SOC Supporter David Sheppard’s Full Statement on the Political Battle with MBLA

First, this attack is not unexpected. In fact I was told at the convention that if the SOC candidates were elected we could expect an attack from Roger. He is a master of research and we knew that he was going to do everything he could to make alcohol. Acts 29 and the emerging church the issues. Roger and his associates, including most of those who signed this press release, were shocked at the turn of events at the state convention. Comments heard during and after the convention indicate that they never expected to lose. They are determined to come back with a vengeance to undue the results of the convention and regain their power hold grasp on the convention.

Secondly, this is not about alcohol, Acts 29, the emerging church or the firing of David Clippard. If it were focused on Dr. Clippard then why would we support Bruce McCoy as First Vice President? He was the chairman of the committee that recommended Dr. Clippard’s dismissal. We have moved on beyond that. It is not about alcohol. For the record I am 100% opposed to the use of alcohol. I have never supported and never will support the use of alcohol. I do not support any church that uses alcohol as an outreach event. I think some of our young pastors may have overstepped their freedom boundaries and should be counseled in a biblical way. If discipline is needed then so be it. However, I do not consider it wrong or even sinful for believers to go where sinners are and seek to engage them for Christ. Jesus ate with publicans and sinners at their events. He did not confine his ministry to the synagogues where the religious people gathered. Across the Southern Baptist Convention we have always had ministries in public places including casinos, biker events, beaches, etc. Over 40% of the messengers voted against Roger Morans resolution at the convention not because they were for alcohol but because of who was presenting that resolution, the motive behind it and the feeling that it would become a club of power. Under normal circumstances it would have received a 99% vote.

In regards to Acts29 and the emerging church Roger has chosen to select the extreme elements of these groups and paint everyone with the same brush. It is the same thing that happens to all Baptists when the secular press reports about a small family Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas. This church is famous for being obsessed about homosexuals and protesting at military funerals claiming that these military deaths are the judgment of God on our nation because we condone homosexuality. When the secular world sees this they assume all Baptists are like that. Reputable scholars among Southern Baptists in our seminaries and with NAMB have evaluated these movements and pointed out the bad and the good. One of our own Missouri Professors at Midwestern Seminary has given excellent and detailed analysis of these movements. Roger’s whole approach has always been guilt by association. He has identified about ten churches in the Missouri Baptist convention that are questionable on these matters. I am absolutely positive that every one of us could find that many churches in this convention that we have serious concerns about their practices and perhaps their beliefs. If we go after everybody’s list of ten, pretty soon we can narrow the convention down to those 10 that agree with us.

This is about the LEGALISTIC POWERBROKERING of a few people who want absolute control of this convention. Roger Moran and others have manipulated the nominating committee and stacked the executive board with their cohorts these past four years. They have intentionally worked to keep certain people of off the executive board so they can run their agenda of control. There is sufficient testimony and evidence of that, and I stand100% behind that claim. A close examination of the names on this latest press release reveals that many of these are the same ones who have been involved in this manipulative power brokering process.

I personally welcome this latest press release and documents. It clearly gives Missouri Baptist a choice that will determine the future of this convention. I hope Roger runs for an elective office again. Consider Roger’s own word. “Just how far to the left are SOC leaders willing to go in order to build a political coalition that can move the Missouri Baptist Convention ‘back to the center,’ considering that’s where we just came from.” What a ludicrous statement. Does anyone really believe that Gerald Davidson is going to move left and compromise his convictions on anything? Do we want to follow John Marshall or Roger Moran? If anyone were to come into my church and suggest that I was liberal or soft on alcohol, abortion, gambling, homosexuality, etc, there would be immense laughter.

After our SOC rally last year at FBC Kearney, I received an anonymous package postmarked from the Kansas City area. It was a threat that a new group was being formed to expose the ungodly efforts of the SOC and that certain churches would be targeted to receive this material. The deacons of these churches would receive this material to expose their ungodly pastors. I shared that threat with my deacons and know that they know me and that they are fully supportive of me. After 20 years they have had ample time too determine my character and beliefs. I have no skeletons in the closet. I will give a shovel to the person who wants to dig up dirt and try to expose me. To Roger Moran I say, “Bring it on”.

It is time that this struggle is settled in the Missouri Baptist Convention. I am 100% convinced that to continue to follow the leadership of Roger Moran will lead to the disintegration of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Scores of churches, including the leading churches in this state were already questioning their continued involvement in this convention. Many wanted leaders who would step up to the plate and lead in a different direction. The convention spoke loud and clear last fall but some are being obstinate and refusing to recognize reality. We shall go to the convention again this year and make a clear choice about the direction for this convention. FOR THE RECORD I CHOOSE TO ALIGN MYSELF WITH THE LIKES OF GERALD DAVIDSON, BRUCE McCOY, JOHN MARSHALL, and other leaders with impeccable character and proven track records of ministry, evangelism, and missions.