Short Summary Statement
“While the judge did not rule on the merits of the case, we were stunned at the judge’s reversal of his previous rulings by dismissing the case on ecclesiastical grounds. The new precedent should be sobering for all involved in voluntary partnerships with the SBC. This ruling makes acceptable under ecclesiastical protections what is unacceptable under tort law… libel, tortious threats weaponizing SBC mission dollars against a separate organization’s leaders, and vindictive behaviors as they seek to resume ministry.”
“If this ruling stands and if NAMB Trustees and SBC Leadership continue to abdicate their responsibility, Kevin Ezell will avoid accountability and will continue to operate in this ungodly and unlawful manner. I am not the only one Ezell has treated in this manner, harming other brothers and sisters in Christ without expression of regret or remorse. For these reasons, I will be appealing the ruling to the NAMB Trustees, the courts and the public as necessary.”
Extended Statement
I was in disbelief when, in less than twenty hours after I brought Kevin’s unlawful and unbiblical actions before the NAMB Trustees, they published a response in support of Kevin Ezell without interviewing anyone else involved besides Kevin.
I was in disbelief when, after NAMB’s CFO wrote a statement to the court claiming NAMB was legally a supporting organization of the BCMD, the SBC Executive Committee and SBC leadership remained silent despite that was a false claim and in direct opposition to Article IV of the SBC Constitution.
When my wife and I were notified that the judge had dismissed the case on ecclesiastical grounds, after having thrown out NAMB’s previous requests for dismissal on those same grounds, I was shocked. Not just because of his decision to dismiss, but his reasoning and its negative impact regarding liability and partnership on all SBC entities, State Conventions, Associations and churches.
Is the violation of tort laws and causing financial harm to a brother in Christ really ecclesiastical?
The precedent this sets should be sobering for all involved in the SBC. Weaponizing mission dollars to remove people from a separate organization because you do not like them because they will not bend a knee to you is neither Christian nor lawful. Taking vengeance against those same people later and trying to prevent them from earning a living to support their family is neither Christian or lawful.
The problem is that I am not the only one that Kevin Ezell has treated in this manner. He has harmed other brothers and sisters in Christ without any expression or regret or remorse. If this ruling stands as it is, and if the Trustees and SBC Executive Committee continue to sit silently by and abdicate their role, Kevin Ezell will continue to operate in this ungodly and unlawful manner at the expense of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
I have reached out to SBC leaders and the NAMB Trustees on numerous occasions to resolve this matter, and they have been unwilling to confront Kevin Ezell on these violations or honestly investigate the claims I have made. Since the beginning I have been available and requested mediation or some sort of non-legal solution. With others present with me, I have engaged in mediation with NAMB two times, and both times Kevin Ezell decided to not attend in person. Now that the judge has made a ruling that leaves the relationship SBC entities in limbo and claims violation of tort laws against a separate organization are “ecclesiastical,” I have no choice but to appeal, unless the NAMB Trustee leadership decides to engage is resolution outside of silence and their large insurance and legal team.
The problem is that I am not the only one that Kevin Ezell has treated in this manner. He has harmed other brothers and sisters in Christ without any expression or regret or remorse. If NAMB’s Trustees and SBC Leadership continue to sit silently and abdicate their responsibility, Kevin Ezell will continue to take ungodly and UNLAWFUL actions at the expense of our brothers and sisters in Christ.