placed him on disciplinary suspension from the deacon board and the senior pastor search team. If there is any racism its from Pastor Hayes and his endorsement of Woke Movement. The message at FBCN is clear: get along or get out. I certainly agree with you wholeheartedly, Grant. close to Wicker, contacted Pulpit & Pen with disturbing details I guess the good news is that we are all free to move to a different church whenever we like. They released a statement to the church family blaming racism for the rejection of Marcus Hayes. Im not sure why you would describe Dr. Kings sentiments as ridiculous and ungodly. Theres only one human race. to affirm of Wickers intended replacement, Marcs Hayes. Just a couple of points for you to consider. to be clear. Hi. ", 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.". This happened just three days after the church vote concerning Marcus Hayes. this approach to transition can become a helpful model for other churches.. So sick of this hate and evil which is exactly what this all is. "There are no terms to describe what has happened here other than sin. I guess I missed this one. FBCNaples | Naples FL Why did the church leadership behave in such an aggressive and dismissive manner? I can tell you not a single thing mentioned above played a role in my vote. It only becomes a problem if you think my worth is different because of it. Takeaway: One could reject the concerns of the church members and not label them racist. Ive attended for 14 yrs and not once did see race. Instead, Ericksen said Hayes has no experience as a head pastor and said that his political views wouldn't go along with a conservative church. Looking for past sermons? JD Greear and his woke cronies attempted a coup at FBC Naples and were thwarted on a grand level. Namely Hayes Wicker. Jesus said that He wants us to all be in unity and that He is building a 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. We need to see people as fellow human beings made in the image of God. Click below to hear stories and testimonies of how the Lord has been working in and through our First Naples Family. 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. Regardless of who is at fault for what, this is NOT what Church should be. 1/2: 17+yr member of FBCN and attendee here! Thank you. Upvote 3 Downvote. 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. The group adds that national leaders within FBC Napless denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), supported the churchs leadership and furthered the racism charge. The pastor was amazing, the atmosphere electrifying, we had fallen in love with the pastor. And on December 31, Wicker said the health insurance provided by the church was cut off for him and his wife, who has a serious heart condition. 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. Marcus Hayes, an African-American who is on staff at Biltmore Church in the Asheville, North Carolina area, was the candidate. 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. He and his wife live in the Washington, D.C. area with their son. Boy oh boy. The deacons vote on it, and, if they approve the recommendation, the individual then is informed. Hayes, a black man married to a white woman, That is a perfect summary of every Christians duty in the war for the truth. . But am I not allowed to vote based on my opinion without being called a racist? Two weeks later, Garippa started another church called The Naples Gathering. Been here 25+ times. ( I wonder what the Aramaic is for fad.). What a great and wise man of God he is? This is a warning to all Southern Baptists. 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. We reached out to Dorrill, but he refused to answer any questions. We have known Hayes & his family as good Christian people etc.for over 25 years. The First Naples School of Worship Arts exists to develop Christ-honoring worshipers through quality instruction for the purpose of exalting the Lord with their God-given talents and abilities. *Please note that the preceding is my personal opinion. I do not intend to allow blackmail to prevail at this point and would hope that you would support me. This remains an elephant in the room at every worship service at that church. I just want to point out that when you say things like I am in a biracial marriage, it sounds a LOT like I have a black friend. Trust me, that gets you little more than eye-rolling. A lengthyOct. 24 email signed by the "group of concerned FBCN members"and obtained by the Daily News was titled "Concerns Surfacing About Compatibility with Marcus Hayes." 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March 11, 20239 dispensations in the bible