Some expressed support for Stone. One person tweeted, “Wow. That’s an interesting development I wasn’t expecting. I normally don’t like Christians suing each other but I may have to reconsider because what was done to Mike Stone was defamation and for Moore to leave the ERLC with no consequences. A lot to consider.” Another said, “I’m no lawyer, but at first glance…I think Mike’s got a case here.”
Comparing SBC Lawsuits
Some have drawn comparisons between Stone’s suit against Moore and the defamation lawsuit that sexual abuse survivor and advocate Hannah-Kate Williams has brought against the SBC Executive Committee, EC members Rod Martin and Mike Stone, Lifeway Christian Resources, and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. According to that suit, these SBC entities and individuals had “intentionally and concertedly acted to silence her, lie about her, and deny her truth.”
“I’m not defending Stone’s lawsuit here,” Tom Buck tweeted. “But I am calling for consistency. If you say 1 Cor 6 prohibits all lawsuits between Christians, then you must also condemn the SBC abuse victims who sued. I’m not aware of any people who are condemning Stone that also condemned them.”
I’m not defending Stone’s lawsuit here.
But I am calling for consistency.
If you say 1 Cor 6 prohibits all lawsuits between Christians, then you must also condemn the SBC abuse victims who sued. I’m not aware of any people who are condemning Stone that also condemned them.
— Tom Buck (Five Point Buck) (@TomBuck) October 21, 2021
Referring to the recent decision by the SBC Executive Committee to waive attorney-client privilege in the investigation into whether it mishandled sexual abuse allegations, Buck later tweeted, “I wonder if @drmoore will be willing to waive attorney client privilege?”
RELATED: SBC’s Lawyers to Cut Ties After Vote to Waive Privilege
“If you’re upset that @PastorMikeStone has filed a lawsuit against @drmoore but you didn’t seek to hold Dr. Moore accountable for his unsubstantiated accusations against brothers on EC, you’re part of the issue in the SBC,” Allen S. Nelson IV tweeted. “If you are against the lawsuit but are for a 3rd party investigation into the SBC EC, you don’t have a right to bring up 1 Cor. 6. Stop with the inconsistency.”
Nathaniel Jolly, who has been supportive of Stone in the past, tweeted, “So we’re all cool w/this as long as ‘our side’ is doing the suing? I have absolutely nothing positive to say about Russell Moore, but this isn’t what we should be doing—No—count me out.”
Jolly later tweeted, “Whatever you think of @PastorMikeStone decision, he is a brother, and we ought to be praying for him. If you aren’t doing that, you probably shouldn’t be commenting.”
Criticism Regarding Suit Amount
Others focused less on the principle of Stone’s lawsuit, instead voicing concerns about the amount of restitution Stone is seeking from Moore. According to the suit, Stone is seeking no less than $750,000.
“The amount of money Mike Stone is seeking from Russell Moore is more than 8 times my church’s entire annual budget,” tweeted Sean M. Dennis.
David Bumgardner tweeted, “Mike Stone suing Russell Moore over alleged ‘decreased future earning power’ should tell you everything you need to know about him, his priorities, and his phony lawsuit.” In his tweet, Bumgardner attached a screenshot of the words found in 1 Timothy 6:9: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
RELATED: Rachael Denhollander: Why the SBC EC Is Reluctant to Give Up Attorney-Client Privilege
