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John 8:7.

I started this thread because I consider Frank a friend, even if our friendship as fellow pastors in Fayetteville was 30 years ago. I do not condone whatever he has done, but he still needs our prayers in whatever lies ahead in his life.

Actually, I'm too soft-hearted when compared to Jesus, who had a word or two for poor Frank in Matt. 5:27-30. All the sappy gushing about "supporting a poor brother" and hugging him back to church and presumably the strait and narrow is disgusting. He knew exactly what he was doing and did it anyway and in the process besmirched Jesus Christ, the church, his family and the faith in him of a few million Baptists. He needs to twist in the wind for a while and get his brain working again instead of his hormones.

James 4:19-20 I John 1:8-10 Galatians 6:1-5 Romans 15:1 Luke 6:41-42 Matthew 7:1-5

Just a few passages of the New Testament where you can find "sappy gushing."

Might be time for a bit of disengagement here?

In spite of some of the rhetoric that has been put up here, the expectation of a Christ-like response to Page's retirement and confession involves grace and forgiveness, not judgement, condemnation and "twisting in the wind."

For the executive board, and the SBC, forgiveness will be the most important element of healing. Matthew 18:35 speaks directly to this. Whether that's the equivalent of "sappy gushing" or not, Jesus is pretty clear about what happens when there's no mercy.

Southern Baptists seems to have a lot of things going on right now, with the "traditionalist" vs "Calvinist" controversy, declining membership, attendance, and finances. A hard-line, unforgiving attitude toward a fallen leader will make things worse.

This is the beginning of the article that started this brouhaha:

Page, 65, announced Tuesday morning on social media that he was retiring from his position as president and CEO of the Executive Committee, which he assumed in 2010.
“Many months ago, my daughters shared their deep desire for Dayle and me to retire and move closer to them in South Carolina so that we might spend more time with them and their families — especially our grandchildren,” Page, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., said in comments reported by Baptist Press. “After much prayer and conversation, we have chosen to make this decision.”
Later in the day, the official denominational news service overseen by the Executive Committee revealed more to the story.
Executive Committee Chairman Stephen Rummage said after speaking with Page, he “learned that his retirement announcement was precipitated by a morally inappropriate relationship in the recent past.”


This is the end of the article:

Page has been serving on weekends since Feb. 4 as interim lead pastor at Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, Ga. On Tuesday church leaders announced March 25 was Page’s last day.


In other words, he was fired retroactively after his peccadilloes became known, his last appearance while he still had the gall to take to the pulpit under the seamy circumstances. Shed no tears for poor Frank. Making as a reason for moving away what obviously was a lie doesn't help, either.

I see nothing there to indicate that Page was fired, particularly not "after the fact." Clearly he volunteered the information to the executive board chair, they didn't force his confession or his updated version of events. Also nothing to indicate that he intended to go past where the church suggested he step down. I'm just wondering where all of this hateful spew from Jim is coming from.

As Jesus said to Saul after getting his attention by gently striking him blind and giving him a big hug vis-a-vis his breaking of the Ten Commandments, though murder wasn't really all that bad, “It's hard to kick against the pricks.” Ah yes...when the message is en pointe, the messenger is to be given a hard dose of ad hominem syrup. I'm accustomed to that. Oh well, Frank didn't kill anyone or hunt down Christians like Saul did. He merely climbed to the top rung and instead of falling therefrom he just jumped. I'm still laughing, not at poor Frank, but at all the crap in this thread meant to either turn him into a repentant saint, though only God knows about that, or someone badly needing “understanding.” He simply spit in Christ's face with his admitted immorality and disgraced both his position and his witness, if any. None of us is perfect—especially including me—but should not be pandered-to or treated with kid gloves by folks who are just so disgustingly understanding and supportive. Frank doesn't need support...he needs a kick in the derriere just as any of us deserves when making sport of the faith. God will not be mocked.

For the folks suffering a severe case of denial, though one supposes enough time has been wasted on poor, dear Frank:

News source: Baptist News Global
Page resignation date: 27 March
Article date: 28 March
Interim date: full months of February, March
last sermon date, presumably: 25 March
Interim firing date: 27 March, effective 25 March

Question: Should the interim church pay Frank for two days?