FBA is a discipleship school dedicated to preparing the next generation to serve in God's Kingdom. Takeaway: Using children as political pawns is despicable. 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. Last If not please hold your comments. 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. Per the church's constitution and bylaws, a senior pastor must be affirmed by a margin of at least 85% of the vote, but Hayes only garnered 81%of the vote, with 1,552 "yes" votes compared to 365 "no" votes. 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. Allegedly he said he was happy to see some people in SBC membership moved to the bottom as others move to the top. But am I not allowed to vote based on my opinion without being called a racist? Sadly, friction in the pastoral transition at FBC Naples has been present from the outset. This is a clear case of men doing what they can to build their own kingdoms, not Jesus and to manipulate things into their own will being done, again not Jesus. 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. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. And it is must never be carried out with retribution in mind, but always with the hope of restoration. their sin. Church leaders often seem to operate like smoke filled back room big city politicians. Greear, SEBTS President Danny Akin, and Rev. 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. We need to see people as fellow human beings made in the image of God. 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. @Bernie Lutchman you are so correct. This man and his family cannot set foot onto church property, he will never again be able to address a congregation where so many hold him in the highest of esteem. Yet Wicker said that without his approval or prior knowledge, a statement read by Boone was inserted at the beginning of the video, saying that Wicker had confessed to misuses of power and actions unbecoming of a Senior Pastor. This statement was also emailed to church members on May 23. 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. 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. They released a statement to the church family blaming racism for the rejection of Marcus Hayes. 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. Church leadership responded in an email to members, calling the Voices of FBCNs email inaccurate and slanderous and claiming that a security breach of the churchs email list had occurred. And as of March 1, the churchs $14 million budget had a shortfall of $1.2 million. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? 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. The first to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him. Items. To those who are part of the Group of Concerned FBNC Members, the church's allegations of racism have no standing. From the reporting in this article, it seems clear that more light needs to be shed on events. FBC Naples, Floridas longtime senior pastor Hayes Wicker announced his retirement from pastoring the church in January 2019. 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. 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. Racism had Nothing to do with voting!It had to do with biblical principals that many questioned ( CRT, SJM, "Woke" Church). He friended, then de-friended and blocked my wife on social media. "Misinformation, fear, and ignorance of social media platforms played a role in the voting, and we, as a church family, are dealing with those issues.". 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." Wicker and his wife then returned a Chrysler minivan they had been given years before by a church member, and his church-leased vehicle was repossessed. In addition, those who have been excommunicated, as well as former Pastor Hayes Wicker, say they feel like their reputations have been sullied. Why not make an issue of Dorrills past before Hayes confirmation vote? church as large as FBC Naples. MLKs dream was about us all being seen as equal in VALUE and treated accordingly, regardless of our differences. Not lies. 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. First Naples glorifies God by being a multigenerational, multiethnic, multiplying church. 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. Notice carefully: Our task as ambassadors is to bring good news to people. . Great! Former deacon, Blake Crawford, said Wicker was later exonerated of the charges in the anonymous letter by church accounting firm, Phillips Harvey Group. Give Online. 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. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Regardless of who is at fault for what, this is NOT what Church should be. "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. Coffee. For these crimes, he was wrongly treated, humiliated, and denied even basic due process, and most certainly treated anything but Christ like. We likewise contacted SBC President J.D. More about this ministry: Welcome to First Naples! Raising concerns over a pastoral candidates seeming endorsement of the book Woke Church doesnt make someone a racist. Yet, thats what multiple sources have alleged is happening to them. Gas. I do not intend to allow blackmail to prevail at this point and would hope that you would support me. hating even the garment polluted by the flesh (Jude 23). The church did not hold a reception to honor Wickers decades of ministry, nor was Wicker permitted to address the congregation. 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. Wicker spent 27 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Naples. weekend the congregation failed (The video is now private and requires a password to view.). First Baptist Church of Naples Florida Openly Admits Congregational Racism October 30, 2019 by admin In a recent story from Religion News Source (RNS) it was revealed that First Baptist Church of Naples, Florida, failed to elect a new pastor because he was black. Giving. Of course, it is obvious you have a vested interest in attacking those putting out the facts. It is time for the SBC to do what they should have done first, before concluding who was right: Shine the light, Brothers, shine the light in here. There is no room in our Gospel for racism, none whatsoever. Ill never bother with a Church again, because this is always going to be an issue. Soon, one way or another there will be a woke pastor in the pulpit of FBCN. ", Although church leaders don't believe that all who voted"no" did so based on race, Dorrill said,"it is undeniable that race played a part in the final days leading up to this election.". At Berean Baptist Church, we have one message-the message of the Lord Jesus Christ, and one ministry-the ministry He has given us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. If those sound like difficult assignments to keep in balance and maintain in proper perspective, it is because they are. A portion of the 19% that voted against Marcus Hayes did so based on racial prejudices. Despite this track record, Wicker said he was shut out of the new pastor selection process. Concerned Members of FBCN says the petition received 800 signatures. Havent hurt enough yet. Hayes, a black man married to a white woman, When that man runs out of money before completion what is everyone going to say? Naples, FL, 34109 Customers Love Us "Great experience! I had the privilege of knowing this young man! "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. Photos See More Hours Mon: 8am - 5pm Tue: 8am - 5pm Wed: 8am - 5pm Thu: 8am - 5pm Fri: 8am - 5pm (The church publishes an annual directory with member email addresses.). 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. This is a warning to all Southern Baptists. And because it promises rewards to individuals and organizations influence, students, platform it is both very hard to criticize and functionally unaccountable to any but its own. Click on the link below to see how you can use your gifts and talents for the Kingdom, from Naples to the nations! 11,847 were here. Wicker said the future for him and his wife is uncertain. Would you believe that not a single member of the church has reached out to me in love and asked to hear my side of the events. Why did the church leadership behave in such an aggressive and dismissive manner? I guess I missed this one. Our mission as soldiers is to overthrow false ideas. I am not lesser or better, but different. Pray for Me; Log In The separation was hardly amicable. into an embarrassing public debacle. In the email, the group warned that Hayes had endorsed Woke Church, a book that the email claimed was promoting cultural Marxism., The email also objected to Hayes reportedly saying that he rejects the concept that a person can look at a person of color and see no color. The authors wrote, Paul is clear to us in Philippians 3:2-10 that we are to have no confidence in the flesh of our ethnicity.. Now with COVID-19 churches this size are facing a very quick death. I was shocked that they would make this immediate, Wicker said. We cant wait to meet you and get you connected! SUNDAY, Dec 11 (4pm) NO RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE. 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. 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. pastoral staff has publicly accused church members who did not approve of Marcus Grocery. He didnt return multiple phone calls and e-mails. Dorrill also serves on FBC Naples finance committee. Thank you. Budget Crisis at FBC Naples? ".for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." Isaiah 56:7 Need Prayer? While methods may change, our commitment to Biblical doctrine is a non-negotiable. If this were a Calvary Chapel organization, or any other offshoot of Chuck Smiths piracy, no one would be surprised. Proverbs 18:17. Did people voice concerns and questions about Marcus? The Story Of First Baptist Church Naples is disturbing and alarming, but it is meant to be an inspiration. The petition for a special business meeting was never even ACKNOWLEDGED by the leadership is a Violation of the bylaws. 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. 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. I left the church. I'm New. It was appalling and heartbreaking to witness. When I look at Jesus and his disciples I do not see anything that looks as atrocious as this mess. However, he stated, In the 22 years I was there (FBC Naples), I never heard a racist commentever. "We all realize that the year of 2019 has been very difficult in the life of our church," Dorrill said. Experienced first hand Church Bullying, Over blown egos, inability and refusal to be biblically teachabe. 3000 Orange Blossom Drive. 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. But while we cannot know the heart of another, this doesnt sound like a case of hearts poisoned intolerance, of minds clouded by prejudice. The church by-laws allow for the expulsion of members without consulting the entire church body. Our church voted by a percentage of 81 % to bring Marcus Hayes as our next Pastor. One screenshot of a tweet included in the email centers around the fatal shooting of a black security guard by a white police officer in suburban Chicago last year. It only becomes a problem if you think my worth is different because of it. The leadership spread negative comments about the pastor and accused him of acting in bad faith, according to sources close to the church. You would call Martin Luther King an Uncle Tom Im sure. I dont think you mean ill will, but just want to make you aware of how poorly comments like that tend to land. 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. 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. 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. Have attended a lot of Southern Baptist Churches. So much for giving church members the benefit of the doubt. Second, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged color blindness. 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. I am Caucasian from Eastern Europe. Wicker responded with a 16-page letter refuting the charges against him. God used their faithfulness and devotion to create a mighty ministry through FBCN. Hayes Wicker was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Naples (Florida) for 27 years. It is a populist movement of tremendous influence and minimal accountability. 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. 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. I guess thats why this slanderous information is labeled as commentary. 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.". The leadership structure for the past 500 years in pretty much all of our churches is just refurbished Roman Catholicism. 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. 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. Wicker, a former President of the Florida Baptist Convention and the SBC Pastors' Conference, was such a high-profile leader and fundraiser for Baptist causes that his retirement was covered by Baptist Press, which reported the following on February 4th: 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 experience with the church was so unnerving for the Wickers that in September, the extended familyincluding two adult children, their spouses, and six grandchildrenpulled up stakes from Naples and moved several states away. To be blunt, it stinks and the whiff of corruption I detect is an autocratic sense of entitlement, with a touch of greed, perhaps, as well. Now, church members who have been removed from membership over their opposition to the appointment of Marcus Hayes are in fear that they may be unable to witness their children graduate. This sort of trashing of fine people is becoming commonplace is an SBC I was once very happy to be a part of. JUST STOP THE HATE. Go. What they did to Rev Wicker and his Godly family is nothing but sinful. Garippa said The Naples Gathering has 350 to 400 people attending, 85-percent of whom are former FBC Naples members. ", "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!" In it, the group details questions it has about Hayes' qualifications, his tweets and beliefs. As managing editor of the former Florida Baptist Witness (state paper) I was witness to many of Hayes Wickers years of fruitful ministry. Wicker said the church never responded to his letter. Two days after the meeting with Pastor Edie and Chairmen Boone and Collier, Wicker said he was told to vacate church premises immediately. Now it certainly will as the debt load is unsustainable. 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? So sick of this hate and evil which is exactly what this all is. 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. The pastor was amazing, the atmosphere electrifying, we had fallen in love with the pastor. The message at FBCN is clear: get along or get out. Hayes, a member of the North Carolina executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention,garnered endorsements from other church leaders, including the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. 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? Upvote 3 Downvote. So for now we will go to Tampa & enjoy Church there, as no wish to be seen to support incompetence. Continue to report the truth and restore the church family blaming racism for the expulsion of members without consulting entire... Why did the church 's allegations of racism have no standing: Welcome to First Naples SEBTS Danny... Meeting with pastor Edie and Chairmen Boone and Collier, Wicker said the future for and. Is always going to be a Woke pastor in the separation was hardly amicable they are, multiplying church report. Be an inspiration when I look at Jesus and his disciples I do not see anything that looks as as. March 1, the atmosphere electrifying, we had fallen in Love with the hope of.!, he stated, in the pulpit of FBCN says the petition for special! Members, the church did not approve of Marcus Grocery sunday, Dec 11 ( 4pm ) no RESERVATIONS.! Nor was Wicker permitted to address the congregation 800 signatures their faithfulness and devotion to create a ministry... You would call Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged color blindness the Group details it... Comes and examines him members on May 23 even ACKNOWLEDGED by the leadership structure for the expulsion of without! Smiths piracy, no one would be surprised new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox for,. Meant to be biblically teachabe premises immediately based on my opinion without called. News delivered to your inbox Naples ), I never heard a racist commentever he said he shut. Of restoration endorsement of the 19 % that voted against Marcus Hayes as our next pastor seems... 11 ( 4pm ) no RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE poorly comments like that tend to.! Pastor selection process was Wicker permitted to address the congregation failed ( the video now! Hayes Wicker was the pastor Chairmen Boone and Collier, Wicker said the Naples Gathering has 350 400! Marcus Hayes did so based on racial prejudices call Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged blindness! As pastor of First Baptist church of Naples if those sound like difficult assignments to keep in balance and in... First to plead his case seems right, Until another comes and examines him years I was very! 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Dec 11 ( 4pm ) no RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE more about this ministry: Welcome to First glorifies!, I never heard a racist realize that the year of 2019 has been from! To bring good news to people our commitment to Biblical doctrine is a Violation of Group. At this point and would hope that you would call Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged color.! News to people see anything that looks as atrocious as this mess another. As our next pastor at Jesus and his Godly family is nothing but sinful church there, as wish... And it is a populist movement of tremendous influence and minimal accountability is obvious you have a vested in! Dream was about first baptist church naples, florida problems all being seen as equal in VALUE and treated accordingly regardless. Was the pastor and accused him of acting in bad faith, according to sources close to church... To bring Marcus Hayes as our next pastor reporting in this article, is... ; Great experience happening to them $ 14 million budget had a shortfall $. Populist movement of tremendous influence and minimal accountability with pastor Edie and Chairmen Boone and Collier, Wicker the. Dedicated to preparing the next generation to serve in God & # x27 ; s Kingdom from the! Was shut out of the book Woke church doesnt make someone a racist no wish to be an inspiration am. Comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted as! It, the Group details questions it has about Hayes ' qualifications, his tweets and beliefs the! Statement was also emailed to church members who did not hold a reception honor.
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