EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was updated Oct. 1.
LifeWay Christian Resources, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, reversed course on Wednesday (Sept. 30), announcing it would withdraw a lawsuit filed Sept. 28 against the organization’s former president and CEO Thom Rainer for violating a non-compete clause in his contract that forbids him from working with competitors.
Rainer, 65, who announced his plan to retire as president and CEO in 2018, serves as chief advisory officer for LifeWay until Oct. 31, earning the same salary he received as president, according to the transition agreement he signed with LifeWay in 2018. Under the terms of that agreement, he was prohibited from working with a competitor for 12 months after his retirement, LifeWay claimed in a suit filed in Williamson County, Tennessee, on Sept. 28.
But in April, the suit alleged, Rainer and Tyndale, a publisher of Bibles and other Christian books, reached “a multi-book, multiyear agreement” for publishing Rainer’s books, which LifeWay says violates the transition agreement. Tyndale announced the publishing partnership in August, according to Baptist Press. Rainer, a prolific writer, runs a business called Church Answers, which is intended to help church leaders with “resources, experts and community” through the ups and downs of church ministry. A lifelong Southern Baptist and Alabama native, Rainer received his Masters of Divinity and a Ph.D., from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
“Tyndale is ecstatic about our long-term partnership with Thom Rainer and Church Answers. Thom is a gifted leader, teacher, and communicator whose personal mission aligns perfectly with Tyndale’s,” Tyndale senior VP and publisher Ron Beers was quoted saying in a press release.
In a statement Sept. 29, Rainer said he had received “a written and amicable release from publishing” with LifeWay, he had discussed the matter with LifeWay’s attorney and he “assumed all was well” until receiving notice of the lawsuit. Rainer also told Baptist Press that Ben Mandrell, LifeWay’s current president, asked him to either stop receiving payments from LifeWay or return them to the SBC entity. He said he has been returning the payments since late spring.
Change of course
On Sept. 30, LifeWay trustee chair Todd Fannin announced in an email to the board that LifeWay would not proceed with the breach of contract lawsuit but would instead seek to resolve the dispute without litigation.
An emergency meeting of the full LifeWay board had been scheduled for Sept. 30 to discuss the lawsuit but was canceled by the executive committee.
“In lieu of moving forward with litigation, both parties are currently exploring the possibility of an agreed upon resolution of the differences,” Fannin wrote to trustees. “Our continued prayer is that this will be resolved quickly and amicably.”
Fannin, an Oklahoma businessman, asked “all Southern Baptists to join us in a season of prayer” and said trustees will receive additional information within a week. He expressed concern over “numerous public misstatements and inaccuracies surrounding this matter.”
Concerns among trustees
The lawsuit apparently raised concern among some trustees. Multiple trustees told Baptist Press they did not learn of the lawsuit until the day after it was filed, and former board chair Jimmy Scroggins wrote an email to Fannin and his fellow board members Tuesday asking that the lawsuit be withdrawn “until other options can be more fully explored or until the full board has an opportunity” to “discuss appropriate next steps for LifeWay’s relationship with Thom [Rainer].”
The full text of Fannin’s email to the board today is copied below.
Sept. 30 email from LifeWay Trustee Chairman Todd Fannin:
“Dear trustees,
“The trustee executive committee met today to discuss the most recent developments with Dr. Rainer.
“While there have been numerous public misstatements and inaccuracies surrounding this matter, we have been and continue to be hopeful that we may resolve this issue with Dr. Rainer regarding his agreement with LifeWay and his partnership with a competitor. In lieu of moving forward with litigation, both parties are currently exploring the possibility of an agreed upon resolution of the differences. Our continued prayer is that this will be resolved quickly and amicably.
“In order to give appropriate time for continued discussions with Dr. Rainer to take place, the executive committee passed a resolution postponing this afternoon’s trustee meeting. The executive committee is asking trustees and all Southern Baptists to join us in a season of prayer. This period will also allow us to provide full and accurate information to each board member.
“Again, there will be no board meeting today, and you can expect additional information this week. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or one of the other board officers.
“Todd Fannin
Chairman of the Board
LifeWay Christian Resources”
Compiled from reporting by Baptist Press, news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Religion News Service.
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