Adron Robinson is disappointed with the failure of his search team’s nomination to win SBC Executive Committee approval, but he’s content with the outcome. “I’m glad it’s over. It’s been 16 months of hard work, of intense work,” the Chicago area pastor said. “I’m disappointed in how it all ended, but I trust in God and his sovereignty.”
Robinson chaired the search committee seeking a replacement for Ronnie Floyd who resigned as EC President and CEO under a cloud in October 2021. And when word leaked their nominee would be Jared Wellman, a 36-year-old pastor from Arlington, Texas who was serving as EC Board Chair, the nomination ran into strong headwinds from the well-connected and social media active.
EC trustees voted down Wellman’s nomination 50 to 31. That had never happened before.
“We did our job and the board did its job and I’m fine with that,” Robinson said.
But an active rumor mill which produced plenty of negative comments before the nomination was officially made public was a factor in tanking the nod. Another was the popularity of the Interim EC President and CEO Willie McLaurin.
‘Hot mess’
In a May 1 meeting held behind closed doors in Dallas that was described by some in attendance as “a hot mess” of argument and criticism, the 81 EC members present heard the search team’s reasoning for presenting Wellman and his vision for the EC. Wellman was a key figure in demanding that the previous EC leaders be held accountable for their handling of sexual abuse claims in the denomination. And he succeeded California pastor Rolland Slade as EC Board Chair, with South Carolina pastor David Sons as his vice chair.
After the EC’s February meeting, where several controversial announcements were made, a groundswell began forming.
In that meeting, it was reported that the search team was not ready to present a candidate. The possibility was stated that a subsidiary of the controversial Guidepost Solutions company was likely to be employed to create and operate a database of credible abuse accusations, despite complaints about some Guidepost employees’ public support of LGBTQ causes.
It was also reported that the EC had lost half its $12.2 million in assets in the past year, raising questions about leadership, future financial cuts, and the possible sale of EC properties to cover losses, which was suggested by the auditors.
That audit has not been made public yet. It will be up to Board Chair Sons and Interim CEO McLaurin to explain it all to messengers in New Orleans.
Wellman recused himself from the search team Jan. 26, then stepped down as Chair in a confidential letter to EC leadership April 17; then Sons assumed the Chair. The Board learned about it two days later.
Rumor mill
In online debate ahead of the May 1 vote on Wellman, McLaurin’s popularity was raised. Some asked why an African American was not being nominated, when McLaurin, in his interim capacity has been the only minority to lead an SBC entity, and none permanently.
“The board had heard so much other information with so many narratives going around, we wanted to make sure we answered all their questions and gave them the information they needed to make a decision,” Robinson said.
“Some people have their narrative and they’re going to believe what they believe. That’s part of the culture influencing the church,” he said. “People assume the worst.”
Robinson has seen it firsthand through this process. Confidentiality in the search process was nearly impossible, as Robinson received contacts from people asking about the candidates. “Some of their lists were out in left field, but others were exactly correct,” Robinson said. Such violations of confidence in the search process make it hard to get quality candidates.
Most of the differences between the search team and the Board were over the process of arriving at Wellman’s nomination. “It’s the search team’s job to find a candidate they believe is best suited for the position and present that candidate to the board. But it’s the board’s job to elect the candidate—or not,” Robinson said. “I trust the decision of the board.”
Illinois’s other trustee, Sharon Carty of Carlinville, is also satisfied with the outcome. “I can honestly say, I did not know who the candidate was until he was announced as was the proper protocol we were given.
“I searched for God’s answer,” she said. “I know in my heart God heard the prayer of the EC.” While respecting the process, Carty also contends for greater transparency. “Transparency is absolutely necessary for strong leadership and stability within the EC.”
With a new search team selected immediately as required by EC bylaws, Carty hopes “we will have new permanent leadership sooner than later.”