Thread by @SBCUnderground

Did you see the horror story about Bruce Ashford - former @SEBTS Provost, Rising SBC Star, & Platform Made Man - appear a few days ago, get some attention, then go completely quiet?

Why the sudden silence?

Because the story exposes the highest profile Southern Baptists.

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You may need a reminder on who Ashford is due to his rise to stardom being suddenly aborted. Again, he was an @SEBTS man, aiming his attention outside Provost duties at Christian approaches to culture & politics.

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There was real talk at one time that he’d replace @DrMoore at the @ERLC.

Then one day he was just… gone.

Seriously. Just gone. The disappearance was jarring. And complete.

The vaccum filled with hushed whispers of dark rumors but, outside elite SBC Circles...

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...the reason for Ashford’s disappearance was unknown.

That vacuum started being filled only now, years later, earlier this week.

And as soon as the information began circulating all discussion was hushed in the strictest possible terms.

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It started with this piece from @ThouArtTheMan from @WartWatch. The details are like something out of a true crime film.

In fact, they may someday become part of an actual true crime film.

To recount, lets begin back when Bruce disappeared.

thewartburgwatch.com/2023/03/13/bru…

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Make no bones about it, Lauren, Bruce’s wife, is clear in her accusation that Bruce abused her.

In fact, one of the rumors flying around when Bruce’s disappearance was noted was that Lauren had posted on Facebook about a particularly nasty fall off a ladder.

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Regardless, as mentioned above, Lauren claims Bruce abused her. And for his part, Bruce has been quite open about a time in rehab where he worked through his demons. While no one has any interest in connecting those dots they nonetheless suggest a common narrative.

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And it is here that the exposure of SBC elites, along with self-identified abuse advocates, really begins.

Let’s start with Lauren’s own social media posts.

She appealed directly to @R_Denhollander, @BethMooreLPM , & (her pastor) @JDGreear.

Nothing. Came. Of. It.

Why?

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Why did the biggest names in the SBC ignore a woman’s clear & repeated pleas for help with her abusive husband?

The answer is found at her church - @SummitRDU. Pastored by @JDGreear. Who was a long-time friend of Ashford's. And where Ashford served as an elder.

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You read that right. Lauren had to appeal for help with her abusive husband to the man who was his college roommate and who served with him on their church’s elder board, @JDGreear.

Caring Well, indeed.

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Do you also notice that when it comes to @SummitRDU and @JDGreear you find both some of the most horrendous examples of abuse cover-up *and* complete silence from the Abuse Advocate & Survivor contingent?

Remember Bryan Loritts?

web.archive.org/web/2022061505…

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According to Julie Roys, Loritts destroyed evidence of abuse that happened at his church in Memphis then re-hired the abuser.

Summit investigated itself and found – shocking – it had done nothing wrong in hiring Lorritts.

christianpost.com/news/no-eviden…

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Greear’s friend, Rachael Denhollander, managed a single, “I’m discouraged” reaction to this sham of a coverup.

Contrast that with the normal energy of her condemnation of abuse, let alone coverup.

https://twitter.com/R_Denhollander/status/1271549048567234563

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Now we see that she herself ignored a plea for help coming from a member of JD’s church, coming from the wife of an elder at Summit, coming from the wife of a man who served as @SEBTS Provost, coming from a man with Insider status within the SBC Platform.

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Platform Membership comes with a certain kind of privilege it appears.

In fact, based on the Loritts & Ashford stories, it appears the safest place for an abuser is under @JDGreear’s wings within the safety of @SummitRDU.

And since Denhollander is mentioned lets ask...

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...another question: Remember the SBC report from @Guidepost on abuse that she is so closely associated with?

While the only new account the report surfaced was Johnny Hunt’s gross… whatever… the report conspicuously DID NOT find Ashford’s abuse of his wife, despite...

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...Mrs. Ashford appealing directly to Denhollander.

How could that be?

The answer appears obvious. Friendship covers a multitude of (literal) sins in the SBC’s elite circles.

And lest we think Denhollander is the only high profile abuse advocate that ignored Lauren...

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...we should consider how a whistleblower tried, well, to reach Julie Roys (@reachjulieroys) and was similarly ignored.

Not all abuse accounts are created equal it appears.

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Before we move on – remember that Bruce Ashford was Provost at @SEBTS. So we now have two Provosts for @SEBTS involved in (alleged) appalling immorality: Ashford’s alleged abuse of his wife + @KSWhitfield’s attempt to destroy @TomBuck w/ his wife’s unpublished manuscript..

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...(an affair that included Whitfield lying to @DannyAkin for a time about his involvement in the attempted character assassination of Tom Buck over political differences).

It actually gets worse, if you can believe it.

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Ashford was quietly – very, very quietly – removed from the SBC Resolutions committee in January of 2021.

Why?

Can anyone propose an answer other than, “Because they knew.”

baptistpress.com/resource-libra…

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And look who all is involved. @DrJamesMerritt. @JDGreear (again). Current SBC President @BartBarber. And presumptive @SBCExecComm President appointment @JaredCWellman.

All of them see Ashford removed.

They didn’t know?

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They didn’t ask why Bruce was no longer on the committee?

🤨

Please. That’s not how The Platform operates.

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So there you have it. The SBC wants to be Caring Well about abuse vicitms. Except, apparently, those who become victims through the Platform’s Made Men.

That goes for the current President, Barber. The presumptive new President of the Executive Committee, Wellman...

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Former President Greear, pastor of Summit Church, who appears to believe God whispers about his friends being involved in abuse and abuse cover-up. @SEBTS, at the highest levels. Rachael Denhollander. Guidepost (and the Abuse Task Force). Beth Moore. And even Julie Roys.

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Lauren Ashford?

Her abuse doesn’t count.

It’s an even more directly dangerous & destructive version of what the same group did (and ignored being done) to Jennifer Buck.

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Believe the people named above care – at all – about abuse if you want.

The actual case narratives indicate they only care about maintaining power, keeping the benefits of “leadership”, punishing their enemies, and protecting their friends.

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Remember Lauren Ashford the next time they try to sell you a different story.

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As for Bruce? New allegations levied against him after his friends in The Platform ignored his behavior are shocking & will prove horrifying if true.

But evangelicalism still loves him. His name is still everywhere - @SEBTS, @TGC, @9Marks.

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This 🧵 really only scratches the surface of this debacle - and the rank hypocrisy of the SBC's elite (along with some of the highest profile evangelicals).

Think @RobertDownen is going to report this for the @HoustonChron? When his sources are implicated? @LiamSAdams? 🙄

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To give credit, @WartburgWatch has been all over this from very early on. You should read their reporting - all of which can be found from this cumulative article:

thewartburgwatch.com/2023/03/13/bru…

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Jon Harris, too, has been on this story & trying to get Lauren's story heard more broadly. Jon was one of the first to see what was becoming of @SEBTS & he consistently does good work.



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Lastly, check out what @EddieRJ3 has done on chronicling Ashford's conduct.

https://twitter.com/EddieRJ3/status/1635465849526992897

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He (?) tried to blow the whistle on what Ashford was doing & Lauren's plight.

https://twitter.com/EddieRJ3/status/1635465864706240512

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And is still trying.

We need more people like Eddie and less like the hypocrites on the SBC's Platform & their fake abuse-advocate cronies.

https://twitter.com/EddieRJ3/status/1636043086617886721

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Remember above when we said institutional evangelicalism still loves Ashford?

Check out this - today - from Zondervan. How much you want to bet Ashford takes the Company line on CRT as Ana. Lytical. Tools?

https://twitter.com/ZonderAcademic/status/1636054617749434371?s=20