SBC Presidential Candidate Willy Rice Reveals Deacon at His Church Previously …

Screengrab from Vimeo. In a video statement released on Friday (April 1), Willy Rice disclosed that, many years ago, a member of the deacon body at Calvary Church in Clearwater, FL “committed a sexual sin that could also be described as abusive.” Rice, who is the pastor of Calvary Church, is expected to accept a nomination for SBC president at the denomination’s annual meeting this summer in Anaheim, CA.  Rice further disclosed that he and other leaders at Calvary Church knew about the incident but said that after coming to the church, the man had displayed the “genuine fruits of a repentant life.” After several years of being a member of the church, the unnamed man was ordained to the office of deacon.  Rice said that after being contacted by a fellow pastor last week regarding the man’s previous abusive behavior, the leadership of Calvary Church “realized the need to reevaluate his role as a deacon.” RELATED: Florida Pastor Willy Rice to be Nominated for SBC President “We were challenged to think more accurately about our leadership structure, and allowing him to serve as a deacon was inconsistent with our desire to stand against all forms of sexual abuse,” Rice…
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