The Baptist Blogger will announce the inaugural “Turkey of the Year” (Toty) award later tonight. The year 2018 will likely go down as one of the greater turning points in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention, and it’s been a chore to keep track of the bird-brained personalities, events, and ideas that have been offered on blogs, on the convention floor, and in trustee meetings. Nobody ever said turkey hunting was easy; nevertheless, we persisted.
Finding the most deserving honoree for the inaugural Toty (rhymes with Dottie) has proven difficult indeed. But we’ve examined the year’s events, polled our editor, and determined to announce on Thanksgiving Eve the 2018 Toty winner and two runners up.
Stay tuned . . .
The Baptist Blogger 
We thought you might be interested in this update on this appellate court decision involving one if Paige Patterson’s disciples (as well as his pastor), Bob Pearle.
The case is Birchman Baptist Church vs. the Rafferty family.
It is an ugly story-and no Baptist pastor or church who believe in the teachings of the Bible could ever do what they did.
Evidently, True Justice rolls on, in the form of this appellate court decision, seemingky in favor of the Rafferty children. This seems to spell more shame and deserved trouble for Birchman Baptist Church, and Pastor Bob Pearle, and Executive Pastor, David Hain.
One must question how a Baptist church commanded by Jesus Christ, their Lord, to care for widows and orphans could behave it has to this bereaved family of a man who committed suicide. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8.
Even secular justice sees the unholy behavior of these pastors and church. Click below to read appellate court opinion, it is public record.
https://cases.justia.com/texas/second-court-of-appeals/2018-02-18-00031-cv.pdf?ts=1542893777
Paige Patterson advised Bob Pearle on these matters…I think they shared Shelby Sharp as an attorney at some point say those who know.
Birchman Baptist Church’s deacons (for the most part) are not consulted on these matters. Many long-term families have left the church over this ill treatment if the Rafferty family (over many years) as well as the pastor’s blind support if Paige Patterson.
Woukd be happy to hear your legal analysis.
If the deacons did not approve officially of the unChristlike actions of Pastor Bob Pearle and Exec Pastor David Hain in stealing the Rafferty orphans’ inheritance, there could be serious issues here. For one,
are the tithes and offerings given by members of Birchman Baptist Church being used to pay the legal fees of Sr. Pastor Bob Pearle and Exec. Pastor David Hain?
If so, how will these fees, (which will only increase if further appeals or litigation ensues) affect the Ministry Budgets?
If deacons and members do not approve of the avaricious actions of Pearle and Hain, they need to take action now.
The money give to the suicide Judas (for betraying Christ) was considered “blood money” and not accepted by the Temple authorities for Temple use. The similarity is obvious.
The Rafferty children have not been treated with Christlike love at all. The cause of Christ has been deeply harmed by the actions of those at Birchman Baptist Church responsible for this attempt to claim their suicide father’s life insurance proceeds for the church.
In the view of the SBC, is this blatant public violation of God’s word about treatment of orphans by Christians enough to bring sanctions or rebuke to these pastors and the church?
Jamea 1:27
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.“