Thread by @R_Denhollander

I am deeply disturbed by this.

First, let me say my concerns have nothing to do with @SusanCodone, for whom I have deep respect and gratitude. She has done great work standing against abuse and I am grateful her voice is elevated.

However: (thread)

snapnetwork.org/sbc_fund_raisi…

@SusanCodone I am deeply grieved at this, because the ERLC is an arm of the SBC, and while there *are* leaders truly desiring to do the right thing, the reality is that there are many, many in leadership who are holding up reform, and they are not being confronted or called out.

@SusanCodone There is still a refusal to confront the sins of the past specifically and publically, and a refusal to confront what is taking place RIGHT NOW specifically and publicly.

A few SBC survivors have received support, but very few. What's the real track record so far?

@SusanCodone Susan has finally received support, and I'm grateful. But what about Debbie Vasquez, who was violently and repeatedly raped and impregnanted by SBC pastor Dale Amyx? Debbie has fought for years, and lost everything for it, BUT. . .

@SusanCodone But the Baptist Press DID report on Debbie's story. And they reported her violent rapes and pregnancy as a consensual affair. Debbie fought for years to have that corrected. They refuse. TO THIS DAY.

Dale left SBC just a few weeks ago, no action ever being taken by the SBC.

@SusanCodone Survivor @megannlively finally received support and care from @DannyAkin and SEBTS after Paige Patterson's vile conduct covering up her abuse, was finally uncovered. Her voice is important, I'm grateful for her and for how her case was handled by Dr. Akin.

BUT:

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin Paige Patterson covered up numerous cases of rape, including of a woman who's violent rapist was hired by SWBTS KNOWING he had a history of sexual violence before he raped her.

Silence.

Paige Patterson covered for years for Daryl Gilyard, SBC pastor who abused dozens.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin No one has reached out to @ThigpenTiffany, who was abused by Gilyard AFTER numerous SBC leaders had multiple direct allegations of significant abuse. Tiffany has received no support, not even a phone call. That's inexcusable.

Jerry Vines covered up her abuse too. Silence.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany Jerry Vines even wrote about Tiffany's abuse as a consensual encounter in his memoir. SBC's publishing arm, @LifeWay, failed to fact check that claim and had to later edit the book. They never printed the corrective note Tiffany asked for. And they haven't talked to her.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay In fact, out of the DOZENS of women harmed by Gilyard alone, and several other suvivors whose assaults were enabled and covered up by Patterson, Megan is the ONLY one who has received support or even a mention.

That's not repentance and transparency.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay Public statements regarding Patterson have been grossly incomplete, and not a single other leader involved in these cases has been confronted or rebuked.

That's not accountability. That's not elevating survivor voices.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay Jen Lyell, one of the most prominent females in corporate SBC, was horrifically abused by an SBTS professor, and Baptist Press reported it as an affair.

No one did anything. For seven months.

For the last year, the SBC trampled on their own. Over and over again.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay No one has been rebuked for how they destroyed Jen. There has been no call for an independent investigation. There have been no consequences.

That's not repentance. That's not accountability. That's not transparency.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay The pastor who covered up the abuse of @juleswoodson11 remains in the SBC. Jules can't get a straight answer about whether or not anything can be done. She's gotten a whole lot of silence or poorly constructed answers that don't really say anything. Not acceptable.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 Nobody has talked about what happened to @Dave_Pittman, or @kennys901 or @brookshansen247 . Male survivor voices are almost completely absent.

That's not elevating survivor voices.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 SBC survivor @ChristaBrown777 has written a book ("This Little Light" - get it on Amazon or B and N), and maintained a website tracking SBC predators and SBC failures.

No one has talked about that. No one has said "she was right" or "we should have listened to her".

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 @ChristaBrown777 This is the short list. The overview.

General repentance and grief is easy. Specific repentance to the survivors right in front of you, who might be angry or who you may have differences with, is hard.

And that hasn't happened yet. So has there been real repentance?

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 @ChristaBrown777 Calls for accountability and transparency are easy. Independent reviews for, say, how leaders of official SBC branches have handled abuse (like how SBC presidents Vines and Patterson handled Gilyard and other abuse reports, in their SBC roles), isn't. And that hasn't been done.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 @ChristaBrown777 Independent reviews for how Baptist Press has handled abuse (we know they've defamed at least two survivors, allowing violent abusers to be portrayed as just having an affair) hasn't been done.

So is there real transparency and accountability?

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 @ChristaBrown777 Relying on SBC autonomy and separation of branches isn't an excuse. No, the ERLC can't force Baptist Press to do a review. But they can elevate the survivor voices saying it's necessary. They can speak up. Leaders of the ERLC can choose what they say in their official capacities.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 @ChristaBrown777 Each leader of each branch has a choice who they talk to, who they elevate, what they say, who they confront. They are, after all, autonomous, right? One branch failing to do the right thing doesn't prohibit another branch from speaking up.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 @ChristaBrown777 Yes, it's messy. Yes, there are survivors who are (very understandably) angry - mostly because so many others have suffered, who never needed to. No, we won't agree on everything. Yes, some advocates/survivors might consider those disagreements deal breakers. But do what you can.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 @ChristaBrown777 Name the names. Tell the truth. Support the survivors and advocates on whose shoulders you are standing, even if you aren't saying their names, because their work got us here.

Speak the truth. Call for accountability. Rebuke publicly when needed. Submit to real accountability.

@SusanCodone @megannlively @DannyAkin @ThigpenTiffany @LifeWay @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman @kennys901 @brookshansen247 @ChristaBrown777 And if you are a member of the SBC, remember these names. Remember these stories. Hold your leaders accountable to truly deal with it.

The purpose of SBC autonomy is SUPPOSED to be greater accountability, because of the congregants and messengers. Make sure that's how it works.