Chris Davis

Jesus follower • Family man • Pastor • Author of 🔆Bright Hope for Tomorrow🔆 Writing at • Mostly on Substack now (same handle)

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

When I read World Magazine's recent article about Paul Pressler, I decided that it was time to tell my story.

My prayer is that survivors of grooming and abuse will know they are not alone

And that the church will take all abuse of power seriously. 1/3

https://t.co/PkC8FA4jcz

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@BethMooreLPM I hope our mansions in the New Creation are close to each other. One day we will rejoice in what remains long after the tears have dried over what was lost.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

Our church has been partnering with non-SBC missions entities for more than a year, so I have largely stepped out of the debates.

All I will say is this: it grieves me to see so much attention and energy spent on restricting women rather than protecting and empowering them.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@BethMooreLPM If anything has come out of this mess, it is beloved bonds around Christ over artificial, power-driven boundaries.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@pastordmack Appreciate you, Pastor.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@PatrickThePi Guards are BACK!

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@SeanFennessey @TheRewatchables Just finished the pod. What a rare gift that conversation was. And those Kubrick stories! Amazing. Hope you didn’t hit your head on anything when you passed out (twice).

[Beth Moore @BethMooreLPM]

Those in the SBC who think I no longer should have anything to say about the SBC profoundly underestimate the power of love. I’d served southern Baptist women for 40 years by the time I left. And when I left, I left directly on their behalf because it became disturbingly clear to me that the SBC as an entity was more interested in protecting shepherds than the sheep entrusted to their care. When protecting the pulpit from women becomes a far greater priority than protecting women (& children) from an abusive pulpit, something is wrong. Which has been the greater problem: women trying to become your senior pastors or pastors misusing or abusing women?

My biggest concern is that what happened with the CRT witch-hunt will happen now in regard to women. The overreach resulted in numerous pastors, teachers and professors dropping the immensely important biblical teachings against racism rather than risk being accused of CRT. I heard from pastors at that time who preached against racism and already had emails Monday morning from people in their congregation accusing them of CRT. Because the difference wasn’t clarified, they lumped all of it into the one category. The aim became: shut every mouth to shut some mouths.

I pled for SBC seminary presidents and leaders to please clarify to pastors and teachers and, thereby, to congregations & students what qualified as CRT and what indeed was the proper and deeply rooted and needed biblical approach to anti-gospel racism.

Crickets.

I see the same potential here. I have never once fought for SBC women to take over church pulpits. I have esteemed and supported the role of male senior pastors. My own pastors would tell you that. If you think I was in the SBC trying to lead a revolution against men, you are clearly not familiar with my materials. What I believed then and believe now is that God has called both men and women to serve their churches and communities and proclaim the gospel. He has poured out his Holy Spirit on men AND on women, calling them to broadcast the good news.

You have beaten the drum loudly about what women in SBC churches cannot do. So, what CAN they do? Clarity here is essential. What is a woman to do who has been gifted BY GOD to teach the Bible, especially if her church has moved to the community group model and there is no Sunday school to teach?

Here is what I see on the horizon. If you leave these matters involving women so vague that it becomes about pastoral roles/actions rather than the title of pastor, it will shift to the subjective rather than objective. I wish I was naïve enough to think that wasn’t the point to some of these leaders but, sadly, I’m not.

What if that senior pastor doesn’t allow a woman on the prayer team to pray over people at the end of the service because he deems she is acting pastorally? What if the pastor sees that a woman’s Sunday school class of WOMEN is getting, in his estimation, a little too big? Can he just decide she acting pastorally and remove her from the role? Can she counsel people with her God-given wisdom and knowledge or would she be acting pastorally? The examples could go on and on. And, of course, I realize many would not use their positions to disesteem women but surely you and I both know countless others would. God only knows how many unqualified, unloving, mean-spirited men are in pastoral positions but the obsession remains the women.

I have no desire to see SBC women leave the denomination. I loved and flourished in that denomination. I want them to be able to flourish in their spiritual gifts. I want them to be esteemed in their serving inside and outside their homes. I want them to be able to serve Jesus and proclaim his glorious gospel.

I know I’m going to get hit here. That’s fine. But you should know I will fight for them to the death. Because I love them. And, yes, whether they love me or not.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@mikbaer When he takes a ball rather than swinging, my 11 year old says “Good eye, mate!”

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@REFLOG18 6 - the ‘97 WS blown save still breaks my heart

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@HasReber @CleGuardians I know this is a highly niche comment, but if I get a vote…

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@PatrickThePi As you should be! Kindness is the real Hall of Fame material.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

For those who don’t know my history with Pressler

https://t.co/gCRyaZMKk2

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

When I read World Magazine's recent article about Paul Pressler, I decided that it was time to tell my story.

My prayer is that survivors of grooming and abuse will know they are not alone

And that the church will take all abuse of power seriously. 1/3

https://t.co/PkC8FA4jcz

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

I finally took the time to read @RobertDownen_’s sweeping account of Paul Pressler’s impact on the Southern Baptist Convention. Because I was pulled into the whirlpool of Pressler’s power brokerage and predation, I don’t have any commentary—

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

mostly deep sorrow over the rot in a movement I once admired and deep gratitude that the kingdom of God is infinitely greater than the Southern Baptist Convention.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@vagentleman2 @RobertDownen_ Thank you.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@GuardsBurner_ There were some rough ones yesterday

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@megannlively @RobertDownen_ Grateful for you, sister. I didn’t get to this article until last night because I was doing the funeral of a beloved church member (who was ready to see Jesus), involved in a racial reconciliation pastors’ group, and preparing to teach the word. It has been a good week!

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@DrAaronNew Thanks, Aaron. Blessings, brother.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@FitHog @RobertDownen_ Thanks, John. I found that being on here was not ultimately good for my soul but do drop in here and there.

Appreciate your witness that transcends the politics and power grabs.

[Chris Davis @RevChrisDavis]

@BethMooreLPM @RobertDownen_ Thank you, Beth. You are a warm, bright light to Rachael and me.

My grief is real, yet I have received a tiny fraction of the gaslighting and DARVO that my sisters have whose abusers are less discredited and hold more power. Because we know that’s what this is ultimately about.