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June 1, 2012
Richard Land Loses Radio Show Over Trayvon Martin Comments
Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission reprimands Southern Baptist leader, who has already apologized twice for racially charged comments and plagiarism.
The investigation into Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leader Richard Land's racially charged radio commentary and plagiarism concluded today with two official reprimands and the cancellation of his weekly radio program.
Land, the longtime president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) who has been a key proponent of racial reconciliation in the SBC, has already apologized twice for his commentary on the controversial shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida. His comments provoked demands by some black Southern Baptist leaders for censure of Land by the SBC; today many, including Fred Luter who is expected to become the denomination's first African American president this month, have accepted the apologies.
The ERLC trustee committee, whose chairman resigned during the investigation, said today that "damage was done to the state of race relations in the Southern Baptist Convention" by Land's comments. The scandal broke as the SBC prepares to install its first black president, prompting observers to disagree on how much clout Luter will actually have in a denomination closely identified with high-profile figures such as Land.
"We must now redouble our efforts to regain lost ground, to heal re-opened wounds, and to realize the dream of a Southern Baptist Convention that is just as diverse as the population of our great Nation," said the trustee statement.
Regarding the radio program, trustees stated "we have carefully considered the content and purpose of the Richard Land Live! broadcast. We find that they are not congruent with the mission of the ERLC. We also find that the controversy that erupted as a result of the March 31 broadcast, and related matters, requires the termination of that program."
Below the jump is the full text of the June 1 reprimands by the ERLC trustee executive committee:
The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees
of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
of the Southern Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tennessee
June 1, 2012
On March 31, 2012, Dr. Richard Land, President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission ("ERLC") made statements during the Richard Land Live! (RLL) broadcast which were very hurtful and offensive to the Trayvon Martin family and to many in the African-American community, including hundreds of thousands of African-American Southern Baptists. Damage was done to the state of race relations in the Southern Baptist Convention. We announced our regret for those remarks, and we also commissioned an Ad Hoc Investigation Committee to address allegations of plagiarism that were made related to those same remarks and to commentary made in another RLL broadcast. The investigation proceeded with diligence. Dr. Land exhibited a very compliant spirit and was fully cooperative during the investigation. We thank Dr. Land for that.
The Ad Hoc Investigation Committee has completed its work and reported its findings to the Executive Committee. On May 29, 2012, the Executive Committee of the ERLC met in Nashville, Tennessee to consider the findings of the Ad Hoc Committee, as well as other related matters, and to review those findings with Dr. Land. The Executive Committee unanimously agreed to, and hereby undertakes, the following actions:
We reprimand Dr. Land for his hurtful, irresponsible, insensitive, and racially charged words on March 31, 2012 regarding the Trayvon Martin tragedy. It was appropriate for Dr. Land to issue the apology he made on May 9, 2012 and we are pleased he did so. We also convey our own deepest sympathies to the family of Trayvon Martin for the loss they have suffered. We, too, express our sorrow, regret, and apologies to them for Dr. Land's remarks. We are particularly disappointed in Dr. Land's words because they do not accurately reflect the body of his work over a long career at the ERLC toward racial reconciliation in the Southern Baptist Convention and American life. We must now redouble our efforts to regain lost ground, to heal re-opened wounds, and to realize the dream of a Southern Baptist Convention that is just as diverse as the population of our great Nation.
We further reprimand Dr. Land for quoting material without giving attribution on the Richard Land Live! (RLL) radio show, thereby unwisely accepting practices that occur in the radio industry, and we acknowledge that instances of plagiarism occurred because of his carelessness and poor judgment. We examined Dr. Land's written work during the investigation, and we found no instances of plagiarism in any of Dr. Land's written work. As a Christian, a minister of the Gospel of our Lord, and as President of the ERLC, Dr. Land should have conformed to a higher standard. We expect all future work of the ERLC to be above reproach in that regard.
Finally, we have carefully considered the content and purpose of the Richard Land Live! broadcast. We find that they are not congruent with the mission of the ERLC. We also find that the controversy that erupted as a result of the March 31 broadcast, and related matters, requires the termination of that program. We hereby announce that the Richard Land Live! radio program will end as soon as possible within the bounds of our contracts with the Salem Radio Network.
Comments
Isn't this too harsh? What about forgiveness? He apologized much and sincerely. Why is it that, as a culture, we are forgiving of everyone but fellow Christians? If he sincerely repented, then I think he should be forgiven and restored. I understand that his actions may have hurt race relations (in short term only hopefully), especially in light of the history of the SBC, but it's not fair to put on any one person all the burden of making up for all the sins of past leaders. When are we ever going to heal from the past and more forward as the church? When are we ever going to forgive ourselves and one another? Not allowing us to forgive or forgive ourselves is also from the devil. God forgives and forgets whenever a person sincerely repents. I commend African-American pastor Dwight McKissic Sr., senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Va. In the true spirit of Christ, he accepted his apology as follows:
"I fully accept his apology – without hesitation, or reservation – and appeal to all Christians, regardless of color, who were offended by his remarks to accept his apology and forgive him," McKissic wrote in a May 10 post on the SBC Voices blog.
Christians - please, follow God and His word, and do not worry about appeasing the culture. If we do things God's way and simply speak the truth in love to the world as He commands, then the Lord will be in our midst and He will do His work in and through the church.
Posted By: Leah | June 2, 2012 11:37 AM
I'm not a fan of Richard Land's radio program. However, I think this is a huge overreaction by ERLC.
Posted By: alison | June 2, 2012 10:37 PM
Richard Land said something that was untimely and a horrible PR move but what "untruth" did he speak? The black community in Sanford Florida turning the Trayvon Martin case into a full-fledged racial indictment and the circus act of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton has been right in the middle of it all, helping them do it. All Land was doing was making a point many of us are trying to make: let the case/justice be decided on the facts, not false biases.
Posted By: Jason | June 3, 2012 5:55 AM
I'm very disapointed in the ERLCtrustee committee's response to Dr Land. I respect Dr Richard Land and appreciate him speaking the truth.
Posted By: Tim Bittenbender | June 3, 2012 2:22 PM
I love Dr Land. His commitment to proclaiming our Lord and his diligence in biblical scholarship are beyond anyone's need to challenge.
From the git-go the Treyvon case has for me been a minefield. It simply defies disinterested dispassionate discussion of facts. I'm sorry that Dr Land's remarks were seized upon in any spirit other than that of a churchman seeking truth.
We live in a world where this topic only ignites controversy. No one who seeks to advance the Gospel should touch it with a ten foot pole.
Posted By: Brad O'Brien | June 4, 2012 9:50 AM
After deliberation, Conservative-leaning Christians are often quick to punish, particularly when an institution, like the ERLC, feels that the offender has caused injury to the institution. Paul's scriptural prescription is this: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." Dr. Land demonstrated genuine repentance (as far as we can tell) and gentle restoration done publically would have done a lot to "adorn the Gospel" of Christ.
Posted By: Ed Elliott | June 4, 2012 9:51 AM
Restoration does not always go along with forgiveness. The two are mutually exclusive. Don't agree? Then maybe try the "to forgive must mean we restore as well" theory on pedophiles who worked with children in church before they were caught. If you say that's different, in light of your theory as to what God's word requires, how is it different?
BTW: My opinion is that the man was fired more for his theft of words (plagiarism) than he was anything else.
Posted By: Alan Paul | June 4, 2012 12:37 PM
Is there a position on the Trayvon Martin case that requires real moral courage.
And if so, what would it be?
It seems to me the dominant interpretations are self-serving, tiresome, and risk-free.
Therein lies a huge temptation to say something worthwhile
Therein also lies the risk of being attacked (and never forgiven) by anxious partisans eager to gain status among fellow travelers.
billb
Posted By: Bill Brewer | June 4, 2012 2:40 PM
Definitely an overreaction by the Baptist agency and a couple of hot headed politically correct Baptist ministers.
As usual, Land was correct in what he said. Land has a very long history of positive personal and ministry efforts toward racial love and reconciliation. The weak-kneed board members now have played to the interests of evil people who really do stimulate racial hatred.
Posted By: Rodger Lewis | June 4, 2012 3:21 PM
I am not a Southern Baptist, but as a Christian I am simply appalled at the way that SBC leadership has reacted here. Dr. Land was accused and found guilty of making statements "...which were very hurtful and offensive to the Trayvon Martin family and to many in the African-American community..." by saying that President Obama had exploited the racial aspect of the Trayvon Martin shooting for political gain.
Can someone explain what was untrue about those remarks? The President did exactly that (and has done so with other situations in the past). The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have made a career of it, and their words in this case inflamed the situation. Where is the condemnation of their words?
If speaking politically incorrect truths is "hurtful and offensive" to any constituency, in the church, it is time to be reminded that Jesus said that "the truth will set [us] free]". As someone once said (I can't give attribution because I don't know from where it originated), truth will either make us free or make us mad. In this case, it seems to have done the latter, and this is what has really hurt the church. If the church is to regain moral relevance in today's society, it must give up political correctness, speak the truth, and stop apologizing for it when someone objects.
Posted By: Paul Martin | June 4, 2012 3:25 PM
What's tiresome is the rapid response SBC people will make in defense of their guy taking s shot at the African-American president. It's beyond me how Obama "exploited it"- until he said something lots of voices were loudly complaining of his "cowardice"! He can't win, and he certainly can't win with this group. Land was probably trying to make a connection with his "base" with his statement, and it was right of the institutional guardians to discipline him for it, because the institution needs to be bigger than the voices who don't see what's wrong with Land's words. I'm glad, however, that he did sincerely apologize.
Posted By: SG | June 4, 2012 7:28 PM
The sentiment of most comments are that SBC leadership acted inappropriately concerning Dr. Land's comments . I agree that SBC leadership does not want to be seen as taking a soft stance as that would also offend many in the black community . However , by taking a strident stance , SBC leadership is offending those that do not like a rush to judgment . It appears to me that Dr. Land stated a fact being that politicians use current events to their advantage . Our current president has used just about every heart rending event to skewer whomever he cares to . I say , Dr. Land apologized to anyone offended and that is good enough ,end of story .
Posted By: Charles | June 5, 2012 9:19 AM
As someone wAs someone who has been involved in racial reconciliation for over half a century,I am not surprised at this calamity. In trying to curb discriminatory behavior, we have avoided deeper issues of how man's inate depravity and limitations are fueling dissention. Whereever I go I meet people of good will on all sides of these issues whe are "stuffing" questions that are sincere, honest, inappropriate, and may have no answer.
I see this controversy on one level as an eruption of a deeper problem. All sides of the argument [including the commenters on this blog] are in my opinion, honest. There is validity in all prospectives
These collisions will, in my mind, continue untill we can all meet at the cross, admit our mutual fallenness. and celebrate a universally available grace
Posted By: Lewis Campbell | June 5, 2012 9:35 AM
I think Dr. Land should have chosen his words better, but what he said about President Obama, Jessie Jackson, and Al Sharpston is one hundred percent true. All Sharpston has a long history of using race as a weapon of choice, Does Twana Bradley ring a bell? That's the case in which Brawley, and Sharpston accused several white Police Officers of beating her. Turned out the whole incident was proven false. No apologies, by Sharpston. Jessie Jackson is no different. He, in 1998, was "ministering" to then President Clinton, about his affair with Monica Lewinsky at the White House. We saw Jackson walking on the White House lawn and, with Clinton, and Jackson's young and very pregnant girlfriend. Jacksons wife was unaware of his adultery. These men are not black leaders. The ERLC admonished Dr. Land for pointing out what kind of men they are? Please! As far as the plagerism goes, a reprimand yes, but kill his radio show? I am sick and tired of church organizations trying so hard to be politically correct soIt not to offend anyone, even if it is the truth. The ERLC needs to get a spine. I am little disappointed Dr.Land accepted the punishment. It was way over the top. A reprimand and a six month suspension of the radio show would have been more balanced.
Posted By: Jim | July 16, 2012 9:38 AM
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