Thread by @RobertDownen_

NEW: In an interview today, ⁦Southern Baptist President @jdgreear strongly denounced disgraced leader Paige Patterson, and advised churches to consider Patterson's history of mishandling sex abuses before inviting him to preach. #SBCtoo #ChurchToo houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…

@jdgreear Greear's comments came after I asked him about decisions by two churches to host/honor Patterson, including a Dallas-area church that recognized him as a "defender of the faith" earlier this month. #SBCtoo #ChurchToo #CaringWell

More on that:

@jdgreear Greear: I advise any Southern Baptist church to consider this severe action before having Dr. Patterson preach or speak and to contact trustee officers if additional information is necessary. #SBCtoo #ChurchToo #CaringWell

@jdgreear Greear: "If our system of governance means anything, it means exercising due diligence and heeding what those whom we put in positions of trustee oversight have reported about official misconduct.” #SBCtoo #ChurchToo #CaringWell

@jdgreear Greear: “I know (Patterson's return to preaching) has caused confusion, frustrations, and in many cases fresh pain for survivors. We must be clear going forward for the sake of those who have been hurt and to those in churches and entities today.” #SBCtoo #ChurchToo #CaringWell

@jdgreear Side note: This is my first story as the @HoustonChron religion reporter.

I promise you that I, too, would have preferred it not involve sex abuses, Southern Baptists and/or Paige Patterson.

Really. I tried.

@jdgreear A bit more context: the crux of Greear's statement was about Patterson's recent return to SBC pulpits. The context is much more evident in the story, but I wanna further clarify for the Twitterverse.

Also:

Update: Patterson’s longtime attorney has responded to my request for comment.

“He would never respond to something like that.”