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Slander Hurts ... Everyone: Russian Political Campaign Alludes to "Rumors of Rampant Sexual Immorality and Pedophilia among Baptists"

By encouraging a hostile environment of "word warfare," distrust and ill-will, which impedes the spread of the Gospel, slander hurts ... everyone.

Christian people -- who use "the Word" to teach and preach -- must refrain from using harsh "word weapons" against others, least those weapons be turned against them.

It is more imperative than ever that those in Christian leadership develop means and methods to nurture, discipline and police their own, rather than cover-up corruption, which turns others away from Christ.

Russian Baptists Denounce Bogus Newspaper as Political Smear
By Bob Allen
Monday, 23 February 2009

MOSCOW (ABP) -- Russian Baptists denounced the injection of religion into politics after a bogus newspaper circulated in a mayoral race falsely identified a candidate as a Baptist in an effort to besmirch his character.

According to Internet reports, a counterfeit newspaper stuffed into mailboxes in the western Russian city of Smolensk claimed Baptists were supporting a mayoral candidate in hopes that his election would cause Baptists to rival the Russian Orthodox Church for influence.

"Russian Baptists are for Maslakov!" appeared as a banner headline in the supposed special edition of The Protestant, presumably forged as a political dirty trick.

The article claimed that Baptists all over Russia and from around the world were hoping candidate Sergy Maslakov "will become the first Baptist mayor in Russia" in the upcoming March 1 election. But Baptist leaders said Maslakov, one of 10 candidates running for mayor, is largely unknown outside the region and has no known ties to Baptists.

The article alluded to rumors of rampant sexual immorality and pedophilia among Baptists, and implied Russian Baptist churches are funded largely by Western sources, including the government of the United States.

"Political con-artists are trying to turn the respected, 140-year history of Baptists in Russia into a horror story in hopes of helping and hurting certain political parties," said Vitaly Vlasenko, the Russian Baptist union's director of external church affairs.

Vlasenko accused campaign workers of "sowing hatred between the [denominational] confessions," an act he termed "ugly and totally unacceptable."

The article reportedly included comments falsely attributed to the head of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists from an interview that did not take place. The paper carried photos of Baptist leaders with mismatched captions that identified them with incorrect names.

Viktor Ignatenkov, pastor of First Baptist Church of Smolensk, told the Slavic Legal Center the candidate has no relationship to Baptists and has never been a member of a Baptist church. He said the anonymous authors apparently intended to inflame irreligious strife with statements about Baptists that are patently false. ...

Read more of article (here).

Discerning Heart, Whole Heart NEW BLOG: Corrupt Practices (including Sexual Harassment and Abuse) at Southwest Baptist University & Missouri Baptists

Originally posted on Restorative Justice: Heart of Integrity Blog

NEW BLOG: OVER-SIGHT: Discerning Heart, Whole Heart

This new blog is presenting information concerning corrupt practices (including sexual harassment and abuse) at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri and within the governing infrastructure of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

We have undertaken this in the hope of encouraging RESTORATIVE JUSTICE and ORGANIZATIONAL INTEGRITY.

DISCERNING HEART, WHOLE HEART
AT
OVER-SIGHT.BLOGSPOT.COM

_________________________________

The following posts from
The Restorative Justice: Heart of Integrity Blog
have been RePOSTED
at this new blog location.

However, two posts
have been removed from
The Restorative Justice: Heart of Integrity Blog
and "re-housed" at the new site.

_________________________________

Atheistic Christians:
It Appears an Investigation
of the Southwest Baptist University
Trustees and Governance
is Inevitable
February 9, 2009
_________________________________

REAL COMMUNITY:
Contact with Southwest Baptist University
Trustees Suspended;
Contact with First Baptist Church of Bolivar
to Continue ...
February 19, 2009

_________________________________

THIS POST HAS BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE
RESTORATVE JUSTICE: HEART OF INTEGRITY
AND
IS RePOSTED AT THE OVER-SIGHT BLOG.

Does It Have to Be Done THIS Way?
Southwest Baptist University
Trustee and Former Interim President
Dr. Wayne Gott
and Country Mart Sexual Harassment
February 14, 2009

_________________________________

THIS POST HAS BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE
RESTORATVE JUSTICE: HEART OF INTEGRITY
AND
IS RePOSTED AT THE OVER-SIGHT BLOG.

SBU Sugar Daddy?:
Letter to Roger Moran, MBLA Research Director,
Seeks "Discerning Investigation"
of Southwest Baptist University Trustees
February 14, 2009

_________________________________

UPDATED! Handoff ... to Rev. Billy Russell;
Letter to Roger Moran SUSPENDED
Pending Action
by First Baptist Church of Bolivar
and Rev. Billy Russell
February 14, 2009

___________________________________________

RePOST-Handoff to Rev. Billy Russell: Letter to Roger Moran SUSPENDED Pending Action by First Baptist Church of Bolivar & Rev. Billy Russell UPDATED!

[Originally posted on the Heart of Integrity: Restorative Justice Blog (here).]

Updated (see below) Monday, February 15 about 10:30 pm

______________________________________________________________

A BRIEF CONVERSATION AMONG FRIENDS:
The Hand-off ... To Rev. Billy Russell
______________________________________________________________

"I don't believe a thing these people SAY any more," Marie told friends.

"Well, then" one friend replied, "Believe what they DO! Explain what you want done to create whatever healing or restoration is possible in the situation and let their actions speak for themselves."

"What? Do you mean she should give them a ... To-Do list?"

"Exactly, it's a guy-thing. Give them "The Trinity To-Do Contract."

"Do you believe that Billy Russell can handle this?"

"Don't worry for him. He's a pretty scrappy pup from Detroit. I think he can deal with it. Besides, do you believe he loves his wife Regina?"

"Yes, whole-heartedly."

"Well, she'll keep him in line. What you're asking for is very reasonable and kind-hearted. Give Billy Russell 'The Trinity To-Do Contract" he needs ... and he'll run with it."

(More to follow ... )

______________________________________________________________

UPDATE!
Monday, February 15 about 10:30 pm

______________________________________________________________

Information is being delivered to Rev. Billy Russell on PICKING UP the packet of information concerning the "The Trinity To-Do Contract" and the URL and Password to the private blog by the end of February.

A brief outline of the "The Trinity To-Do Contract" will be posted SHORTLY.

Other individuals are being notified in writing of how they may participate or assist,if they are willing.

______________________________________________________________

Mailing and posting of the letter to Roger Moran, the Research Director of the Missouri Baptist Laymen's Association, regarding Southwest Baptist University Trustee Dr. Wayne Gott (here) has been SUSPENDED until further action by the First Baptist Church of Bolivar and Rev. Billy Russell.

______________________________________________________________

RePOST-SBU Sugar Daddy?: Letter to Roger Moran, MBLA Research Director, Seeks "Discerning Investigation" of Southwest Baptist University Trustee

[Originally posted on the Heart of Integrity: Restorative Justice Blog (here).]
Updated, Monday, February 15 about 9:00 pm

______________________________________________________________

Mailing and posting of the referenced letter (below)
has been SUSPENDED until further action by
the First Baptist Church of Bolivar and
Rev. Billy Russell (see latest updates here)
______________________________________________________________


To be posted on Sunday, February 15, 2009:

A request that Roger Moran, the Research Director of the Missouri Baptist Laymen's Association (website here; contrary view here), assist in creating an investigative committee -- such as has been previously formed (see here) -- to initiate a immediate "Discerning Investigation" and (if necessary) a Christian confrontation concerning numerous public allegations against prominent businessman Dr. Wayne Gott, the primary contributor to Southwest Baptist University (wiki), current SBU Trustee and former Southwest Baptist University Interim President and CEO.

These allegations (here) include: inappropriate touching and sexual advances and abuse of Country Mart employees and customers, the fostering of an environment of sexual harassment, denigration, and sexual predation of employees or customers (particularly females, but some males), the payment to Country Mart employees for sexual services, and the fathering of a child (or children) as the result of such adulterous encounters.

Your prayers for Dr, Wayne Gott, his family and friends ... and for the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Committee and Roger Moran are appreciated.

RePOST-Does It Have to Be Done THIS Way? Southwest Baptist University Trustee Dr. Wayne Gott & Country Mart Sexual Harassment

[Originally posted on the Heart of Integrity: Restorative Justice Blog (here).]

WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT!

Does It Have to Be Done THIS Way? Southwest Baptist University Trustee Dr. Wayne Gott and Country Mart Sexual Harassment

First, we need to state plainly if you are not an adult,
we suggest that you skip reading today's blog entry,
though, you are welcome to return tomorrow.

A quote from Topix.com forum, Country Mart Sexual Harassment forum:

YES!!! There is a lot to these guys I wish Country Mart shoppers knew. But, money can silence all......

The link that we are referencing today (see below) -- or rather, SIX pages of discussion beginning with this link on the Topix.com forum -- brings to light long-rumored allegations of inappropriate conduct by Dr. Wayne Gott, the former Interim President and CEO of Southwest Baptist University, the current Southwest Baptist University Trustee, the recipient of honors and accolade within the Missouri Baptist Convention, prominent businessman and owner of the Country Mart stores, primary contributor to the construction SBU's Salem, Missouri campus of SBU and the overall largest contributor Southwest Baptist University (see here).

Our purpose in linking to this Topix.com forum is to illustrate an object lesson: Witness how allegations of this sort dishonor the name of Christ among non-believers and how refusing to deal forthrightly (and privately) with such issues results in hindrance, confusion, shame, and harm to the individuals, families, communities, and the Church.

DISCLAIMER: For the record, we had NOTHING to do with this Topix.com discussion in any way. (Several months ago, this Topix.com discussion was accidentally discovered while googling for Dr. Wayne Gott's Country Mart address.)

In fact, we are angry, humiliated, and distressed that -- once again – such matters are being discussed openly in such a shameful manner, rather than being dealt with responsibly, honestly, and restoratively in private.

Upon completing this blog discussion, we will eagerly delete this linked reference.

BE WARNED!: As with many Topix.com forums, this forum occasionally digresses into inane, juvenile PROFANITY, EXPLICIT sexual references, and irrelevant rants.

COUNTRY MART SEXUAL HARASSMENT FORUM
ON TOPIX.COM
HERE for the FIRST of SIX pages.

PAGES ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, and SIX.

Dr. Wayne Gott and family, our prayers are with you.

RePOST-REAL COMMUNITY: Contact with Southwest Baptist University Trustees Suspended; Contact with First Baptist Church of Bolivar to Continue ...

[Originally posted on the Heart of Integrity: Restorative Justice Blog (here).]

We are sorry.

We believe that it would have been in the community's (and the Missouri Baptist Convention's) best interest to involve Southwest Baptist University trustees and officials in the Restorative Justice Process, but, at this point, no viable communication can yet be established.

However, Marie will still be in contact with the First Baptist Church of Bolivar this week and will offer a means of reconciliation to those from the University who choose to participate.

We will be encouraging members of the Baptist General Convention of Missouri (info here) and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Missouri (info here) to participate in this Restorative Justice Process, also.

The Trinity Contract Blogsite will be posted and linked from this site shortly -- though it's official "opening" will be on Valentine's Day, February 14.