Will the Southern Baptist Executive Committee Take Any Action Against President Ed Litton at Upcoming Meeting for His “Despicable” Plagiarism?

Dr. Albert Mohler is the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.  Fifteen years ago plagiarism in the pulpit was on the front pages of America’s newspapers.  Here is some of what he said on his podcast back then.  The highlighting is mine. 

The Albert Mohler Program
Plagiarism In The Pulpit: Stealing The Material We Preach - AlbertMohler.com
December 7, 2006 

Would your pastor steal?  I am not talking about material things or money.  I am talking about words.  The scandal of plagiarism in the pulpit is something that is affecting churches across this country as pastors, some of them, are being confronted with that fact that they are not preaching their own sermons but are instead preaching material developed and preached by someone else.  

I would venture to say there is hardly a major community in America that has not had a public scandal associated with this, perhaps even in recent years.  When it starts making the front pages of the nation’s newspapers, we are talking about preaching here, something is going on that demands Christian attention. 

The word is “plagiarism” and it is not necessarily a common part of the vocabulary of day to day Americans just thinking about the moral issues of the day.  We understand embezzling and lying.  We understand adultery and divorce.  We understand the issues that have moral consequence but a lot of people simply do not have the vocabulary word, “plagiarism,” quite directly in hand.  Let me tell you what it is.  It is intellectual theft.  It is the theft of someone else’s ideas, presented as your own, or someone else’s words, or someone else’s material.   

In this day you have instant access to thousands of sermons over the internet, in a day when so many sermons are available in printed and audio form in various ways, it turns out there are a good number of preachers who simply aren’t going into the study and spending hours and hours each week preparing sermons.  Instead they are preaching someone else’s material.    

You know words are our business.  I can’t imagine preaching someone else’s words.  Or copying someone else’s words and claiming them as my own. … What is not new under the sun is theft.  What is not new under the sun is laziness.  And what’s not new under the sun is falling short of your ministry to preach the word.  I’m sorry but this is just one of the most despicable practices I can imagine!  

There are a lot of synonyms for “despicable.”  Here are a few.  Contemptible, loathsome, detestable, reprehensible, abhorrent, repugnant, repulsive, disgusting, offensive, shameful, wretched, disreputable, discreditable, unscrupulous, unprincipled. 

Last month, when the decade long deceit and plagiarism of Ed Litton was exposed in America’s newspapers, Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman with Ben Lacey did a podcast on the subject.  You can listen to it here. 

Dever is the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C., President of 9Marks Ministry, and Professor of Pastoral Leadership at the SBTS.  Leeman is the Editorial Director for 9Marks.  9Marks is a very influential organization among Southern Baptists. 

Here is an important excerpt from the podcast. 

Leeman: What is plagiarism? 

Dever: Taking someone else’s material and claiming it is your own.  

Leeman: Okay.  Is that pastorally disqualifying?  

Dever: If it is a repeated pattern, I would say yes because it goes to both the Eight Commandment about theft and the Nine Commandment about deception.  

The next day (July 8) Leeman put out this tweet with a thread to follow. 

Jonathan Leeman
@JonathanLeeman
First, here’s a link to my conversation with @MarkDever and @blacey88 on plagiarizing sermons.
 
Second, here are 9 thoughts on plagiarism plus 4 replies to justifications for it that I’ve heard. (A thread). https://9marks.org/pastors-talk/episode-175-on-plagiarism-in-the-pulpit-with-ben-lacey/…
7:41 AM · Jul 8, 2021

Here are “thoughts” 2, 4, 7, and 9. 

2. To preach another man’s sermon is to violate the eighth and ninth commandments, assuming you present the sermon as your own. 

4. To preach another man’s sermon without attribution once, perhaps, can be confessed and overlooked.  I believe a pattern of doing so disqualifies a man.  He’s not “above reproach.” 

7. The devil wins when we downplay plagiarism and people lose trust in the honesty and integrity of pastors, because faith depends on faithful voices speaking truthfully. And trust in those voices is a key ingredient in their being heard.  IOW [in other words]: Plagiarism is a big deal.

9. It’s finally the responsibility of a church and its elders to take responsibility for plagiarism in their pulpit. 

Al Mohler, Mark Dever, and Jonathan Leeman agree.  Ed Litton is disqualified from ministry.  But here’s the kicker.  None have called for him to resign as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention.  

SBC President Ed Litton

Jason Allen also addressed the issue indirectly in this tweet.  He received push back from Litton backers.  Allen is the President of Midwestern Southern Baptist Seminary. 

Jason Keith Allen
@jasonkeithallen
Re re-preaching other’s sermons, I believe: One *ought* not preach another’s serm (w/ rare exceptions) even w/ permission & attribution.  One *must* not preach another’s serm w/out permission & attribution.  If this appears to happen, the church’s elders should review & resolve.
4:32 PM · Jul 5, 2021

Dwight McKissic
@pastordmack 
Replying to @jasonkeithallen 
Dr. Litton has explained his methodology & addressed this matter in a manner that has merited respect.  We’ve chosen to extend grace, as we’ve all needed at some point in our lives.  Really disappointed that a sem prez wld [seminary president would] dishonor an SBC prez.  AM [Al Mohler] pledged honor to EL [Ed Litton], can’t you too? 
5:56 PM · Jul 5, 2021   

This reply from Dwight McKissic involves deception, a misunderstanding of grace, slander, and lying.  Litton did not address the matter in a manner that merited respect.  Extending grace doesn’t mean excusing sin or withholding discipline.  Mohler expressed support of Litton (not honor) the day he was elected.  That was before the long term deceit and plagiarism became known.  Allen didn’t dishonor Litton.  He spoke the truth. 

And let’s be clear, Litton’s sin is not confined to plagiarism in the recent past.  It is FAR MORE serious and long term!  Furthermore, the leaders in Redemption Church aided and abetted Litton in his sin.  That is why they are covering up the nature and extent of his sin to this day.  Read this article to examine the evidence and understand the issues.     

SBC President Ed Litton Refuses to Repent After Private Appeals Go Unheeded. The Evidence Against Him Demonstrates a Long Term History of Deceit & Plagiarism.
Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 5:32PM    

I sent this article to over one hundred old and new Executive Committee members of the Southern Baptist Convention on August 7.  I appealed to them to appeal to Ed to repent and to discuss the matter at their upcoming meeting in Nashville, TN on September 20-21 at the SBC headquarters.    

Here are a few responses from Philip Robertson,  Jeremy Morton, and Mollie Duddleston along with my replies.  They are members of the Executive Committee. 

From: Philip Robertson
Sent: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 3:00 PM
To: Brent Detwiler
Cc: Rolland Slade
Subject: RE: Please Appeal to Ed 

Brent – 

I wanted to acknowledge receipt of your email. Thank you for following a Mt. 18 approach and reaching out to Ed Litton directly.  It is regrettable that you haven’t received a response.  While I share some of your concerns, I’m not sure there is anything the Executive Committee can do.  At this point, I think it is up to Dr. Litton to decide what he should do.  While I am not in a leadership position [i.e. an officer] on the EC, I just don’t think there is anything the members of the EC can do, as far as I know, other than pray for Dr. Litton and his church.  He will have to make his own decision as to whether he feels a need to resign. 

Sincerely,
Philip Robertson 

From: Brent Detwiler
Sent: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 3:52 PM
To: Philip Robertson
Cc: Rolland Slade
Subject: RE: Please Appeal to Ed 

Thanks Philip.  You are kind to write.  

I realize the EC has no authority to request Ed’s resignation but members have a lot of influence.  I’d like to see the EC pass a non-binding resolution requesting Ed resign in light of Scripture and for the gospel’s sake.  

I’d also encourage individual members of the EC, who know and don’t know Ed, write him and his pastoral staff, appealing for the same action.  That would be a tremendous service to our Lord Jesus. 

I sincerely hope and pray Ed responds to God’s invitation of grace. 

Brent 

[End of correspondence.] 

## 

From: Jeremy Morton
Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2021 7:04 PM
To: Brent Detwiler
Subject: Re: Please Appeal to Ed 

Lord bless you, Brent.  So sorry I’m just now catching up with the emails, I have been traveling.   I hear your concern and am praying for great wisdom from the Lord!  May His will be done. 

Jeremy Morton 

From: Brent Detwiler
Sent: Monday, August 9, 2021 5:28 PM
To: Jeremy Morton
Subject: RE: Please Appeal to Ed 

Thanks for the note Jeremy.  It was kind of you to write. 

I enjoyed reading your bio and looking over the church website.  I appreciate your attitude, approach to ministry, message and mission.  I rejoice in the grace of God upon you!  

What do you think should be done?    

I think the matter of Ed’s qualifications should be debated during the plenary session at the EC meeting in September followed by a vote for or against censure.  This should be put on the EC agenda by Ronnie [Floyd] and Rolland [Slade] not into committee where it is buried.  

Of course, I hope none of this is necessary because Ed does the right thing and steps down.  

Do you have any suggestions for me?  

Thanks
Brent 

[End of correspondence.] 

## 

From: Mollie Duddleston
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2021 7:13 PM
To: Brent Detwiler
Subject: Re: Please Appeal to Ed 

Brent, 

I am in receipt of your email, and I have read every word. 

Certainly, one of the benefits of the SBC is the ability to express our thoughts. 

I am praying regularly for Dr. Litton, as well as our convention as we work diligently to take the gospel to the nations. 

Again, thank you for your email. 

Blessings,
Mollie Duddleston 

From: Brent Detwiler
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2021 9:01 PM
To: Mollie Duddleston
Subject: RE: Please Appeal to Ed 

Hi Mollie, 

Thanks for taking the time to read my article and drop me a note.  That’s appreciated.     

What do you think should take place now?  

I think the matter of Ed’s qualifications should be debated during the plenary session at the EC meeting in September followed by a vote for or against censure.  I realize you are close to Ronnie.  I think he and Rolland should put on the EC agenda and allow for action.  

Of course, I hope none of this is necessary because Ed does the right thing and steps down.  

Do you have any suggestions for me?  That is, how I can best influence the EC officers and members to do what is right? 

Thanks,
Brent 

From: Mollie Duddleston
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2021 7:20 PM
To: Brent Detwiler
Subject: Re: Please Appeal to Ed 

Brent, 

I appreciate your heart and the desire to see the SBC move forward in taking the gospel to the nations.  The SBC, at its best, is a mission movement.  We must all get behind Vision 2025 as this will aid the convention in getting more missionaries on the field.  We all know this is our Lord’s heart and absolutely necessary!! 

My recommendation to you is what I presume you are already doing daily:  1)  Pray for Dr. Floyd.  2)  Pray for Dr. Litton 3)  Pray for the EC (the trustees)  4)  Pray that the gospel advances around the world  5)  Share the gospel in your church and in your community. 

I’ll pray for you as well. 

Blessings,
Mollie 

From: Brent Detwiler
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2021 8:47 PM
To: Mollie Duddleston
Subject: RE: Please Appeal to Ed 

Yes, these I have done for a long time.  

I have also worked to see the biblical qualifications of leadership applied to men in ministry.  That includes Ed but many others also who have brought reproach upon the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For example, C.J. Mahaney.  His Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville is an SBC church.  In his case, he has covered up the sexual assault of young adults and the sexual abuse of children since 1980.  His staff has done the same for various lengths of time.  See My Story - Give - Resume - (squarespace.com). 

Yet, the Credential Committee has not removed him.  He remains an SBC church in “friendly cooperation.”  This is a great offense to God and completely contrary to the new Constitutional Amendment passed at the Convention about sexual abuse.  Ronnie knows all about this matter.  I have sent hundreds of pages of evidence to Credentials Committee since October 2019.  I trust the newly constituted CC will recommend removal to you next month. 

If we care about the gospel and are seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, men like Ed and C.J. will be removed from ministry.  Therefore, please appeal to Ed to resign in keeping with Matt 18, 1 Tim 3, 5, & Tit 1.  The Bible commands such action.  He should have the humility to step down.  Instead, he continues to cover up his sin.  That cannot be permitted if we are submitted to the authority of Scripture. 

Please be assured, I earnestly prayer the Lord will lead him to repentance in his kindness.  Why?  Because that would glorify God, advance the gospel, show care for the SBC, and serve his soul.  At this point, it appears he is only looking out for himself. 

[End of correspondence.] 

Figuring out how the SBC operates is no small undertaking.  Here are its top leaders for the uninitiated. 

Ronnie Floyd is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Committee.  He has his own staff. 

Rolland Slade is the Chairman of the Executive Committee.  The EC has 86 standing members. 

Ed Litton is the President of the Southern Baptist Convention.  He has his own officers. They are Lee Brand (1st VP), Ramon Medina (2nd VP), John Yeats (Recording Secretary) and Don Currence (Registration Secretary). 

There are six other very influential leaders in the SBC besides Floyd, Slade, and Litton.  They are the seminary presidents.  See Theological Seminaries.  None have called upon for Litton to resign in public.  

Jeff Iorg 
Gateway Seminary
Western US
 
Jason K. Allen 
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Kanas City, Missouri
 
James “Jamie” K. Drew 
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
New Orleans, Louisiana
 
Danny Akin 
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Wake Forest, North Carolina
 
R. Albert Mohler Jr. 
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky
 
Adam W. Greenway 
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Fort Worth, Texas 

That is not true of the Conservative Baptist Network.  I am not aligned with them but I fully agree with their statement.  

STATEMENT: In light of an evidenced pattern of plagiarism, the Conservative Baptist Network joins thousands of Southern Baptists in calling for the resignation of SBC President Ed Litton  

July 20, 2021 

Recent weeks have brought to light evidence of repeated plagiarism of multiple sources on the part of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Ed Litton.  This sinful behavior and the lack of forthrightness when exposed is inconsistent with the character and integrity Southern Baptists rightfully expect from their president (Ex. 20:15, Prov. 28:6, 1 Tim. 3:2). 

Compounding the concern surrounding President Litton’s irrefutable pattern of plagiarism is the silence of nearly all SBC leaders.  Further eroding the testimony of the SBC to a watching world is the way some SBC leaders have excused and even minimized this troubling behavior.  Scripture says acquitting the guilty (Prov. 17:15) and calling evil “good” (Isaiah 5:20) are wrong.  Deceitful behavior on the part of a pastor is doubly egregious as those holding this office are called to be “able to teach,” and to “study to show yourself approved.”  Plagiarism is a violation of the 8th and 9th commandments, and Scripture warns that men leading Christ’s local churches will be judged with even greater strictness (James 3:1). 

The Conservative Baptist Network delayed commenting on this matter publicly in the hope that personal conversations and counsel with President Litton would lead him to acknowledge his error and repent (James 1:19, Gal. 6:1).  Sadly, this has not occurred.  As further evidence of what appears to be serial plagiarism continues to surface in at least six videos from a variety of named sources, the Conservative Baptist Network calls on the leaders of the SBC to address this matter promptly and biblically.  For the sake of the gospel, it is best for President Litton to step down from office and focus on his personal spiritual development with his local church. 

The testimony of Southern Baptists and of the gospel is at stake. 

Jeff Iorg (President of Gateway Seminary is known for his integrity.  He does a podcast called LEAD ON.  This week he happened to address the vital subject of integrity for men in ministry.  It was very good.  Here are a couple excerpts.  The highlighting is mine.  

LEAD ON with Jeff Iorg 
Leading with Integrity 
August 16, 2021  

Integrity is wholeness, completeness, being undivided.  It is having your beliefs, your words, and your actions all line up.  So how does this relate to making mistakes and still maintaining integrity?  Well, one of our beliefs is that when we make a mistake  we own it by taking responsibility for it.  We admit it by speaking up and owning what we have done.  If it had a moral or ethical dimensions we sinned in the process, and so we confess our sin to God and to the people we have wronged.  These are beliefs that we have as Christian leaders and so when our beliefs line up with our words and actions, sometimes it our beliefs about owning mistakes, [asking] forgiveness, and [pursuing] restoration that demonstrate our integrity. … 

Now let’s talk about this final category, what I will call professional accountability.  The first step you can take in this regard is to make yourself accountable to appropriate people.   Now ministry leaders are often given a wide latitude in their work and it is sometimes confusing to whom they are really accountable.  But find out who you are accountable to and make yourself accountable to that person.  Perhaps it is a board, or a group of elders, or in your case it might be a staff, it might be your supervisor in the organization where you work.  Make yourself accountable for your whereabouts, make yourself accountable for your use of time, making yourself accountable for how you use money.  Make yourself accountable to the appropriate people in your organization.  Don’t chaff under it, or resist it, make yourself accountable.    

President Litton is accountable to the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Will he avoid their accountability or embrace their accountability at their upcoming meeting on September 20-21?  

Will Litton begin the meeting with an honest and in depth confession of sin that addresses the true nature and extent of his sin?  Will he invite probing questions and embrace reproof from the officers and members?  Will he allow a non-binding vote taken regarding whether or not he meets the qualifications of Scripture?  

I don’t think so.  He may say he is “sorry” or “apologize” but I doubt there will be anything of substance if anything at all.  

Last week Litton and the Baptist Press kicked into high gear.  Ed has been in hiding.  No interviews.  No public appearances.  Few tweets.  That has ended.  The news cycle about his plagiarism has passed.  He is back.  It’s all behind.  He is being rebranded. 

All you will see and hear are positive messages about the President.  There will be no further coverage or accountability.  In fact, not a word has been printed since Jonathan Howe’s “soft ball” interview of Litton on July 2.  This is wrong.  A follow up interview should have been done and additional articles written when more and more evidence showed Litton had been acting with deceit and plagiarizing for a long time. 

To close.  Ed Litton’s church should have asked for his resignation as the senior pastor.  Southern Baptist leaders should have encouraged him to resign as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention.  The Executive Committee should do the same.  And yet, all of this should be unnecessary. 

The greatest indictment of Ed Litton is Ed Litton.  He has acknowledged no sin.  He has demonstrated no integrity.  He continues to conceal his past and refuses all appeals to repent.  He won't step down.  That says it all.  Mohler is right.  It is despicable.