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2. <title type="text">Capstone Report on Alabama Football</title>
3. <subtitle type="text">News &amp; Commentary about Alabama football, basketball &amp; other sports</subtitle>
4.  
5. <updated>2024-01-11T18:01:14Z</updated>
6.  
7. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
8. <id>https://capstonereport.com/feed/atom/</id>
9. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/feed/atom/" rel="self" type="application/atom+xml"/>
10.  
11. <generator uri="https://wordpress.org/" version="6.4.4">WordPress</generator>
12. <icon>https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-Capstone-Report-Crystal-logo-150x86.jpg</icon>
13. <entry>
14. <author>
15. <name>Capstone Report</name>
16. </author>
17.  
18. <title type="html"><![CDATA[Thanks, Coach Saban &#038; Thanks for making it all happen Paul Finebaum]]></title>
19. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2024/01/11/thanks-coach-saban-thanks-for-making-it-all-happen-paul-finebaum/42686/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
20.  
21. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42686</id>
22. <updated>2024-01-11T17:06:44Z</updated>
23. <published>2024-01-11T17:06:41Z</published>
24. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Alabama Football News"/>
25. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[When I started agitating for regime change in Tuscaloosa back in 2006, it seemed impossible that Alabama would so quickly turn from the Malaise of Mike Shula to the excellence of Nick Saban. Landing a coach of Saban&#8217;s potential seemed beyond Alabama&#8217;s capability. But through some luck, the brutal talk of Paul Finebaum&#8217;s radio show, [&#8230;]]]></summary>
26.  
27. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2024/01/11/thanks-coach-saban-thanks-for-making-it-all-happen-paul-finebaum/42686/"><![CDATA[<div class="wp-block-image">
28. <figure class="alignleft size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="321" height="240" data-attachment-id="11820" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2011/04/26/20-random-things-about-alabamas-nick-saban/11819/boatfinebaumsaban/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/boatfinebaumsaban.jpg" data-orig-size="321,240" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}" data-image-title="boatfinebaumsaban" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Boat Finebaum Saban Karle&lt;/p&gt;
29. " data-image-caption="<p>Alabama Coach Nick Saban praised Paul Finebaum. Here is a photograph of Saban with Finebaum and Rick Karle.</p>
30. " data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/boatfinebaumsaban.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/boatfinebaumsaban.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/boatfinebaumsaban.jpg" alt="Alabama Coach Nick Saban praised Paul Finebaum. Here is a photograph of Saban with Finebaum and Rick Karle." class="wp-image-11820" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/boatfinebaumsaban-150x112.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/boatfinebaumsaban.jpg?size=256x191&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/boatfinebaumsaban.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 321w" sizes="(max-width: 321px) 100vw, 321px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em><strong>Alabama Coach Nick Saban praised Paul Finebaum. Here is a photograph of Saban with Finebaum and Rick Karle.</strong></em></figcaption></figure></div>
31.  
32.  
33. <p>When I started agitating for regime change in Tuscaloosa back in 2006, it seemed impossible that Alabama would so quickly turn from the Malaise of Mike Shula to the excellence of Nick Saban. Landing a coach of Saban&#8217;s potential seemed beyond Alabama&#8217;s capability. But through some luck, the brutal talk of Paul Finebaum&#8217;s radio show, and the guts of Mal Moore, Alabama began a legendary run when Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa.</p>
34.  
35.  
36.  
37. <p>Think back to those dark days before Saban. Those days of Mike Dubose, Mike Price, and Mike Shula. </p>
38.  
39.  
40.  
41. <p>The problem with the Mikes was not their football knowledge, schemes; the problem with the three Mikes boiled down to self-control and leadership. </p>
42.  
43.  
44.  
45. <p>None of those Mikes were capable of managing a major college program. That&#8217;s OK. Some people are great assistants and others are great head coaches at small programs on the periphery. Only a few can handle the big stage of the SEC, and fewer still can achieve excellence on a big stage. And none could achieve that excellence for as long as Nick Saban did at Alabama.</p>
46.  
47.  
48.  
49. <p>What more can be said about Nick Saban? He is the Greatest Football Coach of All Time. The chattering heads on ESPN and talk radio are offering their hagiographies of Saban. In fact, I&#8217;ve toyed with the idea of a biography with the title of A Greater Than The Bear: A Biography of Nick Saban. Yet, even that seems to fail in capturing Saban&#8217;s greatness. Perhaps more time is needed to truly appreciate Nick Saban&#8217;s legacy. </p>
50.  
51.  
52.  
53. <p>What we can do is think back to those dark days before Saban. The indiscipline within both the UA administration, the Athletic Department, and the football teams consistently hindered success. </p>
54.  
55.  
56.  
57. <p><strong>Alabama was dysfunctional; however, that doesn&#8217;t even capture it.</strong> The politics within the Athletic Department were Byzantine. Who can forget secret sources leaking damaging info to Phil Fulmer in an attempt to get even with rivals in Tuscaloosa? </p>
58.  
59.  
60.  
61. <p>Even with Mal Moore as athletic director, the chaos remained in Tuscaloosa. Moore worked hard to overcome the factions . Yet, even after Moore decided to fire Mike Shula, there was chaos to come. Remember the coaching search? </p>
62.  
63.  
64.  
65. <p><strong>Were it not for Paul Finebaum mocking Rita Rodriguez&#8217;s hair, Alabama likely would&#8217;ve hired Rodriguez instead of waiting for Nick Saban to finish his season. </strong></p>
66.  
67.  
68.  
69. <p>Do you remember that? </p>
70.  
71.  
72.  
73. <p>Do you remember the low point of the coaching search, when it seemed imminent that Rodriguez would accept the Alabama job and then rejected it? Paul Finebaum&#8217;s show likely had a great deal to do with that stroke of luck. </p>
74.  
75.  
76.  
77. <p>When news broke Rodriguez would not take the Alabama job, things looked bleak. I remember at the time I was sitting in the press box of all places Legion Field watching the state high school football championships. Nobody knew what would happen next. It looked like the coaching search had already failed. </p>
78.  
79.  
80.  
81. <p>&#8220;Malfunction&#8221; Moore had done it again. Yet, Moore didn&#8217;t give up. After that fiasco, Moore settled down and waited on Saban. And the rest is history. </p>
82.  
83.  
84.  
85. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Lessons of Nick Saban and Alabama&#8217;s history Post-Bryant</h2>
86.  
87.  
88.  
89. <p>The entire saga of Alabama post-Bryant shows the importance of leadership. </p>
90.  
91.  
92.  
93. <p>It also illustrates the dangers of arrogance. Alabama&#8217;s run in with the NCAA began because of the arrogance within the Athletic Department and within the football program led by Gene Stallings. </p>
94.  
95.  
96.  
97. <p>Alabama paid dearly for that arrogance not once but twice. It was hammered by the NCAA. However, the real damage was done when fans demanded Alabama hire Mike Dubose as its next head coach. The Dubose regime was a disaster. It led to even more NCAA troubles. </p>
98.  
99.  
100.  
101. <p>The Mike Price insanity embarrassed the university in front of the nation. It had little choice but to fire the amorous coach. Mike Shula took the job and the burden of managing Alabama in the midst of NCAA troubles, the PR nightmare, and a short time to prepare. He tired hard and ultimately failed. He still won 10 games one season including the Cotton Bowl. </p>
102.  
103.  
104.  
105. <p>The fact that mediocre coaches like Mike Shula, Mike Dubose and even buffoons like Bill Curry could win 10+ games at Alabama showed it had enormous untapped potential for a competent coach. Nick Saban proved that. </p>
106.  
107.  
108.  
109. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Some things to keep in mind for the Post-Saban Coaching Search</h2>
110.  
111.  
112.  
113. <p>The Alabama program today is a hot job. Yet, not every coach who wants it is right for it and more than a few successful coaches would not want the headache of following Nick Saban. This makes for a few challenges. However, any coaching search post-Saban is almost guaranteed to be better than the prior post-Bryant coaching searches. </p>
114.  
115.  
116.  
117. <p>It is unlikely, Alabama would hire a coach as inept as Bill Curry. The Curry hire was an obvious attempt by the university president at the time to diminish the football program. Something that ignores the PR benefit of a good athletic department. </p>
118.  
119.  
120.  
121. <p>It is also unlikely that fans would undertake a fax campaign (does anyone still use fax machines?) to influence the coaching search as was done when Mike Dubose was hired. Even if fans tried to flood the office with emails and a faxes, it is unlikely the current leadership would be swayed. That&#8217;s a good thing. </p>
122.  
123.  
124.  
125. <p>Leaders should not ignore fans, but public opinion is not a good way to govern Leaders must have convictions and hold to them. A leader must be willing to pay the price for being wrong. If you have a leader who picks a coach based on an opinion poll, you will too often wind up with troubles. </p>
126.  
127.  
128.  
129. <p>The Saban Era closed with perhaps Nick Saban&#8217;s finest coaching job. This team overachieved and was close to making it to the championship game. What a way to close out a career. </p>
130.  
131.  
132.  
133. <p>Thanks Coach Nick Saban for the memories. There are so many. I enjoyed sitting in Atlanta more than once to watch Alabama win the SEC. Then there was getting to sit in the stands and watch Alabama win back-to-back national titles when Alabama defeated Notre Dame in Miami. There are more. Many more. So, thanks Coach Saban and thanks <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2012/05/05/qa-finebaum-on-getting-fired-from-radio-by-an-alabama-football-coach-getting-his-ass-kicked-by-tommy-charles/16447/">Paul Finebaum for being a brutal radio host that was once fired because of Ray Perkins</a>.</p>
134. ]]></content>
136. </entry>
137. <entry>
138. <author>
139. <name>Capstone Report</name>
140. </author>
141.  
142. <title type="html"><![CDATA[Why was McLean Bible Church giving $125,000 a year to a woke race baiter’s church?]]></title>
143. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2024/01/11/why-was-mclean-bible-church-giving-125000-a-year-to-a-woke-race-baiters-church/42677/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
144.  
145. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42677</id>
146. <updated>2024-01-11T18:01:14Z</updated>
147. <published>2024-01-11T15:41:41Z</published>
148. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
149. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Woke helping the Woke: McLean Bible Church gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Thabiti Anyabwile’s Anacostia River Church. Thabiti Anyabwile famously blamed all white Americans for the assassination of Martin Luther King in a column published by The Gospel Coalition where he blamed white people, saying they were culpable for the political assassination of [&#8230;]]]></summary>
150.  
151. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2024/01/11/why-was-mclean-bible-church-giving-125000-a-year-to-a-woke-race-baiters-church/42677/"><![CDATA[
152. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Woke helping the Woke: McLean Bible Church gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Thabiti Anyabwile’s Anacostia River Church. </h2>
153.  
154.  
155.  
156. <p>Thabiti Anyabwile famously blamed all white Americans for the assassination of Martin Luther King in a column published by The Gospel Coalition where he blamed white people, saying they were culpable for the political assassination of Martin Luther King.&nbsp;</p>
157.  
158.  
159.  
160. <p>Just so you know exactly what <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180411171912/https:/www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabiti-anyabwile/await-repentance-assassinating-dr-king/">Thabiti Anyabwile said in 2018</a>, “My white neighbors and Christian brethren can start by at least saying their parents and grandparents and this country are complicit in murdering a man who only preached love and justice.”</p>
161.  
162.  
163.  
164. <p>That is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. &nbsp;<a href="https://capstonereport.com/2019/10/03/pastor-claims-white-heterosexual-men-oppress-women-and-lgbtq-people/33114/">He also blamed white heterosexual men for oppression of women and LGBTQ people</a> <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2019/09/03/southern-baptist-pastor-wants-foreign-governments-to-hack-2020-election-to-defeat-donald-trump/32964/">and even called on foreign governments to “hack” the 2020 Election to stop Donald Trump</a>. And of course, <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2020/02/21/race-baiting-and-cancel-culture-comes-to-the-sbc/33984/">Thabiti Anyabwile joined the lies and race-baiting about conservative Southern Baptists</a>.&nbsp;</p>
165.  
166.  
167.  
168. <p>Naturally, this is someone David Platt was drawn to.&nbsp; In the summer of 2020, Thabiti’s Anacostia River Church sponsored the Faith + Works Prayer Rally in support of the BLM movement.&nbsp; <a href="https://twitter.com/FaithWorksDC">Faith + Works DC was started by “sisters” from Anacostia River Church</a>. Thabiti introduced David Platt, and it was <a href="https://twitter.com/plattdavid/status/1269350418846490624">Platt who delivered the opening prayer for the rally while his church was closed</a>. You might remember that Platt kept McLean Bible Church closed while other churches in the DC area were opened. There is also a picture of Mike Kelsey, recently confirmed as MBC’s Lead Pastor, and his son holding a sign at the event that says “<a href="https://twitter.com/mikekelsey/status/1270032977968447489">Black Lives Matter to God</a>”.&nbsp; The ERLC even <a href="https://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/our-experience-at-the-faith-that-works-march-in-washington-d-c/)">reported that the march was organized by Faith + Works and Mclean Bible Church</a>. <s></s></p>
169.  
170.  
171.  
172. <p>But, of course,&nbsp; let’s not forget about the financial support that Platt donated, using tithes from conservative Christians at McLean Bible Church, to Thabiti Anyabwile’s church. Based on an internal document disclosed in the recent litigation (spreadsheet below), we know that in 2020, McLean Bible Church gave $125,000 to Anacostia River Church.<a href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/18/liar-discovery-shows-pastor-david-platt-lied-to-mclean-bible-church/42541/"> Some of these documents were uncovered during discovery of a lawsuit that Platt and McLean Bible Church</a>. The church fought the lawsuit and then fought in court to prevent these documents from being made public.&nbsp;</p>
173.  
174.  
175.  
176. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1081" height="444" data-attachment-id="42682" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2024/01/11/why-was-mclean-bible-church-giving-125000-a-year-to-a-woke-race-baiters-church/42677/spreadsheetarc/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC.jpg" data-orig-size="1081,444" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Alan Atchison&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1704965193&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="SpreadsheetARC" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;The 2020 budget year Spreadsheet showing $125,000 contributions to Thabiti Anyabwile&#8217;s church.&lt;/p&gt;
177. " data-image-caption="<p>The 2020 budget year Spreadsheet showing $125,000 contributions to Thabiti Anyabwile’s church.</p>
178. " data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC-480x197.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC-1024x421.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC.jpg" alt="The 2020 budget year Spreadsheet showing $125,000 contributions to Thabiti Anyabwile's church." class="wp-image-42682" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC-150x62.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC.jpg?size=256x105&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC.jpg?size=384x158&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC-480x197.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC.jpg?size=640x263&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC-768x315.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC-1024x421.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1024w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SpreadsheetARC.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1081w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The 2020 budget year Spreadsheet showing $125,000 contributions to Thabiti Anyabwile&#8217;s church.</em></figcaption></figure>
179.  
180.  
181.  
182. <p>According to an internal document (see at bottom of post), in 2017 Mclean Bible Church had previously sent $125,000 and his leadership understood that this support was to continue and even discussed moving it around in the budget among various line items.&nbsp; Assuming that was the case, and the same amount was sent each year between 2017-2020, conservative McLean Bible Church potentially funded woke, leftist race-baiter, Thabiti Anyabwile’s church to the tune of at least $500,000. Did this funding continue beyond 2020?&nbsp; Why was Platt sending money from this conservative church to Anacostia River Church?&nbsp;</p>
183.  
184.  
185.  
186. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="793" height="543" data-attachment-id="42681" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2024/01/11/why-was-mclean-bible-church-giving-125000-a-year-to-a-woke-race-baiters-church/42677/emailarc/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC.jpg" data-orig-size="793,543" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Alan Atchison&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1704965086&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="EmailARC" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Internal email where McLean Bible Church leaders discussed moving contributions to ARC around among budget line items.&lt;/p&gt;
187. " data-image-caption="<p>Internal email where McLean Bible Church leaders discussed moving contributions to ARC around among budget line items.</p>
188. " data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC-480x329.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC.jpg" alt="Internal email where McLean Bible Church leaders discussed moving contributions to ARC around among budget line items." class="wp-image-42681" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC-150x103.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC.jpg?size=256x175&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC.jpg?size=384x263&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC-480x329.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC.jpg?size=640x438&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC-768x526.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/EmailARC.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 793w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Internal email where McLean Bible Church leaders discussed moving contributions to ARC around among budget line items.</em></figcaption></figure>
189.  
190.  
191.  
192. <p>This is a particularly important question as the McLean Bible Church/Thabiti Anyabwile association was raised in a document sent in February 2021 by former elders and ministry leaders over serious accountability and theological problems at the church under David Platt’s leadership.</p>
193.  
194.  
195.  
196. <p>In that 17-page letter, Platt and elders are taken to task for allowing Thabiti Anyabwile access to MBC as a ministry partner. <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/21/david-platt-mbc-elders-rebuked-over-lack-of-transparency-lack-of-biblical-fidelity/36660/">According to those former elders and ministry leaders</a>,&nbsp;</p>
197.  
198.  
199.  
200. <ul>
201. <li>Thabiti Anyabwile, despite promoting progressive talking points at the expense of Christian truth, dividing the body of Christ across racial lines, and promoting the political agenda of Black Liberation Theology, has been used to train the MBC staff and played a prominent role within MBC church life.</li>
202.  
203.  
204.  
205. <li><a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabiti-anyabwile/errata-apology-someevangelicals/">Despite having been compelled to ask forgiveness for his writings and actions in 2019</a>, he was still a featured speaker at the New City Network Gala.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
206.  
207.  
208.  
209. <li>Sadly, his conduct has only proved more contentious and controversial at times, including recent endorsement of the clearly problematic, unbiblical appointment of a transgender man as Assistant Secretary of Health.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
210.  
211.  
212.  
213. <li>By partnering with him and maintaining ties with him, the elders have affirmed his unbiblical views? (2 John 10-11)</li>
214.  
215.  
216.  
217. <li>It is our opinion that Thabiti Anyabwile should not be given access to MBC staff nor our pulpit, and ties should be severed with him. (II Cor. 5:18)</li>
218. </ul>
219.  
220.  
221.  
222. <p>The all-important question(s) remain.&nbsp; Why would David Platt grant Thabiti access to MBC, a conservative evangelical church, to train their staff, organize and march in a rally supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and donate large sums of money to his church given his theological stance and race-baiting views of white Christians? Perhaps the answer lies in his relationship with Mclean Bible Church’s newly confirmed lead pastor, Mike Kelsey.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/november-web-only/mike-kelsey-mclean-bible-church-david-platt-pastor-dc-multi.html">According to a recent article from Christianity Today, </a>&nbsp;Kelsey was the first to welcome Thabiti to DC in 2015.&nbsp; Of course, Thabiti praises the pastor who publicly admitted that he has urges to torch all white people (especially white Evangelicals) as someone who is a “peacemaker” and who has a love for Christ’s people.</p>
223.  
224.  
225.  
226. <p>Did Platt weigh the concerns that were expressed and were these former elders and ministry leaders aware that church leadership potentially sent $500K of church tithes to Thabiti and Anacostia River Church? Was the congregation aware? Based on everything that has come to light recently, the answer is probably no.  </p>
227.  
228.  
229.  
230. <div data-wp-interactive="" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!selectors.core.file.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MBC_002882.xlsx.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of MBC_002882.xlsx."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-7fc066b5-c8df-4c1c-a6a7-6a0d40e12e56" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MBC_002882.xlsx.pdf">MBC_002882.xlsx</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MBC_002882.xlsx.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-7fc066b5-c8df-4c1c-a6a7-6a0d40e12e56">Download</a></div>
231.  
232.  
233.  
234. <div data-wp-interactive="" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!selectors.core.file.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2017-budget-report-MBC-showing-ARC.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of 2017-budget-report-MBC-showing-ARC."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-ded36c20-ceaa-47b2-96b8-e18fe473a4d9" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2017-budget-report-MBC-showing-ARC.pdf">2017-budget-report-MBC-showing-ARC</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2017-budget-report-MBC-showing-ARC.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-ded36c20-ceaa-47b2-96b8-e18fe473a4d9">Download</a></div>
235. ]]></content>
237. </entry>
238. <entry>
239. <author>
240. <name>Capstone Report</name>
241. </author>
242.  
243. <title type="html"><![CDATA[David Platt’s 7 Excuses to Vote Democrat ]]></title>
244. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/30/david-platts-7-excuses-to-vote-democrat/42636/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
245.  
246. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42636</id>
247. <updated>2023-12-30T14:11:42Z</updated>
248. <published>2023-12-30T13:51:57Z</published>
249. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
250. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[During the campaign year of 2020, David Platt’s move into Wokevangelicalism became clear to thousands of those attending McLean Bible Church and it sparked a mass exodus of Christians to other churches around McLean. This is from a confidential letter to the McLean Board of Elders dated June 16, 2021, from Mark Gottlieb. Gottlieb was [&#8230;]]]></summary>
251.  
252. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/30/david-platts-7-excuses-to-vote-democrat/42636/"><![CDATA[
253. <p>During the campaign year of 2020, David Platt’s move into Wokevangelicalism became clear to thousands of those attending McLean Bible Church and it sparked a mass exodus of Christians to other churches around McLean.</p>
254.  
255.  
256.  
257. <p>This is from a confidential letter to the McLean Board of Elders dated June 16, 2021, from Mark Gottlieb. Gottlieb was an elder serving 1996-2020:</p>
258.  
259.  
260.  
261. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="874" height="287" data-attachment-id="42624" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/7waystovotedemocratandnotfeelguilty/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty.jpg" data-orig-size="874,287" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Alan Atchison&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1703575742&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty-480x158.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42624" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty-150x49.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty.jpg?size=256x84&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty.jpg?size=384x126&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty-480x158.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty.jpg?size=640x210&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty-768x252.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7WaystoVoteDemocratandnotFeelGuilty.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 874w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>
262.  
263.  
264.  
265. <p><strong>7 Things to Consider Before you Vote<br></strong>Not much later–David had the bright idea that he needs to help us seasoned Washingtonians learn how to vote. So, a few months before the election he gave the elders a draft copy of the book. <strong>At least 3 elders (Tom, Craig and me) were shocked at the book and told David to absolutely NOT publish the book. The booked was titled ‘7 Things to Consider Before you Vote’. It became known as ‘7 Ways to Vote Democratic and Not Feel Guilty’. Again, David ignored the stern advice of more than half his board–and went ahead and distributed his book all around the church and to the congregation</strong>. That started the next mass exodus. One of my friends felt so strongly against the book–she burned it. And the elders did nothing. (Ok–you made him pay for the copies himself–but the damage was done).</p>
266.  
267.  
268.  
269. <p>Let’s look at the key points we can verify and that you need to know to understand what went wrong at McLean Bible Church.</p>
270.  
271.  
272.  
273. <p>The elders identified by Gottlieb are Tom McMahon and Craig Proulx. Gottlieb asserts that a majority of the board was opposed to David publishing the book; however, once again Platt ignored the advice of his elders. What does this say about megachurch government and the ability to hold rogue pastors accountable?</p>
274.  
275.  
276.  
277. <p>One interesting point here is that the elders forced Platt to pay for the books. <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2022/07/21/david-platt-billed-church-for-giveaway-books-that-justified-voting-democrat/38521/">We know that Platt attempted to bill the church for the books given away to members</a>. Is Gottlieb talking about these books, or did Platt attempt to have the church cover the entire publishing expense? These and more questions about how much money the church gave to Radical (and what that money was used for) are important items to examine both when looking at the discovery documents as they are released and for any future action to hold Platt accountable for the fiasco at McLean Bible Church. Discovery showed that about $650,000 was given by McLean Bible Church to David’s Radical,<a id="_ftnref1" href="#_ftn1">[1]</a> which prompts us to ask, does David Platt exist to serve the church or <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2019/11/15/decadence-in-the-church-lifestyles-of-the-rich-radical/33272/">does McLean Bible Church exist to fund David Platt’s Lifestyle of the Rich &amp; Radical</a>?</p>
278.  
279.  
280.  
281. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7 Things to Consider before you Vote or 7 Ways to Vote Democratic and Not Feel Guilty</h2>
282.  
283.  
284.  
285. <p>A key charge made by the longtime McLean Bible Church elder Mark Gottlieb was that Platt’s book amounted to an apology for Christians voting Democrat. This is, of course, accurate. The entire point of <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2020/09/30/david-platts-bad-political-theology-ignores-gods-standard/34977/">Platt’s book 7 Things to Consider Before You Vote is to justify Christian liberty in making political choices</a>. This would be fine if there were no clear biblical command; however, on topics like abortion, there is a clear biblical teaching and Christians must approach politics with that in mind. <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2020/09/30/david-platts-bad-political-theology-ignores-gods-standard/34977/">Platt prioritizes unity in his book over truth as we pointed out in our September 30, 2020, analysis of the book</a>.</p>
286.  
287.  
288.  
289. <p>Platt knows that abortion is going to be a tough issue to explain away, but he tries.</p>
290.  
291.  
292.  
293. <p>Platt writes, “<strong>Yes, abortion is abhorrent. That’s clear in the Bible (which we’ll see in a moment). But is that the only issue at stake in an election?&nbsp;</strong>What about the scores of Christians, including overwhelming percentages of African-American Christians, who consistently vote for Democrats because of the party’s record on other issues that they also deem biblically important? Can you really conclude that they lack faith in Jesus and are on a road that leads to everlasting suffering because of how they weigh those other issues? Will you really exclude them from the church because they voted for a Democrat?”</p>
294.  
295.  
296.  
297. <p>Would David Platt exclude slaveholders or those who vote in favor of slavery? Of course, he would. Why not those who vote for abortion?</p>
298.  
299.  
300.  
301. <p>Why not? Because that wouldn’t advance David Platt’s Woke agenda.</p>
302.  
303.  
304.  
305. <p>And that Woke agenda combined with this obvious theological junk used to justify the sin of voting for the pro-unrestricted abortion party, accelerated the exodus of conservative evangelicals from McLean Bible Church.</p>
306.  
307.  
308.  
309. <p>Why? Because as we said, <strong><a href="https://capstonereport.com/2019/06/08/division-grows-at-mclean-bible-church-in-aftermath-of-donald-trump-visit/32552/">Donald Trump’s visit didn’t cause division; it exposed the bitter fruit of Wokeness growing in Evangelical churches</a>.</strong></p>
310.  
311.  
312.  
313. <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>
314.  
315.  
316.  
317. <p><a id="_ftn1" href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> This was a number for 2021 revealed in an internal email found in discovery. It is hard to tell exactly how much as Radical in total. We do know that Radical received $200,000 in 2020 alone.</p>
318. ]]></content>
320. </entry>
321. <entry>
322. <author>
323. <name>Capstone Report</name>
324. </author>
325.  
326. <title type="html"><![CDATA[David Platt, Donald Trump, and the fall of McLean Bible Church]]></title>
327. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/29/david-platt-donald-trump-and-the-fall-of-mclean-bible-church/42629/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
328.  
329. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42629</id>
330. <updated>2023-12-29T16:27:46Z</updated>
331. <published>2023-12-29T16:18:27Z</published>
332. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
333. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[A letter from a former McLean Bible Church elder uncovered during discovery details how David Platt would not listen to the counsel of elders. Elder claims this showed Platt’s immaturity as a leader. MBC Elders urged Platt not to send apology after praying for President Trump. Discovery shows David Platt’s mishandling of Donald Trump prayer [&#8230;]]]></summary>
334.  
335. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/29/david-platt-donald-trump-and-the-fall-of-mclean-bible-church/42629/"><![CDATA[
336. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">A letter from a former McLean Bible Church elder uncovered during discovery details how David Platt would not listen to the counsel of elders. Elder claims this showed Platt’s immaturity as a leader.</h2>
337.  
338.  
339.  
340. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MBC Elders urged Platt not to send apology after praying for President Trump.</h2>
341.  
342.  
343.  
344. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Discovery shows David Platt’s mishandling of Donald Trump prayer sparked exodus from McLean Bible Church.</h2>
345.  
346.  
347.  
348. <p>On June 2, 2019, President Donald Trump arrived at McLean Bible Church asking that David Platt and the church pray for him. Platt’s performance on stage as was President Trump’s was respectful and the prayer appropriate. However, that was not the end of the story. Platt immediately wanted to send an explanatory letter to the congregation. As Platt was considering sending the letter, Woke church leaders like Mike Kelsey were sharing anti-Trump, anti-Christian rants on Facebook. Of course, <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2019/06/03/snowflake-christians-upset-with-david-platt-over-prayer-for-president-donald-trump/32520/">Platt published his apology for praying for President Trump</a>. However, the matter did not end there. This sparked the first exodus from the church, according to documents uncovered during discovery.</p>
349.  
350.  
351.  
352. <p><strong>This is from a confidential letter to the McLean Board of Elders dated June 16, 2021, from Mark Gottlieb. Gottlieb was an elder serving 1996-2020. Here is what Gottlieb said about David and the Trump prayer:</strong></p>
353.  
354.  
355.  
356. <p><strong>David’s prayer for Donald Trump</strong><br>Then came David’s prayer for Donald Trump. Personally, I think David and President Trump both did well–David gave a good prayer–and the president said nothing other than ‘thank you’ before walking off stage. David felt such remorse the next day for praying for the most powerful man on the planet–that he felt compelled to apologized to everyone publicly. When we elders saw a draft–several of us told him NOT to send it out. I said, ‘You never need to apologize for praying for your country’s leaders’. David ignored us and sent it out anyway showing his lack of maturity and understanding of the make-up of MBC–and completely ignoring the elders. As elders we did nothing. And a small group of people left the church. The first small wave.”</p>
357.  
358.  
359.  
360. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="998" height="346" data-attachment-id="42625" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/elderletterplattandtrump/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump.jpg" data-orig-size="998,346" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Alan Atchison&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1703575688&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="ElderLetterPlattandTrump" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump-480x166.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42625" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump-150x52.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump.jpg?size=256x89&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump.jpg?size=384x133&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump-480x166.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump.jpg?size=640x222&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump-768x266.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ElderLetterPlattandTrump.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 998w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>
361.  
362.  
363.  
364. <p>Analysis</p>
365.  
366.  
367.  
368. <p>Let’s break this down.</p>
369.  
370.  
371.  
372. <p>David Platt showed a draft apology to the elders. The elders urged him not to send, and Platt sent it anyway.</p>
373.  
374.  
375.  
376. <p><strong>According to Gottlieb, “David ignored us and sent it out anyway showing his lack of maturity and understanding of the make-up of MBC–and completely ignoring the elders.”</strong></p>
377.  
378.  
379.  
380. <p>What is the point of having elders if David Platt is too good to listen to them? It raises several questions about how megachurch pastors can be held accountable. In large churches, it is almost impossible for the congregation to hold the pastor accountable. There is too much of cult of personality at play (this is true for small, medium, and large churches sometimes too.) But, if megachurch pastors feel free to ignore what they are told by elders, what does that mean for any non-hierarchical church polity?</p>
381.  
382.  
383.  
384. <p>Gottlieb also nails the point about Platt’s lack of maturity. He was the toast of the T4G crowd and got away with promoting absurd theology in Radical. Why? <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/01/10/al-mohler-is-not-the-answer-to-the-sbcs-problem-al-mohler-is-the-problem/35375/">All because he was part of the Albert Mohler crew</a>.</p>
385.  
386.  
387.  
388. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="769" data-attachment-id="32328" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2019/03/08/traditionalists-calvinists-and-fighting-wokeness-in-the-sbc/32323/image001-3/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3.jpg" data-orig-size="1024,769" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1550669254&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="image001 (3)" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Mohler&lt;/p&gt;
389. " data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-480x360.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-1024x769.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-1024x769.jpg" alt="Mohler Southern Baptist Convention" class="wp-image-32328" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-150x113.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3.jpg?size=256x192&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3.jpg?size=384x288&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-450x338.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 450w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-480x360.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-666x500.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 666w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-768x577.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3-850x638.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 850w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/image001-3.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>
390.  
391.  
392.  
393. <p>You’ll note that every Woke leader in the SBC has ties to Mohler. Mohler promoted lifelong Democrat Russell Moore and was responsible for his rise in the SBC. While not critical to understanding what happened at McLean Bible Church, one should remember that Mohler’s network of cronies including T4G and for years The Gospel Coalition is why David Platt gained a celebrity status so quickly.</p>
394.  
395.  
396.  
397. <p>Back to Gottlieb’s letter.</p>
398.  
399.  
400.  
401. <p>This is another very important point—the Trump fiasco with David Plat refusing to listen to his fellow elders sparked the decline of church attendance.</p>
402.  
403.  
404.  
405. <p>Gottlieb said, <strong>“And a small group of people left the church. The first small wave.”</strong></p>
406.  
407.  
408.  
409. <p>Why did some people leave McLean Bible Church over Platt’s apology after praying for President Trump? Take a closer look at Platt’s apology.</p>
410.  
411.  
412.  
413. <p><a href="https://capstonereport.com/2019/06/03/snowflake-christians-upset-with-david-platt-over-prayer-for-president-donald-trump/32520/">In a now removed apology letter, Platt said</a>, “<strong>I wanted to share all of this with you in part because I know that some within our church, for a variety of valid reasons, are hurt that I made this decision.&nbsp;</strong>This weighs heavy on my heart. I love every member of this church, and I only want to lead us with God’s Word in a way that transcends political party and position, heals the hurts of racial division and injustice, and honors every man and woman made in the image of God. So while I am thankful that we had an opportunity to obey 1 Timothy 2&nbsp;in a unique way today, I don’t want to purposely ever do anything that undermines the unity we have in Christ.”&nbsp; (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190604025230/https:/mcleanbible.org/prayer-president">You can read the entire deleted letter here</a>.)</p>
414.  
415.  
416.  
417. <p><strong>Platt shouldn’t say the concerns were valid. They were not. The Bible commands the church to pray for leaders.</strong></p>
418.  
419.  
420.  
421. <p>But there was more happening here than only Platt’s apology.</p>
422.  
423.  
424.  
425. <p>Mike Kelsey, someone Platt elevated to major leadership in McLean Bible Church and is now Lead Pastor at McLean Bible Church thanks to David Platt, ranted on social media against conservative Christians outraged at Platt’s Woke apology.</p>
426.  
427.  
428.  
429. <p><a href="https://capstonereport.com/2019/06/08/division-grows-at-mclean-bible-church-in-aftermath-of-donald-trump-visit/32552/">Kelsey said on Facebook</a>, <strong>“To those of you (esp. in our church) who have criticized him for acknowledging the hurt his decision caused, and who have even had the calloused audacity to malign those who are hurt, your brash insensitivity is the reason why so many minority and marginalized people struggle to be a part of ‘Evangelical’ churches. If you *really* care about ‘gospel unity’, ‘racial reconciliation’, and ‘the least of these’, do better.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></p>
430.  
431.  
432.  
433. <p><a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/14/mclean-bible-church-pastor-i-want-to-torch-white-people/36613/">Kelsey would famously be exposed as a racist who wanted to “torch white people” several months later</a>.</p>
434.  
435.  
436.  
437. <p>Where was David Platt&#8217;s apology for that? </p>
438. ]]></content>
440. </entry>
441. <entry>
442. <author>
443. <name>Capstone Report</name>
444. </author>
445.  
446. <title type="html"><![CDATA[Death toll at 130 &#038; climbing in Christmas Eve terror attack in Nigeria]]></title>
447. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/25/death-toll-at-130-climbing-in-christmas-eve-terror-attack-in-nigeria/42610/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
448.  
449. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42610</id>
450. <updated>2023-12-25T18:34:40Z</updated>
451. <published>2023-12-25T18:34:37Z</published>
452. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
453. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Attacks leave women, children, elderly homeless as they flee gunfire on Christmas Day As Christians in the West safely celebrate Christmas, Christians in other parts of the world are recovering from a deadly Christmas Eve attack that killed 130 and left many homeless. In a story that needs more attention, over 100 Christian villagers are [&#8230;]]]></summary>
454.  
455. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/25/death-toll-at-130-climbing-in-christmas-eve-terror-attack-in-nigeria/42610/"><![CDATA[
456. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Attacks leave women, children, elderly homeless as they flee gunfire on Christmas Day</h2>
457.  
458.  
459.  
460. <p>As Christians in the West safely celebrate Christmas, Christians in other parts of the world are recovering from a deadly Christmas Eve attack that killed 130 and left many homeless. In a story that needs more attention, <a href="https://truthnigeria.com/2023/12/terrorists-kill-70-in-christmas-eve-attack-on-sleeping-christian-villages/">over 100 Christian villagers are dead after a Christmas Eve attack on their villages in Plateau State of Nigeria</a>. The story reported by award-winning conflict reporter Masara Kim for Truth Nigeria details how even on Christmas Day as weather worsens, thousands of women, children, and elderly are evacuating as scattered gunfire is heard around the area of attack.</p>
461.  
462.  
463.  
464. <p>That area of attack appears to be in the eastern part of Bokkos county. Attacks began December 23 and appear to have escalated on Christmas Eve with the hardest-hit villages on Christmas Eve include Makabat, Mbar, Tahore, Sanyang, Daress Mandar, Hurum, Danbukur, Maiyanga, NTV and Tudun Mazat. In these villages, numerous houses were burned, and residents were displaced,” according to the story posted by Masara Kim. Kim is senior editor for Truth Nigeria.</p>
465.  
466.  
467.  
468. <p>More details from other Truth Nigeria reporters include this: “The attacks continuing to the morning of December 25 forced residents, including children, to flee on foot amid worsening weather. A TruthNigeria reporter, native to the area, shared that his mother slept in a dry stream, while his siblings joined 20 civilian volunteers to defend their village. By the morning of December 25, at least 20 people were confirmed killed, five in the reporter’s village Butura Kampani, with others still missing.”</p>
469.  
470.  
471.  
472. <p>This is a story that needs much more attention. Be sure to share it and let people know what is happening to Christians this holiday season. You can follow at this link: <a href="https://truthnigeria.com/2023/12/terrorists-kill-70-in-christmas-eve-attack-on-sleeping-christian-villages/">the latest information on the Christmas Eve terror attacks in Nigeria</a>.</p>
473.  
474.  
475.  
476. <p>(<em>Photo: Christian Villagers Flee the Christmas Eve Terror Attack in Nigeria as scattered gunfire is heard around the village. Photo by Truth Nigeria.)</em></p>
477. ]]></content>
479. </entry>
480. <entry>
481. <author>
482. <name>Capstone Report</name>
483. </author>
484.  
485. <title type="html"><![CDATA[Video chronicles David Platt’s ‘Hostile Takeover’ of McLean Bible Church]]></title>
486. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/23/video-chronicles-david-platts-hostile-takeover-of-mclean-bible-church/42597/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
487.  
488. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42597</id>
489. <updated>2023-12-24T01:10:16Z</updated>
490. <published>2023-12-24T01:02:37Z</published>
491. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
492. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[McLean Bible Church member: &#8216;David Platt is weak. David Platt is a coward.&#8217; MBC members: &#8216;We were lied to from the pulpit.&#8217; MBC members: &#8216;David Platt is a great actor.&#8217; A new video released tonight interviews a diverse group of McLean Bible Church members attacked by David Platt for raising questions about finances and the [&#8230;]]]></summary>
493.  
494. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/23/video-chronicles-david-platts-hostile-takeover-of-mclean-bible-church/42597/"><![CDATA[
495. <iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&#038;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjudd.saul%2Fvideos%2F338552088963457%2F&#038;show_text=false&#038;width=560&#038;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>
496.  
497.  
498.  
499. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">McLean Bible Church member: &#8216;David Platt is weak. David Platt is a coward.&#8217;</h2>
500.  
501.  
502.  
503. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MBC members: &#8216;We were lied to from the pulpit.&#8217;</h2>
504.  
505.  
506.  
507. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MBC members: &#8216;David Platt is a great actor.&#8217;</h2>
508.  
509.  
510.  
511. <p>A new video released tonight interviews a diverse group of McLean Bible Church members attacked by David Platt for raising questions about finances and the independent church&#8217;s association with the Southern Baptist Convention&#8211;<a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/06/17/mclean-bible-church-violates-its-constitution-to-join-sbc/36287/">an association banned by the church constitution</a>. The video published on Facebook and associated with the website <a href="https://therealdavidplatt.com/">The Real David Platt</a> contains important information about the entire Platt fiasco. Also, the website teases a longer form documentary coming in 2024.</p>
512.  
513.  
514.  
515. <p>The highlight of the video is how the diverse members of McLean Bible Church talk about how David Platt infected with the heresy of Critical Race Theory (CRT). As we pointed out before, <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/24/mclean-bible-church-was-diverse-before-david-platt-knew-it-existed/36718/">McLean Bible Church was a flourishing and diverse church long before David Platt new anything about it</a>; however, Platt was determined to divide the church by the promotion of racial identity politics. </p>
516.  
517.  
518.  
519. <p>One of the best moments in the video is when David Platt runs away from some of the members wanting to talk to him. So much for Matthew 18 Conflict Resolution. But hey, who are the little people to confront Big Eva rock stars like David Platt? </p>
520.  
521.  
522.  
523. <p>In fact, Platt&#8217;s running away from questions is the theme of his entire time at McLean. As the video details, people were kicked out of the church for asking financial questions. Also, as the discovery documents reviewed by the Capstone Report reveal, Platt and others in church leaders made a decision not to talk about how much money was being funneled by McLean Bible Church to the Southern Baptist Convention because it might cause outrage among the congregation. </p>
524.  
525.  
526.  
527. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Follow the money</h2>
528.  
529.  
530.  
531. <p>Appearing in the trailer for the forthcoming documentary is lawyer Chap Petersen. Petersen represented some of the McLean Bible Church members seeking financial disclosure about the relationship between Platt, McLean Bible Church and the Southern Baptist Convention. </p>
532.  
533.  
534.  
535. <p>Another interesting point raised in the video, is just how much money was being sent from McLean Bible Church to David Platt&#8217;s own Radical ministry. </p>
536.  
537.  
538.  
539. <p>Just as the corrupt SBC Elites influenced the disaster at First Baptist Church of Naples, Florida, this new documentary details the corrupt way the Southern Baptist Convention was involved with David Platt’s “hostile takeover” of McLean Bible Church.</p>
540. ]]></content>
542. </entry>
543. <entry>
544. <author>
545. <name>Capstone Report</name>
546. </author>
547.  
548. <title type="html"><![CDATA[NAMB VP Mike Ebert stars in latest court filing]]></title>
549. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/21/namb-vp-mike-ebert-stars-in-latest-court-filing/42577/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
550.  
551. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42577</id>
552. <updated>2023-12-21T22:55:37Z</updated>
553. <published>2023-12-21T22:48:10Z</published>
554. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
555. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[A NAMB VP steals the show in the latest court filings in the McRaney v. NAMB case. In one paragraph deep into the brief, Will McRaney&#8217;s attorney Scott Gant reveals that NAMB&#8217;s Mike Ebert &#8220;said the quiet part out loud.&#8221; According to today&#8217;s filing, “It is apparent that NAMB’s Executive Vice President of Public Relations, [&#8230;]]]></summary>
556.  
557. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/21/namb-vp-mike-ebert-stars-in-latest-court-filing/42577/"><![CDATA[
558. <p>A NAMB VP steals the show in the latest court filings in the McRaney v. NAMB case. In one paragraph deep into the brief, Will McRaney&#8217;s attorney Scott Gant reveals that NAMB&#8217;s Mike Ebert &#8220;said the quiet part out loud.&#8221; </p>
559.  
560.  
561.  
562. <p>According to today&#8217;s filing, “It is apparent that NAMB’s Executive Vice President of Public Relations, Mike Ebert, said the quiet part out loud when admitting in emails that NAMB’s claim it is a &#8216;supporting organization&#8217; of BCMD was conjured up for this matter alone, stating that defense is &#8216;limited to the facts of this specific case. . .&#8217;” </p>
563.  
564.  
565.  
566. <p>You might remember Ebert&#8217;s name because <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/03/06/new-court-filing-claims-namb-bullied-reporter-covering-sex-abuse/41183/">Ebert attempted to intimidate a female Southern Baptist journalist (and a sex abuse survivor) reporting on sex abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention</a>. </p>
567.  
568.  
569.  
570. <p>Today&#8217;s brief does a great job explaining why NAMB&#8217;s case is a tissue of fabrications. Much like everything else involving Big Eva. For example, <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/18/liar-discovery-shows-pastor-david-platt-lied-to-mclean-bible-church/42541/">we&#8217;ve been reporting on discovery documents released this week involving McLean Bible Church pastor David Platt</a>. Interested in seeing more of the seemy underbelly of Big Eva, then check out our coverage. Anyway, read today&#8217;s filing below:</p>
571.  
572.  
573.  
574. <div data-wp-interactive="" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!selectors.core.file.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Doc.-84-Reply-Brief.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of Doc.-84-Reply-Brief."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-a51897bd-9303-4352-b359-9a93cc669daa" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Doc.-84-Reply-Brief.pdf">Doc.-84-Reply-Brief</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Doc.-84-Reply-Brief.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-a51897bd-9303-4352-b359-9a93cc669daa">Download</a></div>
575. ]]></content>
577. </entry>
578. <entry>
579. <author>
580. <name>Capstone Report</name>
581. </author>
582.  
583. <title type="html"><![CDATA[David Platt erased Lon Solomon at McLean Bible Church ]]></title>
584. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/19/david-platt-erased-lon-solomon-at-mclean-bible-church/42555/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
585.  
586. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42555</id>
587. <updated>2023-12-20T00:49:20Z</updated>
588. <published>2023-12-20T00:49:18Z</published>
589. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
590. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Petty Leadership: David Platt refused to invite Lon Solomon to return and preach as Pastor Emeritus at McLean Bible Church, according to a former elder’s letter uncovered during a legal fight to force MBC to accountability.   How petty was David Platt when he took over McLean Bible Church? He made sure to never invite Lon [&#8230;]]]></summary>
591.  
592. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/19/david-platt-erased-lon-solomon-at-mclean-bible-church/42555/"><![CDATA[
593. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Petty Leadership: David Platt refused to invite Lon Solomon to return and preach as Pastor Emeritus at McLean Bible Church, according to a former elder’s letter uncovered during a legal fight to force MBC to accountability.  </h2>
594.  
595.  
596.  
597. <p>How petty was David Platt when he took over McLean Bible Church? He made sure to never invite Lon Solomon, Pastor Emeritus, back to preach.  Ever. We know this via an explosive 2021 letter sent to elders from recently retired elder Mark Gottlieb. Gottlieb made it clear that Lon Solomon wanted to return to the pulpit to preach at McLean Bible Church occasionally, but that David Platt was blocking it.  (To understand how the lawsuit came about and what was uncovered see this <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/18/liar-discovery-shows-pastor-david-platt-lied-to-mclean-bible-church/42541/">summary of the case against McLean Bible Church</a>.)  </p>
598.  
599.  
600.  
601. <p>According to the former elder’s letter to Platt and the elder board in 2021, (Gottlieb rotated off the elder board in 2020) rumors were swirling that Lon Solomon had sinned and that was why McLean Bible Church had never invited him to return to preach.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
602.  
603.  
604.  
605. <p>What did Platt do about those rumors? Nothing. He persisted in refusing to have Lon Solomon back to speak to his beloved church. </p>
606.  
607.  
608.  
609. <p>According to the letter written by Mark Gottlieb and uncovered by subpoena, “If you remember, Lon promised to be back and preach occasionally. Yet David never invited Lon back to preach. At least 3 times over the next year–I would bring this up at an elder meeting. David’s excuse being he wanted Lon back to be recognized, and that Lon didn’t want to be recognized–he wanted to preach–as he promised. <strong>Two years ago–Lon confirmed with me when I saw him at some event that he has never been invited back to preach. I brought up the fact to the elders that this is not about what David or Lon wants–it’s about what’s right. And about helping Lon ‘finish well’ as he always hoped. David didn’t want him back–and the elders did nothing.”</strong>  (emphasis added) </p>
610.  
611.  
612.  
613. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="895" height="315" data-attachment-id="42559" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/19/david-platt-erased-lon-solomon-at-mclean-bible-church/42555/gottliebongettinglonbackinthepulpit/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit.jpg" data-orig-size="895,315" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Former McLean Bible Church elder details how David Platt refused to allow Lon Solomon back into the pulpit to preach.&lt;/p&gt;
614. " data-image-caption="<p>Former McLean Bible Church elder details how David Platt refused to allow Lon Solomon back into the pulpit to preach.</p>
615. " data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit-480x169.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit.jpg" alt="Former McLean Bible Church elder details how David Platt refused to allow Lon Solomon back into the pulpit to preach." class="wp-image-42559" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit-150x53.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit.jpg?size=256x90&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit.jpg?size=384x135&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit-480x169.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit.jpg?size=640x225&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit-768x270.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GottliebonGettingLonBackinthePulpit.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 895w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Former McLean Bible Church elder details how David Platt refused to allow Lon Solomon back into the pulpit to preach.</em></figcaption></figure>
616.  
617.  
618.  
619. <p>The fact that Lon Solomon was never invited back to speak to the congregation raised all sorts of uncomfortable questions.  </p>
620.  
621.  
622.  
623. <p>According to Gottlieb’s letter, “<strong>So, the rumor mill continued over the years about what sin Lon must have committed since MBC wouldn’t invite him back.</strong> I as an elder felt embarrassed. We should all be embarrassed for not helping Lon finish well.”&nbsp;</p>
624.  
625.  
626.  
627. <p>There was no reason for Lon Solomon not to return other than David Platt. So, was it because David knew Lon would have prevented his liberal agenda from moving forward at MBC? Maybe if Solomon was present, his conviction that MBC &#8220;preach the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible&#8221; would be incompatible with David’s Woke theology?  Was it because Lon Solomon was Jewish?</p>
628.  
629.  
630.  
631. <p>This was not the only insult to the former beloved pastor from David Platt. Other demands under Platt’s toxic leadership included the removal of all of Lon Solomon’s sermons from the church website and the removal of many of his sermons and books from the church bookstore.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
632.  
633.  
634.  
635. <p>One member described it as David’s attempt to erase Lon Solmon from McLean Bible Church. “Every trace of Lon Solomon was removed from the church,” a longtime church member and attender said. “And they did a good job of it.”&nbsp;</p>
636.  
637.  
638.  
639. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Platt belittled Lon’s legacy&nbsp;</h2>
640.  
641.  
642.  
643. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="874" height="514" data-attachment-id="42558" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/19/david-platt-erased-lon-solomon-at-mclean-bible-church/42555/lonsolomonpreachingatlibertyuniversity/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity.jpg" data-orig-size="874,514" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;Lon Solomon preaching at Liberty University.&lt;/p&gt;
644. " data-image-caption="<p>Lon Solomon preaching at Liberty University.</p>
645. " data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity-480x282.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity.jpg" alt="Lon Solomon preaching at Liberty University." class="wp-image-42558" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity-150x88.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity.jpg?size=256x151&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity.jpg?size=384x226&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity-480x282.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity.jpg?size=640x376&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity-768x452.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LonSolomonpreachingatLibertyUniversity.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 874w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lon Solomon preaching at Liberty University.</figcaption></figure>
646.  
647.  
648.  
649. <p>While David Platt spoke publicly to praise Lon Solomon and embellished a relationship that was non-existent (<a href="https://vimeo.com/268274133#t=712s">like in this clip at the 11:52 mark</a>), behind the scenes he was determined to overhaul McLean Bible Church’s operations, hierarchy structure and overall management and culture. Previously, <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/29/david-platt-sought-more-power-to-weaken-mclean-bible-church-elders/36767/">we reported on a leaked document where Platt wanted the elders to relinquish more control over the church to himself and his handpicked leadership team</a>. Platt even asked for the power to expel church members without oversight from the rest of the elders.</p>
650.  
651.  
652.  
653. <p>Platt also attempted to change the culture of McLean Bible Church from a largely conservative evangelical church to something nebulously defined as diverse. However, long before Platt arrived, MBC was a diverse church; one could argue, it is actually less diverse now.</p>
654.  
655.  
656.  
657. <p><a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/24/mclean-bible-church-was-diverse-before-david-platt-knew-it-existed/36718/">According to a former member</a>, “I can’t count how many ethnic ministries were at MBC i.e. Filipino Fellowship, Korean, Arab, and Chinese. You name it. MBC had it. <strong>It was extremely beautiful to see all those nationalities worship Jesus</strong>. It was a highlight during the members’ meetings and end of the year giving. <strong>Way before it was the Woke thing to do, Lon Solomon was reaching all peoples because he focused on preaching the simple gospel and outreach to neighboring communities</strong>.” </p>
658.  
659.  
660.  
661. <p>Yet, <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/05/david-platt-explodes-at-mclean-bible-church-plays-the-race-card/36481/">Platt attacked the church and conservative members as racist during a 2021 rant</a>. And some of the very people he attacked were diverse and involved in various community outreach groups.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
662.  
663.  
664.  
665. <p>Another change that Platt wanted was to continue downsizing the workforce in the church—something he did at IMB to change the culture of the missionary force into something more acceptable to his theological biases.  </p>
666.  
667.  
668.  
669. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="572" data-attachment-id="42557" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/19/david-platt-erased-lon-solomon-at-mclean-bible-church/42555/plattquestforpowerslidefund/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund.jpg" data-orig-size="1229,687" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund-480x268.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund-1024x572.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund-1024x572.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42557" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund-150x84.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund.jpg?size=256x143&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund.jpg?size=384x215&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund-480x268.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund.jpg?size=640x358&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund-768x429.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund-1024x572.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1024w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PlattQuestforPowerSlideFund.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1229w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>
670.  
671.  
672.  
673. <p>In a never reported slide from a 2019 Elder Board meeting, Platt and his cronies wanted more control over finances. To achieve this, they cited David Platt’s brand. According to the slide that you can see on this page, “Leverage David Platt’s brand (faithfulness, zeal, character, expertise).”  </p>
674.  
675.  
676.  
677. <p>Platt wanted to shrink the staff that was hired by Lon Solomon and at the same time increase giving by 200%.&nbsp; Seriously, you read that right. In 2019, Platt wanted the church to increase its giving by 200%, when in fact his leadership would see giving continue to freefall.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
678.  
679.  
680.  
681. <p><strong>Apparently, doing church David’s way isn’t a recipe for success and David’s brand isn’t as reliable as he thought.  All the while keeping everything a secret from his congregation, just like he kept the millions of dollars that went to the SBC a secret, truly giving rise to a whole new definition of “secret” church.</strong></p>
682. ]]></content>
684. </entry>
685. <entry>
686. <author>
687. <name>Capstone Report</name>
688. </author>
689.  
690. <title type="html"><![CDATA[LIAR: Discovery shows Pastor David Platt lied to McLean Bible Church]]></title>
691. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/18/liar-discovery-shows-pastor-david-platt-lied-to-mclean-bible-church/42541/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
692.  
693. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42541</id>
694. <updated>2023-12-18T22:11:35Z</updated>
695. <published>2023-12-18T21:37:25Z</published>
696. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
697. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[EXCLUSIVE: David Platt knew McLean Bible Church joined the Southern Baptist Convention even as he lied about it for years to his congregation new emails prove. A Virginia lawsuit reveals David Platt lied as documents become public highlighting Platt’s deception. David Platt’s denial that McLean Bible Church was a member of the Southern Baptist Convention [&#8230;]]]></summary>
698.  
699. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/18/liar-discovery-shows-pastor-david-platt-lied-to-mclean-bible-church/42541/"><![CDATA[
700. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">EXCLUSIVE: David Platt knew McLean Bible Church joined the Southern Baptist Convention even as he lied about it for years to his congregation new emails prove.</h2>
701.  
702.  
703.  
704. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Virginia lawsuit reveals David Platt lied as documents become public highlighting Platt’s deception.</h2>
705.  
706.  
707.  
708. <figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DavidPlattdeniesMBCIsPartofSBC.mp4"></video></figure>
709.  
710.  
711.  
712. <p>David Platt’s denial that McLean Bible Church was a member of the Southern Baptist Convention was clear. “We are a not a member of the Southern Baptist Convention,” Platt told the congregation during a racially charged rant on July 4, 2021. However, David Platt knew that was a lie and he intentionally deceived his congregation for years. <strong>In fact, McLean Bible Church sent messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting, the <em>Capstone Report</em> can reveal. This affiliation with a denomination happened despite the <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/06/17/mclean-bible-church-violates-its-constitution-to-join-sbc/36287/">MBC Constitution forbidding such an affiliation</a></strong>.</p>
713.  
714.  
715.  
716. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="152" data-attachment-id="42543" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/18/liar-discovery-shows-pastor-david-platt-lied-to-mclean-bible-church/42541/mcleanbiblechurchelects2messengers/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers.jpg" data-orig-size="1256,187" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;This image shows McLean Bible Church elected two messengers to the SBC&#8217;s Annual Meeting.&lt;/p&gt;
717. " data-image-caption="<p>This image shows McLean Bible Church elected two messengers to the SBC’s Annual Meeting.</p>
718. " data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers-480x71.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers-1024x152.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers-1024x152.jpg" alt="This image shows McLean Bible Church elected two messengers to the SBC's Annual Meeting." class="wp-image-42543" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers-150x22.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers.jpg?size=256x38&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers.jpg?size=384x57&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers-480x71.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers.jpg?size=640x95&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers-768x114.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers-1024x152.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1024w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/McLeanBibleChurchElects2messengers.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1256w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This image shows McLean Bible Church elected two messengers to the SBC&#8217;s Annual Meeting. The full document is at the end of this story.</figcaption></figure>
719.  
720.  
721.  
722. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="980" height="217" data-attachment-id="42542" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/18/liar-discovery-shows-pastor-david-platt-lied-to-mclean-bible-church/42541/affiliatedwithsbcvmbc/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC.jpg" data-orig-size="980,217" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC" data-image-description="&lt;p&gt;This image shows a church secretary certifying to the Southern Baptist Convention that McLean Bible Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia&#8211;a state Baptist Convention that MBC gave money to that entitled it to representation at the SBC Annual Meeting.&lt;/p&gt;
723. " data-image-caption="<p>This image shows a church secretary certifying to the Southern Baptist Convention that McLean Bible Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia–a state Baptist Convention that MBC gave money to that entitled it to representation at the SBC Annual Meeting.</p>
724. " data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC-480x106.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC.jpg" alt="This image shows a church secretary certifying to the Southern Baptist Convention that McLean Bible Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia--a state Baptist Convention that MBC gave money to that entitled it to representation at the SBC Annual Meeting." class="wp-image-42542" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC-150x33.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC.jpg?size=256x57&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC.jpg?size=384x85&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC-480x106.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC.jpg?size=640x142&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC-768x170.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AffiliatedwithSBCVMBC.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 980w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">This image shows a church secretary certifying to the Southern Baptist Convention that McLean Bible Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia&#8211;a state Baptist Convention that MBC gave money to that entitled it to representation at the SBC Annual Meeting.</figcaption></figure>
725.  
726.  
727.  
728. <p>According to a summary of the legal findings a lawyer representing the current and former members of McLean Bible Church said, “Throughout the litigation, the affiliation, which the church referred to as a ‘partnership,’ has been colored as a ‘church planting’ operation by Church leadership and that the SBC relationship only amounted to joint contributions to MBC’s New City Network Program. This is not the case.”</p>
729.  
730.  
731.  
732. <p>And there is more. Much more.</p>
733.  
734.  
735.  
736. <p>But now let&#8217;s focus on the violation of the constitution. </p>
737.  
738.  
739.  
740. <p>According to the lawyers, “<strong>We discovered, through a subpoena of the SBC’s Virginia convention</strong>, that MBC transferred over $2 million in ‘gifts’ to the SBC. (A portion of this was from annual offerings which were unrestricted in nature and a portion was passed through by the New City Network). <strong>In return, the Church was given its own SBC ID number and was eligible to send delegates to the SBC’s ‘Annual Meeting’ to vote on binding SBC policy.</strong> This disclosure was confirmed by the Church’s own financial records and admitted under oath by Church leaders. In effect, an affiliation was formed with SBC, and we found that it was much more comprehensive than first believed.”</p>
741.  
742.  
743.  
744. <p>This lawsuit was filed on behalf of Jeremiah Burke, Laura Burke, Caroline Hiban, Michael Hiban, Salvador Cordova, and Judith M. Strother. J. Chapman Petersen of Chap Petersen &amp; Associates served as lead counsel for the plaintiffs. Petersen served for 16 years as a state senator in Virginia and has a long and distinguished legal career. Without the legal work from Petersen and the perseverance of Jeremiah Burke, Laura Burke, Caroline Hiban, Michael Hiban, Salvador Cordova, and Judith M. Strother this would never have been uncovered. </p>
745.  
746.  
747.  
748. <p>Platt and his team relied on weasel words throughout to dodge his blatant violation of the Church constitution. </p>
749.  
750.  
751.  
752. <p>The Southern Baptist Convention is confusing to those outside its Byzantine political structure. Platt exploited this. The SBC is a body of churches that cooperate in funding seminaries and missions. <strong>The entire structure is governed by the Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. This Annual Meeting is restricted to churches who certify they are affiliated with the SBC.</strong> There are strict criteria governing which churches can send messengers and how many messengers these churches are entitled to send.</p>
753.  
754.  
755.  
756. <p>There is no greater indication that a church is involved in the Southern Baptist Convention than sending messengers to the SBC Annual Meeting. And in fact, <strong>according to documents uncovered during discovery and reviewed by the <em>Capstone Report</em>, McLean Bible Church in fact elected at least two messengers to an SBC Annual Meeting</strong>. <strong>The two messengers elected by McLean Bible Church were David Platt and his wife Heather Platt.</strong></p>
757.  
758.  
759.  
760. <p>According to the official registration for the SBC Annual Meeting obtained by the <em>Capstone Report</em>, MBC elected at least two messengers, “<strong>The McLean Bible Church located at 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182 has elected David Platt a messenger to the SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION. This appointment is made on the basis of and in agreement with the Convention&#8217;s constitutional requirement, as follows: (This church has $168,668.00 of undesignated receipts and gave $10,000.00 to convention causes during the preceding year and is entitled to 7 messengers.)</strong>”</p>
761.  
762.  
763.  
764. <p>According to another document in discovery, Platt&#8217;s wife was the second messenger elected by McLean Bible Church.</p>
765.  
766.  
767.  
768. <p>Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting participate in the political life of the SBC. For example, messengers elect the SBC President, other SBC officers, the trustees for SBC entities and set the budget for the SBC.</p>
769.  
770.  
771.  
772. <p>The document cited by the lawyer and published by the Capstone Report is critical to understanding how David Platt lied in 2021. Platt graduated from the SBC’s New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) with not one but three degrees including a Ph.D. Platt was also head of the SBC’s International Mission Board (IMB). <strong>Platt would know what being a messenger entails and according to the documents produced, Platt’s church elected both him and his wife as a messengers.</strong></p>
773.  
774.  
775.  
776. <p><strong>Bluntly, David Platt lied, and he knew he lied when he stood on stage and denied MBC was a member of the Southern Baptist Convention.</strong></p>
777.  
778.  
779.  
780. <p>For a synopsis of the lawsuit’s timeline and other relevant information of the findings, reproduced below is the entire letter from J. Chapman Petersen regarding the case of Jeremiah Burke, et al. v. McLean Bible Church, CL-2022-12576.</p>
781.  
782.  
783.  
784. <p>Below you can find a summary of the case that explains the how and why of the lawsuit that resulted in these important findings. Below that you will find both documents showing that David and Heather Platt were elected by McLean Bible Church to serve as messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention. Tomorrow our series continues as we plan to post details about how David Platt undermined Lon Solomon. </p>
785.  
786.  
787.  
788. <div class="wp-block-file"><object class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023.12.15-Letter-to-Jeremiah-Burke-summary-of-the-litigation.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of 2023.12.15-Letter-to-Jeremiah-Burke-summary-of-the-litigation."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-1481be9e-1871-453e-8851-3df0606d7e02" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023.12.15-Letter-to-Jeremiah-Burke-summary-of-the-litigation.pdf">2023.12.15-Letter-to-Jeremiah-Burke-summary-of-the-litigation</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023.12.15-Letter-to-Jeremiah-Burke-summary-of-the-litigation.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-1481be9e-1871-453e-8851-3df0606d7e02">Download</a></div>
789.  
790.  
791.  
792. <div class="wp-block-file"><object class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MBC_001470_DavidPlatt_Messenger.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of MBC_001470_DavidPlatt_Messenger."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-4a321a69-e424-4aec-9d13-75d6e6249346" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MBC_001470_DavidPlatt_Messenger.pdf">MBC_001470_DavidPlatt_Messenger</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MBC_001470_DavidPlatt_Messenger.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-4a321a69-e424-4aec-9d13-75d6e6249346">Download</a></div>
793.  
794.  
795.  
796. <div class="wp-block-file"><object class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MBC_001468_DavidPlatt_Messenger.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of MBC_001468_DavidPlatt_Messenger."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-e6c2b0ef-9c4e-4574-9a77-746fee4b844f" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MBC_001468_DavidPlatt_Messenger.pdf">MBC_001468_DavidPlatt_Messenger</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MBC_001468_DavidPlatt_Messenger.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-e6c2b0ef-9c4e-4574-9a77-746fee4b844f">Download</a></div>
797. ]]></content>
799. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DavidPlattdeniesMBCIsPartofSBC.mp4" length="678630" rel="enclosure" type="video/mp4"/>
800. </entry>
801. <entry>
802. <author>
803. <name>Capstone Report</name>
804. </author>
805.  
806. <title type="html"><![CDATA[David Platt’s Prosperity Gospel: Platt buys $1.1 million home]]></title>
807. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/17/david-platts-prosperity-gospel-platt-buys-1-1-million-home/42532/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
808.  
809. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42532</id>
810. <updated>2023-12-17T15:38:50Z</updated>
811. <published>2023-12-17T15:38:47Z</published>
812. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
813. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[‘Radical’ David Platt buys $1.1 million home in exclusive Virginia suburb. Platt has lived in the home since McLean Bible Church purchased it for him in 2018. Platt incurs a hefty $5,817 a month mortgage while telling his flock that Americans enjoy too much affluence. Megachurch pastor David Platt who urged his congregation to forsake [&#8230;]]]></summary>
814.  
815. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/17/david-platts-prosperity-gospel-platt-buys-1-1-million-home/42532/"><![CDATA[
816. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">‘Radical’ David Platt buys $1.1 million home in exclusive Virginia suburb. Platt has lived in the home since McLean Bible Church purchased it for him in 2018. Platt incurs a hefty $5,817 a month mortgage while telling his flock that Americans enjoy too much affluence.</h2>
817.  
818.  
819.  
820. <p>Megachurch pastor David Platt who urged his congregation to forsake the American Dream recently purchased a $1.1 million home in an exclusive Virginia suburb. Platt purchased the home November 1, 2023, from McLean Bible Church—who bought the home for Platt in March of 2018.</p>
821.  
822.  
823.  
824. <p>The Church will hold the mortgage on the property charging Platt 5.5 percent interest for 30 years. The average mortgage rate on November 1, 2023, <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/mortgage-rates-today-november-1-2023-rates-remain-fairly-steady/ar-AA1jgBFF#:~:text=Mortgage%20Rates%20Today%3A%20November%201%2C%202023%E2%80%94Rates%20Remain%20Fairly,percentage%20points%20during%20the%20same%20period%20to%207.35%25.">according to Forbes</a> was 8.25% for a thirty-year fixed mortgage and 7.35% for a 15-year fixed mortgage. According to the St. Louis Federal Reserve, the 30-year fixed average among loans submitted to Freddie Mac for November 2, 2023, was 7.76 percent.</p>
825.  
826.  
827.  
828. <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="405" data-attachment-id="42534" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/17/david-platts-prosperity-gospel-platt-buys-1-1-million-home/42532/fredgraphmortgagenov2023/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023.png" data-orig-size="1138,450" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="fredgraphmortgagenov2023" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023-480x190.png" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023-1024x405.png" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023-1024x405.png" alt="" class="wp-image-42534" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023-150x59.png?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023.png?size=256x101&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023.png?size=384x152&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023-480x190.png?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023.png?size=640x253&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023-768x304.png?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 768w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023-1024x405.png?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1024w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/fredgraphmortgagenov2023.png?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 1138w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>
829.  
830.  
831.  
832. <p><strong>Platt’s monthly mortgage payment even at the lower-than-average rate totals $5,817.00 per month beginning December 1, 2023. The payment includes principal and interest.</strong></p>
833.  
834.  
835.  
836. <p>Previously, McLean Bible Church paid the utilities on the home, landscaping, trash removal, a fiber connection to the Internet and other expenses on the home’s upkeep, according to the 2020 MBC Budget reviewed by the <em>Capstone Report</em>. Until recently, Platt was regularly spotted driving an upper end Range Rover around his elite Virginia enclave. (See below the page from the 2020 budget showing parsonage costs.)</p>
837.  
838.  
839.  
840. <p>Platt guilted American Christians for having fries with their fast food burgers, but <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2019/11/15/decadence-in-the-church-lifestyles-of-the-rich-radical/33272/">David Platt was previously exposed of living the Lifestyle of the Rich &amp; Famous with flying first-class across country</a>. Now he owns a $1.1 million home while the average American home in 2023 is worth $412,000 and the average Virginia home is worth $413,000 and the average home in Washington, DC is worth $626,000, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/real-estate/median-home-prices-by-state/">according to data published by Forbes</a>.</p>
841.  
842.  
843.  
844. <p>Platt preached a December 3, 2023, sermon wondering how many Americans have a blind spot because of material comforts. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231217152047/https:/radical.net/podcasts/radical-podcast/deceptive-danger-of-wealth/">Platt said</a>, <strong>“I wonder if followers of Jesus a hundred years from now, if Jesus has not returned, will look back at Christians in America today and wonder, ‘How could they worship, sing, study the Bible and live in such affluence, while billions of people were going to hell without even hearing how they could go to heaven, many of whom were living in impoverished, dire conditions on earth? They gathered for worship, they read the Bible, they sang the songs, they lived what they said were Christian lives. How could they keep prioritizing their comforts and preferences to the neglect of so many people in need?’”</strong></p>
845.  
846.  
847.  
848. <p>The purchase is another sign that Platt has one foot out the door of the <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/06/09/david-platt-is-harming-mclean-bible-church-with-woke-social-justice-theology/36219/">church that Platt has killed</a>. Previously, Platt elevated Mike Kelsey to become a Lead Pastor. <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/23/update-david-platt-confirms-huge-attendance-membership-drop/36708/">Under Platt’s leadership McLean Bible Church saw attendance collapse and its budget fall by about $10 million</a>. Platt’s sneaky, dishonest management style created a backlash among key church leaders and members who penned an extraordinary series of rebukes culminating in <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2021/07/21/david-platt-mbc-elders-rebuked-over-lack-of-transparency-lack-of-biblical-fidelity/36660/">David Platt being rebuked for lack of transparency and promotion of racial identity politics</a>.</p>
849.  
850.  
851.  
852. <p><strong>Come back this week for more on David Platt and the saga of  McLean Bible Church.</strong></p>
853.  
854.  
855.  
856. <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="666" height="619" data-attachment-id="42535" data-permalink="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/17/david-platts-prosperity-gospel-platt-buys-1-1-million-home/42532/screenshot2020mbcbudgetparsonage/" data-orig-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage.jpg" data-orig-size="666,619" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Alan Atchison&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1702798243&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage-480x446.jpg" data-large-file="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage.jpg" src="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-42535" srcset="https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage-150x139.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 150w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage.jpg?size=256x238&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage.jpg?size=384x357&amp;lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage-480x446.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 480w, https://b441177.smushcdn.com/441177/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot2020MBCBudgetParsonage.jpg?lossy=1&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 666w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>
857. ]]></content>
859. </entry>
860. <entry>
861. <author>
862. <name>Capstone Report</name>
863. </author>
864.  
865. <title type="html"><![CDATA[Goldman Sachs is telling you what to expect in 2024]]></title>
866. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/08/goldman-sachs-is-telling-you-what-to-expect-in-2024/42486/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
867.  
868. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42486</id>
869. <updated>2023-12-08T15:26:41Z</updated>
870. <published>2023-12-08T15:26:38Z</published>
871. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
872. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Fed will do everything it can to avoid a recession prior to November 2024. Inflation is preferrable to labor market issues, according to Goldman Sachs. That means you can count on the Deep State with help from the Fed to do all it can to avoid labor issues before the election. Incumbent presidents and [&#8230;]]]></summary>
873.  
874. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/12/08/goldman-sachs-is-telling-you-what-to-expect-in-2024/42486/"><![CDATA[
875. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Fed will do everything it can to avoid a recession prior to November 2024. Inflation is preferrable to labor market issues, according to Goldman Sachs. That means you can count on the Deep State with help from the Fed to do all it can to avoid labor issues before the election.</h2>
876.  
877.  
878.  
879. <p>Incumbent presidents and their parties suffer when facing an election with a recession. Goldman Sachs highlighted this trend in a recent analysis.</p>
880.  
881.  
882.  
883. <p>“<strong>Since 1951</strong>, when the constitutional amendment was ratified to limit presidents to two terms, <strong>the incumbent has lost when the election took place soon after a recession (in 1976, 1980, 1992, and 2020). The party in the White House also lost after a recession in two instances when the incumbent candidate was not on the ballot (1960 and 2008)</strong>,” <a href="https://www.goldmansachs.com/intelligence/pages/us-president-incumbents-tend-to-win-elections-except-during-recessions.html?chl=em&amp;plt=briefings&amp;cid=1208&amp;plc=body">Goldman Sachs posted on its website</a>.</p>
884.  
885.  
886.  
887. <p>To get Donald Trump out of the White House, it required a pandemic and the economic disruption of lockdowns (not to mention radical voting changes and as Vivek Ramaswamy said the conspiracy of Big Tech). What will it take to keep Joe Biden, or given Biden’s obvious mental and physical decline a Democrat in the White House? Avoiding a recession at any cost.</p>
888.  
889.  
890.  
891. <p>Again, even inflation is less important than labor market conditions. According to Goldman Sachs, “The strongest statistical relationship with election outcomes is often with variables measured in the second quarter of an election year<strong>. Inflation appears to be less predictive of election results than indicators related to growth or the state of the labor market.</strong> Headline inflation, in a sample going back to 1952, is weakly statistically significant as a predictor of election results, Phillips and Krupa write. <strong>Elections during periods of high inflation show a stronger relationship, but even in these elections, the signals provided by growth and labor variables are stronger</strong>.”</p>
892.  
893.  
894.  
895. <p>So, if the choice is between Joe Biden having a recession or Bidenomics causing another round of surging inflation, you can bet the Deep State will opt for inflation.</p>
896. ]]></content>
898. </entry>
899. <entry>
900. <author>
901. <name>Capstone Report</name>
902. </author>
903.  
904. <title type="html"><![CDATA[NAMB President facing civil fraud suit in Georgia]]></title>
905. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/15/namb-president-facing-civil-fraud-suit-in-georgia/42397/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
906.  
907. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42397</id>
908. <updated>2023-11-15T16:01:57Z</updated>
909. <published>2023-11-15T16:01:54Z</published>
910. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
911. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Kevin Ezell, the head of the Southern Baptist Convention&#8217;s North American Mission Board, faces another lawsuit. The President of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) is facing a lawsuit over a real estate transaction where the purchaser of his previous home alleges Kevin Ezell lied to get a higher price out of the purchaser. The [&#8230;]]]></summary>
912.  
913. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/15/namb-president-facing-civil-fraud-suit-in-georgia/42397/"><![CDATA[
914. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kevin Ezell, the head of the Southern Baptist Convention&#8217;s North American Mission Board, faces another lawsuit.</h2>
915.  
916.  
917.  
918. <p>The President of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) is facing a lawsuit over a real estate transaction where the purchaser of his previous home alleges Kevin Ezell lied to get a higher price out of the purchaser.</p>
919.  
920.  
921.  
922. <p>The lawsuit against Kevin Ezell and his wife along with real estate agents was filed in Fulton County, Georgia on September 19, 2023. Ezell’s attorney filed a response to the claim on October 23, 2023. Ezell also filed a motion to dismiss on the same date. As of press time, no hearings have been held or scheduled in the case.</p>
923.  
924.  
925.  
926. <p>You can read both the lawsuit with allegations of fraud and Ezell’s answer below. Is this another case where Ezell’s problem telling the truth hurt him? Judge for yourself.</p>
927.  
928.  
929.  
930. <div data-wp-interactive="" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!selectors.core.file.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/COMPLAINT-against-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of COMPLAINT-against-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-fb162a41-e326-409e-99c5-864d1f2ad90c" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/COMPLAINT-against-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn.pdf">COMPLAINT-against-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/COMPLAINT-against-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-fb162a41-e326-409e-99c5-864d1f2ad90c">Download</a></div>
931.  
932.  
933.  
934. <div data-wp-interactive="" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!selectors.core.file.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ANSWER-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn-lawsuit.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of ANSWER-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn-lawsuit."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-33d9ab71-f776-4fcc-91b1-ab649c4df37f" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ANSWER-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn-lawsuit.pdf">ANSWER-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn-lawsuit</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ANSWER-Kevin-Ezell-Lynn-lawsuit.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-33d9ab71-f776-4fcc-91b1-ab649c4df37f">Download</a></div>
935. ]]></content>
937. </entry>
938. <entry>
939. <author>
940. <name>Capstone Report</name>
941. </author>
942.  
943. <title type="html"><![CDATA[Brent Leatherwood, ERLC embarrass Southern Baptists, again  ]]></title>
944. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/10/brent-leatherwood-erlc-embarrass-southern-baptists-again/42379/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
945.  
946. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42379</id>
947. <updated>2023-11-10T15:20:14Z</updated>
948. <published>2023-11-10T15:16:42Z</published>
949. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
950. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Talk Show host Louder with Crowder exposed the vapidity of Brent Leatherwood It seems to be a tradition for the head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to embarrass the members of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. Russell Moore’s leftist rants were always a source of shame [&#8230;]]]></summary>
951.  
952. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/10/brent-leatherwood-erlc-embarrass-southern-baptists-again/42379/"><![CDATA[
953. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Talk Show host Louder with Crowder exposed the vapidity of Brent Leatherwood</h2>
954.  
955.  
956.  
957. <p>It seems to be a tradition for the head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to embarrass the members of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. Russell Moore’s leftist rants were always a source of shame to the SBC. <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2020/11/26/russell-moores-erlc-lies-in-amicus-brief-against-will-mcraney/35211/">The ERLC even filed false legal briefs</a>. Now, the new head of the ERLC, a Russell Moore disciple, is embarrassing the SBC too. This time Brent Leatherwood shows himself to be exactly like the <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2020/04/13/lifelong-democrat-russell-moore-silent-as-democrats-persecute-christians/34282/">lifelong Democrat Russell Moore</a>.</p>
958.  
959.  
960.  
961. <p>Lowder with Crowder released important details about how a leftist attacked a Christian school with the intent to kill kids because of their “white privilege.” This was information that Brent Leatherwood attempted to keep secret. Also, <a href="https://churchleaders.com/news/449256-gun-violence-erlc-president-brent-leatherwood.html">Leatherwood utilized the shooting in Nashville’s Christian school to push for gun control</a>.</p>
962.  
963.  
964.  
965. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-rumble-com wp-block-embed-rumble-com"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
966. <iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="Media Uproar After Trans Manifesto CONFIRMED, YouTube Censors, Police Hunt For Leaker!" src="https://rumble.com/embed/v3rnscg/#?secret=dQ7jAhvnbg" data-secret="dQ7jAhvnbg" width="1920" height="1080" frameborder="0"></iframe>
967. </div></figure>
968.  
969.  
970.  
971. <p>Leatherwood ranted about the leaker and called the person a “viper.” We will allow Crowder’s excellent video to showcase just how much of a liar Leatherwood is. What we want to highlight is how Southern Baptists responded to yet another Woke leftist leading the ERLC.</p>
972.  
973.  
974.  
975. <p><a href="https://www.change.org/p/remove-brent-leatherwood-from-the-erlc">There is now a petition to oust Leatherwood as head of ERLC</a>.</p>
976.  
977.  
978.  
979. <p>According to the petition published by Connor Buckingham, “Brent Leatherwood has continually used his platform as President of the ERLC given to him by the Southern Baptist Convention to push for policies that are against the wishes of those he represents in the SBC. Leatherwood was a big part of push for Red-flag laws and other gun control efforts in the state of Tennessee after the Covenant School shooting took place. Leatherwood also lobbied continually to keep the shooter&#8217;s manifesto from the public eye…<strong>This is a repeated theme from Leatherwood. He is missing in action for the big fights such as the banning of child mutilation surgeries, but he is ready and willing to attack those who seek to entrust the public with the truth</strong>.”</p>
980.  
981.  
982.  
983. <p>This is something that many Southern Baptists believe. It is a theme echoed by some comments by petition signers.</p>
984.  
985.  
986.  
987. <p>Rick Patrick, a pastor and signer of the petition, said on the petition website, “Brent Leatherwood is the closest thing to Russell Moore that a human being can possibly be without actually being Russell Moore himself. After Moore resigned, the ERLC had the opportunity to change not just the person, but the leftward leaning ideology that has infected us over the past several years. The ERLC chose not to do so. What a shame! Maybe next time, they can get it right. (And I do mean ‘right.’) We need a hard right turn of the wheel in our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.”</p>
988.  
989.  
990.  
991. <p>As of 9 a.m. November 11, 2023, there are 633 signatures on the petition to remove Leatherwood.</p>
992.  
993.  
994.  
995. <p>Unfortunately, the trustee system the SBC utilizes insulates leftist rogues like Leatherwood from accountability. Leatherwood in no way represents the views of the vast majority of conservative Southern Baptists. Yet, if your church gives money to the SBC, you are funding his salary and the ERLC’s work to thwart GOP candidates like Donald Trump. Remember: The ERLC worked hard while Russell Moore was president to help sink Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. Get ready for a repeat in 2024 with Leatherwood at the helm.</p>
996. ]]></content>
998. </entry>
999. <entry>
1000. <author>
1001. <name>Capstone Report</name>
1002. </author>
1003.  
1004. <title type="html"><![CDATA[McRaney v. NAMB update: State Conventions against Ezell]]></title>
1005. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/09/mcraney-v-namb-update-state-conventions-against-ezell/42368/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
1006.  
1007. <id>https://capstonereport.com/?p=42368</id>
1008. <updated>2023-11-09T17:15:03Z</updated>
1009. <published>2023-11-09T17:15:00Z</published>
1010. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
1011. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Reflections on the ERLC’s false amicus brief &#38; what we can learn from the latest legal filings. By now you should have read the amicus brief filed to support Will McRaney by over 60 current and former Baptist leaders. If you haven’t, well, scroll down to the bottom and you can read it all. But [&#8230;]]]></summary>
1012.  
1013. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/09/mcraney-v-namb-update-state-conventions-against-ezell/42368/"><![CDATA[
1014. <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reflections on the ERLC’s false amicus brief &amp; what we can learn from the latest legal filings. </h2>
1015.  
1016.  
1017.  
1018. <p>By now you should have read the amicus brief filed to support Will McRaney by over 60 current and former Baptist leaders. If you haven’t, well, scroll down to the bottom and you can read it all. But there is news and some important analysis that you need to know if you are involved in the Southern Baptist Convention. First, there are more than three state conventions helping Will McRaney in his battle against Kevin Ezell and the North American Mission Board.</p>
1019.  
1020.  
1021.  
1022. <p><a href="https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/state-convention-leaders-join-others-in-filing-amicus-brief-against-namb/">In a surprisingly not terrible Baptist Press report</a>, Baptist Press hit on something: there is a growing tide setting in the SBC against SBC Elites. Three state convention executives signed the amicus brief. And neither of those three were the state conventions that have started sending McRaney financial support. That means there is at least one and perhaps several state conventions lending financial support to McRaney in his fight against Kevin Ezell’s thuggish behavior.</p>
1023.  
1024.  
1025.  
1026. <p>This is a tantalizing bit of information that BP revealed. So, we asked McRaney about it.</p>
1027.  
1028.  
1029.  
1030. <p>McRaney said, “Several state convention leaders and former leaders have contributed financially to our legal efforts to correct the anti-Baptist, legally dangerous claims of NAMB and the ERLC in federal court, including the Supreme Court of the United States.&nbsp; <strong>As to the particular state conventions and leaders who are contributing to my legal expenses, I do not have permission to share that information at this point.&nbsp; With the power and propensity amassed at NAMB under Ezell to both bless and bully, it is not prudent to give Ezell the information necessary to act punitively toward those state conventions, their mission and/or their leaders</strong>.”</p>
1031.  
1032.  
1033.  
1034. <p>What does this mean?</p>
1035.  
1036.  
1037.  
1038. <p>It means that <a href="https://capstonereport.com/2020/12/02/sources-kevin-ezell-used-vulgar-language-about-state-convention-leaders/35229/">Kevin Ezell’s aggressive, insulting, and perverse language has made plenty of enemies in the Southern Baptist Convention</a>. He came into NAMB with the idea that “state conventions suck,” which he told to a gathered audience once. His style proves it, and he has gone about using SBC tithes and offerings to carry out his own mafia-style vendetta against anyone who dares not submit to his will.</p>
1039.  
1040.  
1041.  
1042. <p>One question that looms: Where are the Southern state conventions in all of this? None signed the brief. Are some of these conventions now supporting McRaney quietly? If so, why do they fear making a strong statement? If not, why are the strongest SBC conventions letting the smaller conventions stand up to Goliath?</p>
1043.  
1044.  
1045.  
1046. <p>One point to note is that the ERLC brief from the last time McRaney’s case was before the 5<sup>th</sup> Circuit Court of Appeals is still generating discussion both in the SBC and in legal filings before the appeals court.</p>
1047.  
1048.  
1049.  
1050. <p>A key point to remember is that the ERLC was responsible for the brief. Yes, the brief was written by lawyers. That is what lawyers do. However, the brief was filed for both Thomas More and the ERLC and that means both are responsible for the content. The ERLC saw the brief before it was filed. NAMB saw the brief before it was filed and neither SBC entity said a word. They both knew it contained lies and both were OK with those lies being sent to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Consider that for a moment. There were multiple opportunities to apply the brakes and not submit what everyone admits was an erroneous legal filing. Yet, some defect of character among ERLC elites and NAMB lawyers allowed this brief to be filed.</p>
1051.  
1052.  
1053.  
1054. <p>Only after they were caught did SBC Elites admit the error.</p>
1055.  
1056.  
1057.  
1058. <p>In McRaney’s appeal, this point is made in the brief: “<strong>Despite being aware of serious errors in the ERLC Amicus Brief, neither NAMB nor the ERLC brought them to the attention of this Court as it considered NAMB’s petition for rehearing. Instead, only months later, after rehearing was denied (over the dissents of eight judges who issued opinions based on a record containing false statements), did the ERLC publicly apologize, and send a belated letter to the Court confessing the errors</strong>.” (You can read the entire brief embedded below.)</p>
1059.  
1060.  
1061.  
1062. <p>The ERLC’s false brief even made it into the recently filed brilliant amicus brief filed on behalf of Current and former Baptist leaders. This recent brief is brilliantly written by Michelle Stratton and you should check it out if you haven’t read it yet. (Scroll down for the entire brief.) This new amicus only in a roundabout way brings attention to the ERLC’s previous filing—mentioning the retraction letter the ERLC submitted to the appeals court.</p>
1063.  
1064.  
1065.  
1066. <p>According to the newly filed amicus, “In a previous amici curiae letter to this Court, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission—NAMB’s sister entity— acknowledged these fundamentals of Baptist polity. After McRaney I and dissents from denial of rehearing based on mistaken understandings of Baptist polity, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission wrote the Court: ‘All Southern Baptist churches are autonomous, self-determining, and subject only to the Lordship of Christ—no local, state or national entity may exercise control or authority over any Southern Baptist church. Baptists reject the idea of a religious <em>hierarchy</em> or <em>umbrella</em> superior to the local church, or that any Baptist Convention is in a hierarchy or governing relationship over another Convention.’ … Those statements—though too late for this Court’s judges to rely on when considering rehearing en banc—are correct.”</p>
1067.  
1068.  
1069.  
1070. <p>Confusion seems to be the key for NAMB’s legal arguments. NAMB submitted another brief to the district court that contained likewise erroneous language. The Capstone Report’s work highlighted that error, and it was corrected shortly thereafter.</p>
1071.  
1072.  
1073.  
1074. <p>According to McRaney’s legal filing, “In its brief opposing Dr. McRaney’s request to file an updated complaint, NAMB referred to ‘the Southern Baptist Church.’&#8230;Because there is no such thing, and with the firestorm over the ERLC Amicus Brief still in mind, NAMB’s misrepresentation was called out. See, e.g., https://capstonereport.com/2022/11/18/here-we-go-again-namb-lawyers-lie-in-newbrief/40037/ (Nov. 18, 2022). A few days later, NAMB filed a corrected brief removing the reference to ‘the Southern Baptist Church.’”</p>
1075.  
1076.  
1077.  
1078. <p>Given how the ERLC did not retract its false brief until months later when it was first written about by the Capstone Report, <strong><a href="https://capstonereport.com/2020/11/26/russell-moores-erlc-lies-in-amicus-brief-against-will-mcraney/35211/">Russell Moore’s ERLC lies in amicus brief against Will McRaney</a>, </strong>one wonders if NAMB would’ve submitted a corrected brief.</p>
1079.  
1080.  
1081.  
1082. <p>As promised, here are pdf files of some important recent legal filings in the case that you should read. Enjoy!</p>
1083.  
1084.  
1085.  
1086. <div data-wp-interactive="" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!selectors.core.file.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Doc-21-1-Appeal-Brief-Oct-31-2023.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of Doc-21-1-Appeal-Brief-Oct-31-2023."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-8599d293-1a13-4f87-92d9-1fee5939e660" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Doc-21-1-Appeal-Brief-Oct-31-2023.pdf">Doc-21-1-Appeal-Brief-Oct-31-2023</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Doc-21-1-Appeal-Brief-Oct-31-2023.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-8599d293-1a13-4f87-92d9-1fee5939e660">Download</a></div>
1087.  
1088.  
1089.  
1090. <div data-wp-interactive="" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!selectors.core.file.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/doc-24-adams-amicus-brief.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of doc 24 adams amicus brief."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-932759cc-bc68-440e-bbc9-d91ee71eaf5e" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/doc-24-adams-amicus-brief.pdf">doc 24 adams amicus brief</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/doc-24-adams-amicus-brief.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-932759cc-bc68-440e-bbc9-d91ee71eaf5e">Download</a></div>
1091.  
1092.  
1093.  
1094. <div data-wp-interactive="" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!selectors.core.file.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Doc-21-2-Appeal-Brief-Record-Excerpts-Oct-31-2023.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of Doc-21-2-Appeal-Brief-Record-Excerpts-Oct-31-2023."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-05346967-60b9-4e6b-b4b6-83ece676dd7b" href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Doc-21-2-Appeal-Brief-Record-Excerpts-Oct-31-2023.pdf">Doc-21-2-Appeal-Brief-Record-Excerpts-Oct-31-2023</a><a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Doc-21-2-Appeal-Brief-Record-Excerpts-Oct-31-2023.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" download aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-05346967-60b9-4e6b-b4b6-83ece676dd7b">Download</a></div>
1095. ]]></content>
1097. </entry>
1098. <entry>
1099. <author>
1100. <name>Capstone Report</name>
1101. </author>
1102.  
1103. <title type="html"><![CDATA[Breaking: Morris Chapman, Mike Stone, Randy Adams &#038; over 50 Baptists sign amicus against NAMB]]></title>
1104. <link href="https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/07/breaking-morris-chapman-mike-stone-randy-adams-over-50-baptists-sign-amicus-against-namb/42358/" rel="alternate" type="text/html"/>
1105.  
1106. <id>https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/07/breaking-morris-chapman-mike-stone-randy-adams-over-50-baptists-sign-amicus-against-namb/42358/</id>
1107. <updated>2023-11-07T23:58:06Z</updated>
1108. <published>2023-11-07T23:55:29Z</published>
1109. <category scheme="https://capstonereport.com/" term="Commentary"/>
1110. <summary type="html"><![CDATA[Amicus brief filed moments ago. doc-24-adams-amicus-brief-1.pdf]]></summary>
1111.  
1112. <content type="html" xml:base="https://capstonereport.com/2023/11/07/breaking-morris-chapman-mike-stone-randy-adams-over-50-baptists-sign-amicus-against-namb/42358/"><![CDATA[<p>Amicus brief filed moments ago. <a href="https://capstonereport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/doc-24-adams-amicus-brief-1.pdf">doc-24-adams-amicus-brief-1.pdf</a></p>
1113. ]]></content>
1115. </entry>
1116. </feed>

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