SBC president weighs in on Logan controversy

Johnny Hunt says Morris Chapman should be 'more forthcoming'

Jul 8, 2009
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor

PANAMA CITY (FBW) - Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny Hunt believes Morris Chapman, president of the SBC Executive Committee, should be "more forthcoming" about the reasons for the resignation of former EC vice president Clark Logan.

Photo by Joni B. Hannigan

JOHNNY HUNT

Hunt offered his views on the burgeoning controversy in an exclusive July 8 e-mail interview with Florida Baptist Witness while vacationing in Panama City.

Logan abruptly resigned as vice president of business and finance on July 1, telling the Witness in a July 6 statement the resignation was requested, without explicitly indicating Chapman, his superior, made the request.

In a July 7 statement to the Witness, Chapman confirmed "without reservation" Logan's "departure" was not due to any allegation of immoral or unethical behavior, while declining to address the reasons for the resignation or that it was requested. Chapman said the EC "follows established policy" for personnel matters, which must remain "private."

Chapman also affirmed Logan as "a fine young man, and I am grateful for the contributions he made to the work of the Executive Committee."

Since Logan's resignation was originally reported July 2 by the Southern Baptist TEXAN, hundreds of messages of concern have been posted to Twitter and Facebook, social networking Web sites.

Hunt, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., has been among those using Twitter (www.Twitter.com/johnnymhunt) to express concern. Since joining Twitter in late June after the SBC annual meeting, Hunt has gained more than 1,600 followers.

Four times since the resignation Hunt has "tweeted" - status messages in Twitter - about the Logan controversy, each time re-posting messages of others.

Hunt told the Witness he has not used his Twitter account to "raise the profile of the controversy" but rather has done so for informational purposes.

Hunt expressed appreciation for Logan's role as convention manager of the SBC annual meeting and his tweets about the resignation are to show his "disappointment that I have lost a true friend, encourager and one that accommodated my requests to create an atmosphere that was so conducive to a meeting that has to host both business and worship."

The SBC president, re-elected without opposition last month at the annual meeting in Louisville, said, "Twitter is serving well as a place to hear the concerns of SBC friends all across the country as well as an opportunity to let them know that what concerns them concerns me as well. When we show a lack of concern for their honest questions, it serves as our way of showing our lack of concern for them."

Hunt told the Witness he has not spoken with Chapman about the controversy, but he has talked to Logan.

"He was such an incredible help and encouragement to me in my first year of presidency. I knew he must be hurting and I simply called to encourage him," he said.

After talking to Logan, "I did not sense clarity of why he was asked to resign," although Hunt added, "I wonder if his youthfulness and creativity as well as his willingness to be open to change could have served as a stretch for some."

Contrary to the claims of some who have expressed anger about the Logan resignation, Hunt said the controversy does not illustrate the need for a Great Commission Resurgence - a widely discussed topic in the months leading up to the SBC annual meeting and subject of a Hunt-appointed SBC task force authorized in Louisville.

"I was convinced of the need simply based on my commitment to the Great Commission," he said.

Asked about calls for Chapman's resignation or retirement from those concerned about the handling of the Logan matter and his opposition to GCR, Hunt said, "I would have to recommend all concerns and opinions be shared with the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention to which Dr. Chapman answers."

Hunt also believes Chapman should explain the Logan resignation more clearly.

"I do believe Dr. Chapman should be more forthcoming than he has thus far concerning the resignation of Clark Logan. Many of these that are asking the questions are Southern Baptists in good standing and I personally feel Dr. Chapman or someone from the EC should answer with clarity," Hunt said.

Hunt said he believes EC trustees "who were part of the decision to dismiss Logan should feel at liberty to give clarity" to Baptist news media.

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