By Hannah Elliott
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) -- The latest internet-publicized conflict at
a prominent Southern Baptist church has ended with a lawsuit’s
dismissal and the pastor calling on the plaintiffs to “repent for
their sins” -- or risk expulsion from the congregation.
The request, from Pastor Jerry Sutton
to 74 disgruntled members of Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville,
Tenn., was publicized Jan. 12 by the Nashville Tennessean.
The members said they received a letter signed by Sutton and Carlos
Cobos, the church’s deacon chairman.
The missive accused the members of
harming the health of the congregation by filing the suit. It said
that, in order to avoid church discipline, they must apologize in
writing, drop all lawsuits against the church, and stop meeting
together.
Days earlier, Davidson County Judge
Claudia Bonnyman had dismissed the highly publicized suit, which was
filed against Sutton and other church leaders. It accused Sutton and
other Two Rivers leaders of using church money for personal
expenses, including trips and Sutton’s daughter’s wedding reception.
The suit also requested that Sutton
be fired and sought compensatory and punitive damages. Earlier
complaints by many of the plaintiffs and other Two Rivers members
included allegations that Sutton had looked at pornography on his
office computer and had an affair with a staff member.
Sutton and other church leaders have
repeatedly denied the accusations. The congregation has posted
statements on its website to refute them.
Bonnyman’s Jan. 4 ruling said the
court has limited authority in disputes within religious groups and
will not get involved. However, she did order the church to be more
transparent with members about its financial documents.
James Porch, executive director of
the Tennessee Baptist Convention, told The Tennessean that
Baptist polity prevented the statewide body from involving itself in
the dispute.
"This is a local church matter, and
they are completely responsible for their actions," he said.
Sutton, the 20-plus-year pastor of
the 6,000-member church, survived an ouster vote last October. At
the time, he told church members that the church “spoke very clearly
about its desire” for him to remain as pastor.
“All of this has been very trying on
me, my family, our staff, their families, our leadership and our
entire church family,” he said. “Please pray that the Lord will
bring all of this to a conclusion as quickly as possible.”
Sutton is closely aligned with the
denomination’s conservative power structure. A former SBC vice
president, he finished third in a contentious 2006 election for the
denomination’s presidency. Sutton lost even though he had the
endorsement of several high-profile SBC leaders.
-30-
Read
more:
|Sutton,
prominent Baptist pastor, safe in Nashville pulpit for now
(10/09/2007)
Another prominent SBC church beset by controversy over pastor's
leadership (08/17/2007) |
