Historic Southern Baptist church continues to make the news for all the wrong reasons
Ex-staffer charged with sexual assault and kidnapping as the church moves to establish bylaws that limit the free speech of members.
Analysis & Commentary
The historic Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, once an anchor among Arkansas Baptist churches and known as once being the church home of former President Bill Clinton, is under fire again for decisions made regarding sexual abuse allegations and subsequent controversy.
Patrick Steven Miller, a former member of Immanuel’s children’s ministry, was charged on Oct. 16 with sexual assault and kidnapping based on accusations from a now-teenage church member that Miller molested her multiple times between ages 8 and 10 during what he called “closet time” at the church, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Charges against Miller, which include two counts each of kidnapping and second-degree sexual assault, together carry a potential life sentence, the newspaper reported.
Immanuel has been at the center of a controversy that has resulted in the resignation of longtime deacons, led to the exit of hundreds of members, and the resignation in April of its pastor, Stephen Smith, for not making the church aware of allegations sooner. The controversy birthed Hope Church in May, a new congregation of former Immanuel members led by interim pastor Rex Horne, who also serves as executive director of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
The case has drawn the attention of Southern Baptists nationwide on how not to handle abuse allegations in the church.
“What happened at Immanuel Baptist Little Rock (has) become a cautionary tale that may help move people toward better practices in our churches. And I hope so, I pray so,” former Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) president Bart Barber told the Democrat-Gazette in May. He added, “Honestly, whether you have a sympathetic heart to survivors of abuse or not, nobody wants to be Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock.”
Proposed Bylaws Limit Member Free Speech?
Several months ago deacons appointed injury attorney and Immanuel member Mike Rainwater, to lead a 15-member committee to draft bylaws for Immanuel, which during its entire 132-year existence has never had governing bylaws.
Rainwater, in remarks to the congregation on Sept. 8, said the process of drafting the bylaws would be “democratic, transparent, and authentic.”
What resulted is a 17-page draft document posted online that appears to limit the free speech of members, according to an article in The Roys Report, a Christian watchdog media ministry:
“Church members are expected to avoid making statements to the general public, media, or via the Internet with intent to breach Church business confidentialities, injure the reputation of the Church, or disregard Jesus’ imperative to love one another…” the proposed bylaws state, but adds that members are still obligated to “comply with the requirements of federal or state law,” notably as it pertains to “report(ing) any suspected child abuse.”
According to the document a member who doesn’t comply with the bylaws “may be subject to discipline or sanctions including temporary or permanent forfeiture (of membership).”
A vote on the new bylaws has been set for Nov. 17, according to Immanuel’s website.