Plano’s Prestonwood Baptist escrows CP funds

PLANO, Texas — Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas, has decided to escrow Cooperative Program funds temporarily in order to evaluate future support of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) causes. The funds will amount to approximately $1 million annually. Other churches have reportedly taken or are considering similar action over concerns related to multiple SBC entities.

At issue for Prestonwood Baptist are what the congregation calls “various significant positions taken by the leadership of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) that do not reflect the beliefs and values of many in the SBC,” according to a statement the church released to Louisiana’s Baptist Message newsjournal.

The Wall Street Journal interviewed Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist, in December 2016 and he told them the church was “considering making major changes in our support of the SBC.”

In the interview Graham said the issue was the alleged “disrespectfulness” by ERLC President Russell Moore toward evangelical supporters of President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Moore, who publicly opposed Trump during the primary and general election cycles, said in a December 2016 blog post he never intended to criticize all evangelicals who supported Trump.

Graham is a member of Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board. Graham, also a former SBC president, said Prestonwood is engaging in “an internal evaluation” of its giving, “and our desire is not to seek publicity so we can make the right decision for our church and Southern Baptists.”

Graham told the Message he is “not angry at the SBC.” He wants Prestonwood to remain “a cooperating partner [with the SBC] as we have been for many years” but cited “uneasiness” among church leaders about the “disconnect between some of our denominational leaders and our churches.”

Moore said, “I love and respect Jack Graham and Prestonwood Baptist Church. This is a faithful church with gifted leaders and a long history of vibrant ministry working and witnessing for Christ.” (BP)