Trying to be patient and also trying to abide by Wade Burleson’s plea for those in the blogosphere not to take up his offenses within the IMB, I post this article with as moderated a tone as I can achieve.
On the flagship of SBC blogs, SBC Outpost, it has come out that both Jerry Corbaley, chair of several committees and one ominous sounding sub-committee at the IMB, and Bob Pearle, pastor of several SBC luminaries such as Paige Patterson and former IMB Trustee (rotating off at Greensboro), had violated Executive Session materials in personal conversations with Ben Cole.
You can find the relevant back and forth in comments 26, 28, 34, 47 & 49 of the article New VP.
Why is it that Wade is singled out for “violating Executive Session materials” that were already made public outside of the IMB BOT when Tom Hatley, noted in these accounts as being apprised of the situation by Ben Cole himself, ignores these other two trustees much more clear violations? Even though Dr. Hatley is no longer the chair of the BOT, should not the current chair deal with Dr. Corbaley’s public confession that he violated Executive Session? He readily agrees to judgment from the BOT. That’s easy – he knows its not coming.
If there are those who doubt the existence of a caucus group within the IMB BOT, this should provide plenty of food for thought.
What Dr. Corbaley is not forthcoming about is the nature and function of his subcommittee, which is to research “the field,” seminaries and other trustees for issues on the field. After a long list of statements that affirm a desire to be “open,” and the apparent effort to do so, Corbaley then obfuscates the issue posed by many questions in the thread. It was a sharp change of gears, to be sure.
If he doesn’t want to answer every nit-picking question, then why does he do it so well until we arrive at this one?
Well, that is another series of posts, I am afraid. For now, I would like to call for the BOT of the IMB to deal with these admitted breaches of confidence in the same way it dealt with Wade Burleson’s supposed breaches: Remove Dr. Corbaley from all committees and responsibilities within the BOT.
Holding my breath? Not likely.
This won’t happen because the difference between Wade and Jerry is that one is working closely with the power structure within the IMB BOT and the other stands opposed to it. It pays dividends to have Dr. Corbaley in the positions where he now serves. It pays dividends to have Wade Burleson in no positions of leadership or influence within the Board.
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GeneMBridges
on Jul 20th, 2006
@ 7:35 pm:
The funny thing is that Trustee Corbaley stated at first that he had no clear memory of the conversation, and within a few hours returned to the thread with what appeared to be quite a clear memory. Also notice that he wishes to be vague about his chat with Ben and then appears to remember his motivations for the charges quite vividly.
Notice also he states that if folks wish to know the nature of his subcommittee’s role they should consult the IMB. Why not just go ahead and disclose its purpose? He’s the one talking about transparency.
tl
on Jul 20th, 2006
@ 11:25 pm:
I guess it really is who you know that provides you coverage.
So much for integrity.
Seems like the fox is guarding the hen-house.
Kevin
on Jul 21st, 2006
@ 1:16 pm:
Art
In everything there is a time and a season. I don’t always understand why but this I know that He is in charge and that after all the smoke is cleared we will give an account and no it isn’t fair that one person does what another is accused of but only the one who is accused gets punished! My hope is that because the light is being shined in how the SBC and it entities (i.e. IMB,NAMB,and our seminaries) do business that it will become more open and that how we do our work will stand out as good and proper. That is my hope and my prayer but I also know that when light shines critters run and hide but there not gone they wait till the light goes out. So let you light so shine that the world you live in is without critters!
In Him
Kevin Lancaster
jgsy3kids
on Jul 21st, 2006
@ 10:30 pm:
My honest opinion when I heard that Jerry C. was going to chair some of these committees?
He was being rewarded for toe-ing the line and standing out against Wade in a public forum (blog).
What to do?
Pray that in spite of man’s attempts to control what happens at the IMB that God will reign supreme.
It is difficult to see this happen; to know that Bob P., Jerry C. and others have violated trustee rules and nothing has happened to them…no accountability.
I think Wade is handling things wisely and asking others to leave things concerning his work on the BoT alone, BUT I think that these other issues do need to be addressed!
So….what about Jerry C and Bob P and the others?
Jenni
art rogers
on Jul 22nd, 2006
@ 2:15 pm:
Well, Jenni, I think your observatiions have merit. Don’t expect them to jump up and claim it.
Micah Fries, in his article published in the Florida Baptist Witness, told of one of the leaders of the resurgence responding to a younger leader. The YL had said that “we” were not seeking positions of leadership. I happened to be present at the exchange. The leader’s response, “Good, because you are going about it the wrong way,” was dead on.
Toe the line and do the will of the leadership already in power – you are rewarded. Oppose the current leadership and you will be isolated.
Then I look at Corbaley and Burkeson. Hmm.
Jeremy Roberts
on Jul 24th, 2006
@ 4:22 pm:
Art -
Dr. Corbaley confessed that he sinned in one of his comments. I don’t think what he did was right, and he probably doesn’t think it was right, either.
I have a feeling he will be handled by the Board for this action. They know as well as you and I do that they have to approach him about discipline if they want to approach Wade about his disciplinary matters.
Tim Sweatman
on Jul 24th, 2006
@ 8:14 pm:
Jeremy,
We’ll be watching to see how the board handles this. The only thing that would be a bigger mistake than to ignore the matter would be for the board to give Corbaley (and any others who did the same thing) a token punishment while continuing to exclude Wade from actually doing his job as a trustee.
art rogers
on Jul 25th, 2006
@ 12:18 pm:
Jeremy,
Your optimism shows no bounds. Perhaps that is a good thing, but my experience colors my expectations. I have seen some world class obfuscation from the BOT.
I also hear of good meetings without much in the way of contraversy, so I am open to better things.
I am just not holding my breath. Anyone else?
Kevin Bussey
on Jul 25th, 2006
@ 1:19 pm:
Art,
I give Corley the benefit of the doubt. I hope people do the same for me. :)
Dorcas
on Jul 25th, 2006
@ 1:44 pm:
My Pollyanna days are over. I still look for the good in people, but I don’t make up stuff that isn’t there just to live in my own “happy place” either. I think on a face value balance of skepticism and optimism, Art is probably closer to the truth.
Kevin Bussey
on Jul 25th, 2006
@ 1:55 pm:
Dorcas,
What are you saying about me? LOL!
I still look for the good in everyone, even from Kudzu Manor! :)
Rzrbk
on Jul 25th, 2006
@ 3:16 pm:
I understand Wade’s desire for us not to take up the offences against him but some times we are called on the take up each other’s burdens. Has anyone read on Associated Baptist Press the article about the firing of the NAMB missionary. http://www.abpnews.com/1254.article It is related to this discussion. Baptist Press has been afraid to get involved so far.
A former IMB trustee and present NAMB trustee, Ron Wilson, has made charges against NAMB missionary Michael Stewart. The pastor in the association leading the attack is named Callis. He is a friend of Jerry Corbaley and Callis’ wife is an IMB trustee. It is amazing how small the trustee world is and how connected everyone is. Ron Wilson made charges against of heresy against IMB missionaries when he was a trustee and was asked to apologize. He wouldn’t apologize then either. It seems at the NAMB a committee can fire a missionary without consulting the board or the staff. Where is Roy Fish while this is going on?
Ron West
IN HIS NAME
on Jul 25th, 2006
@ 9:22 pm:
Where have I heard of Ron Wilson?
Maybe Ben can shed some light on that Name.
A Brother in CHRIST
art rogers
on Jul 26th, 2006
@ 8:28 am:
Wayne (In His Name),
I suspect you know full well where we all can find Ron Wilson’s name used gratuitously.
Rzrbk
on Jul 26th, 2006
@ 11:41 am:
I would be interested in Ben Cole’s knowledge or past association with Ron Wilson also. I would also be interested in knowing if new SB 2VP Wiley Drake has ever worked with Ron Wilson in the resurgence.
art rogers
on Jul 26th, 2006
@ 2:44 pm:
Ron,
You, too, ask such a question in such a way that seems to imply to me that you know the answer.
If you really want the answer to such a question, you should ask Ben directly. Asking this on my blog implies you know something you want publicized but want someone else to do it.
Rzrbk
on Jul 26th, 2006
@ 4:17 pm:
Art,
I don’t know the answer but I was just wondering in response to the post above that asked if Ben would comment and I thought in light Ben’s past association with the leaders of the resurgence he might know Ron Wilson.
I am well aware of who Ron Wilson is. When he was an IMB trustee, he was always involved in this type of controversy. His most famous letter was one in which he described our missionaries as neo-orthodox and said we were controlled by liberals and were spreading heresy around the world. I challenged him in an IMB publication and in several emails to prove his charges or apologize. He would not respond just as he will not apologize or offer proof to the NAMB missionary. This is a man Paul Presler describes as a hero of the resurgence. In light of the Memphis declaration, I thought we should be holding our leaders accountable for actions such as this but no one seems to care as long as they are not the one being slandered.