Living Proof Ministries‘ founder and visionary Beth Moore recently told Religion News Service that she is leaving the Southern Baptist Convention, saying, “I love so many Southern Baptist people, so many Southern Baptist churches, but I don’t identify with some of the things in our heritage that haven’t remained in the past.”
During a sexual abuse panel that was held an evening before the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in 2019, the President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s Russell Moore (no relation) said, “An SBC that doesn’t have a place for Beth Moore, doesn’t have a place for a lot of us.”
Other prominent church leaders are registering their sadness and support for Beth Moore leaving the Southern Baptist Convention.
Current SBC President J.D. Greear tweeted: “I have loved and appreciated Beth Moore’s ministry and will continue to in the future. Personally, she has been an encouragement to me and I will always be grateful. I am grieved anytime someone who believes in the inerrant Scripture, shares our values and desires to cooperate says that they do not feel at home in our convention. When I first allowed my name to be nominated for President, I said we did not need to change our doctrine or our mission, we needed to change our culture. My time as President has shown me that the vast majority of Southern Baptists are ready to walk into the future unified around the Great Commission. Sadly, it’s many of our leaders that seem bent on pulling us apart. My prayer is that this news will cause us to lament, to pray, and to come to Nashville rededicating ourselves to be Great Commission Baptists who keep the Gospel above all and to become a Convention united around the message that Jesus is the only way.”
Moody Publishers editor and author Trillia Newbell tweeted: “I have deep love and respect for @BethMooreLPM. She let me know this was coming because she is human, and she loves others fiercely. As I think about our tendency to analyze and tear each other apart, I hope we’d resist it here and instead pray.”
Cornerstone Baptist Church’s Senior Pastor Dwight McKissic tweeted: “When the likes of Beth Moore, Charlie Dates & Ralph West-3 of the most gifted, godly & effective spokespersons for the Kingdom leave the SBC-& many others are standing at the door-it certainly indicates-to paraphrase an old Negro spiritual-“There is danger, in the water.”
National writer for Religion News Service Bob Smietana tweeted: “One telling detail. Beth Moore first spoke out about Trump’s Access Hollywood tapes in 2016. Over the next three years her ministry lost $1.8 million dollars”
Author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin tweeted: “Thank you, @BethMooreLPM for the light you carry, for the compassion that drives you, for the steadfastness that marks you. I wouldn’t be teaching today if I hadn’t seen you do it first. I might have given up if I hadn’t seen you persevere. What a debt we owe you.”
Pastor wife, podcaster, and Bible teacher Jacki C. King tweeted: “Pastors, I hope you are watching women in the SBC and their response to Beth Moore. Whatever your thoughts or feelings may be, there is a deep gratitude for her and a loss felt by many. Don’t just brush it off. Watch, listen, and ask.”
Relevant Reach creator Megan Lively tweeted: “This was true yesterday and remains true today, @BethMooreLPM. Biblical truth and love for neighbors created in God’s image will always be greater than institutions and denominations. Thank you, for displaying this to a broken world, Beth Moore. May our loyalty look like yours.”
Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Lindale, Texas, Tom Buck tweeted: “In light of our BF&M2000 confessional statement, Beth Moore hasn’t been SBC for some time. I’d rather see her return to the doctrinal beliefs of the SBC than leave. However, anyone who doesn’t intend to walk in agreement with our confession should leave.”
Author and Pastor of Word of Life Church Brian Zahnd tweeted: “In the end, Southern Baptists were more comfortable with Donald Trump than with Beth Moore. Just think about that.”
Pastor Brian Zahand also tweeted, “If you can’t keep a theological conservative who is as gifted, loyal, and generous as @BethMooreLPM in your theologically conservative denomination, you’re probably doing something wrong.”
Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia Michael Catt tweeted: “Honestly, we are hypocrites when we raise missions money in the names of Lottie Moon & Annie Armstrong, applaud missionaries like Bertha Smith and then attack women like Beth Moore.”
President of Renewal Ministries Ray Ortlund tweeted: “One of my heroes.”
Author and speaker Danielle Strickland tweeted: “We are in a reformation. Time for a rethink of everything and a rebuild on the rock who is Jesus. Congrats @bethmoore for choosing love over fear. The Kingdom marches on and the gates of hell will not stand.”