Join podcast host Lori Adams-Brown in this thrilling episode of A World of Difference as she uncovers the alarming events at the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans, discussing the controversy surrounding women pastors and the issue of abuse within the church. With personal experiences as a woman pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention and a victim of abuse, Lori candidly shares her reaction to what she witnessed. Be warned of potential triggering content. From discussing the use of NDAs to cover up abuse to the need to shift the basic ideas and theology behind the "umbrella authority" structure, this episode unpacks a range of issues affecting the church. With calls to action for listeners to support survivors, encourage whistleblowers and advocate for human rights, this podcast is a must-listen for those wanting to make a difference and bring about change. Let's set aside differences and come together to support survivors and create safer spaces for all.
Long Summary
In A World of Difference, Lori Adams-Brown addresses the Southern Baptist Convention and the difficult subject of abuse allegations and sexism within the church. As a survivor of abuse at the hands of Andy Wood, the successor to Rick Warren at Saddleback Church, Lori has a personal and emotional connection to the issue. She calls out specific men who she does not believe are effective allies and is disappointed by the treatment of women pastors. She invites everyone to join the conversation about making a difference, acknowledging the diversity of her audience. Guests including Dr. Kristen Kobaz Doumet and Dr. Diane Langberg suggest that the convention needs to take a systemic approach to combating abuse and sexism, including the need for women to be involved in diagnosing the problem. The speakers express their sadness regarding the devolution of the SBC from its core theology of the "priesthood of all believers" into limiting women's direct access to Jesus. The podcasts suggest that Echo and Saddleback Church bring in an organization specializing in investigating churches in the wake of abuse allegations to address abuse allegations at a mega church in Silicon Valley. The podcast encourages people to speak out, support survivors, and join the movement for positive change. The speaker emphasizes the need to find a better way to deal with a difficult situation and stop excusing, minimizing, and throwing hands up in the air. Listen to A World of Difference for a raw and powerful conversation about the struggles of making a difference in a male-centric denomination.
Timestamps
[00:00:02] Disturbing Aspects of the Southern Baptist Convention
[00:04:06] Controversy over women pastors in Southern Baptist Convention
[00:08:11] Grappling with Abuse and Women in the Church
[00:11:35] Abuse Cover-ups in Saddleback and Echo Church
[00:15:29] Challenges of Reporting Abuse in Christian Communities
[00:19:17] Supporting Trauma Survivors and Female Representation
[00:22:38] Questioning Use of Male Allies for Women
[00:26:33] Power Abuse in Religion
[00:30:15] Rick Warren's Damaging Leadership and Misogyny
[00:33:57] Addressing Sexism and Racism in the SBC
[00:37:38] Importance of Third-Party Investigation in Abuse Allegations
[00:41:30] Call to Ban NDAs and Remove Abuser in Southern Baptist Convention
[00:45:19] Empowering Listeners for Change
Episode Links
Lori on Hagar's Voice podcast (Hagar's%20Voice%20podcast)
Lori on Bodies Behind the Bus (https://www.instagram.com/tv/CtZ1m8UKgZ4/) podcast
Women in the Church (https://www.aworldofdifferencepodcast.com/s2e23) series
Best Quotes
[00:10:12] Women don't need permission from any man, church, or denomination to use a gift that God has given them
[Unknown] The controversy around women pastors overshadowed and was used as a distraction to the very prominent issue that should have been front center, which is abuse
[Unknown] Using this fight for 'women pastors' has given a lot of limelight, has given a controversy and a stage and an opportunity to speak and make it look as though these men at Saddleback and at Echo Church are for women
Other Materials
Lori's latest Substack Newsletter: Trophy Pastors: How Women are Being Used as a Tool of Distraction From Abuse in the SBC (https://open.substack.com/pub/loriadamsbrown/p/trophy-pastors?r=38cmo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web)
All Quotes
[00:14:21] In order to shift culture, though, it would just take so much. We're talking about power dynamics. We're talking patriarchal structures, theological interpretations that may or continue to enable abuse to occur
[00:09:33] A shout out to Robert Douwnen of the Houston chronicle who really broke a lot of this story a couple of years ago
[00:01:11] We've seen abuse survivors dismissed and minimized and really just an overall disappointing convention when it comes to abuse
[00:08:47] Within the SBC, there's many types of abuse that ha...
