Ascol then address the sexual abuse that was revealed in the Guidepost Solutions report, which was released last month.
“If only one case of abuse was revealed from the investigation, it’s horrible,” he said. “Sex abuse is horrible! I think what was so impactful for me is just to read one [story] after the other, to see them all collated, [although] most of the stuff was public knowledge.”
“It’s grievous, it’s heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking to see how poorly these things were handled in so many situations and those things should not be,” Ascol said, pointing again to the idea of “theoretical” inerrancy.
“The report has ripped the curtains open,” Ascol said. “You can’t look away. We don’t ever have to fear what is inside. Christ has already known about it, and He’s already shed his blood for it. You don’t have to live in condemnation if you’re trusting Christ. There’s forgiveness. There’s cleansing from that. You don’t have to be undone by that. And so because of the gospel…we’re set free to deal with sin in our congregations and to deal with sin in our own lives. I don’t have to fear that.”
Chavez, who is hoping to be elected as the SBC’s recording secretary, which also carries an Executive Committee vote, said that he accepted the nomination because “it’s about upholding the values of the gospel, the dignity of the gospel of Jesus Christ…At the end of the day, we have been called not only to preach the gospel—we have been called to live the gospel. And that’s my greatest concern.”
“We want to bring back the dignity of the gospel to the pulpit, and I represent the Latino community,” Chavez said. “I believe that God is calling us, not because of race, but because at this moment, the Hispanic church can become the missionary movement and the missionary church planting movement that we need in America. So I’m willing to serve.”
Chavez spoke about how he fought the issue of CRT at last year’s annual meeting in Nashville. “We fought it not because we agree with the sense that the church is divided by racists, but we fought it because we agreed that their solution for racism is right here,” he said pointing to the Bible.
“I am here not because I’m a Hispanic. I am here not because I am a person that can represent the Latino community. I am here because I believe when Jesus bought my salvation in the cross, I am a new creature in Christ,” Chavez said. “I don’t want people to see me because I am a Latino. I want people to see Christ in me. And the reality is if there is an issue of racism in the church, we have a way to combat it.” Chavez again held up his Bible as he spoke.
Referencing the sexual abuse scandals in the denomination, Chavez again said, “We have a Book, and this Book is more than enough…And I’ve seen the gospel making changes, radical changes in people’s lives.”
“We have an issue here,” Chavez said. “We have to take this seriously. This isn’t a popularity contest, and we aren’t seeking the applause of men. We’re here because of service, and we are going to have to make sure that we serve and honor Christ with our lives.”
The SBC presidential election will take place Tuesday afternoon following the highly anticipated Sexual Abuse Task Force report. The election is expected to be a close race between Ascol and Barber. Robin Hadaway is also in the running for SBC President.
