Two Rivers Baptist Church Excommunicates Members

Though the Baptist and Reflector uses the word ‘ousts’ most will be more familiar with the word ‘excommunicate’.

One week after an attempt to oust 71 members of Two Rivers Baptist Church here failed by four votes, the church voted again following the May 11 Mother’s Day service. After hearing that the 71 plaintiffs should not have been allowed to vote on May 4, according to Robert’s Rules of Order, the 71 members were dismissed by a show of hands vote. The 71 members being considered for ouster were plaintiffs on a lawsuit filed against church leaders last year over questions of how church money was spent and access to financial records. A business meeting was called after the May 11 service so deacon chairman Carlos Cobos could officially report the May 4 vote, according to an article in The Tennessean on May 12. The paper reported that David Mills, a former trustee and deacon chairman, challenged the decision which allowed the 71 plaintiffs to vote. Members then voted by a show of hands to not allow the votes of the 71 plaintiffs to count. They will be removed from the church roll.

The message which the Church sends to its membership? Don’t question authority. There’s something very un-baptist about this. Yes, something very un-baptist indeed. Perhaps they need to read the Bible…