Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Stone withdraws defamation lawsuit against Moore

  • December 14, 2021
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Georgia, Latest News, SBC, Sexual Abuse Investigation Archive, Tennessee
(TAB Media)

Stone withdraws defamation lawsuit against Moore

Georgia Pastor Mike Stone has withdrawn his defamation lawsuit against former Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore.

Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, is the former chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee and was a candidate for president at the SBC’s annual meeting this past June. Stone filed the paperwork to withdraw the lawsuit on Thursday (Dec. 9) and his request was dismissed without prejudice the next day by U.S. District Court Judge William Campbell.

The dismissal of the case reportedly came a week before the deadline for Moore to file a response to the allegations. Moore has not responded publicly to the lawsuit. Because the case was dismissed without prejudice, this leaves Stone with the option of later filing another lawsuit regarding the same allegations.

In a statement to Baptist Press about the decision to withdraw the lawsuit, Stone noted it was “a voluntary action on my part alone.”

Stone continued, “I have trusted the Lord with my eternal soul, my family and my ministry. I can and do trust Him in this present matter. He does all things well, knows all things perfectly and judges all things and all people rightly in His own sovereign time.”

‘Malicious and defamatory campaign’

Stone filed a $750,000 lawsuit Oct. 18 with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville. He accused Moore, who is now the director of the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today, of “defamation, false light invasion of privacy and emotional distress.” This development comes as Southern Baptist Convention leaders continue to navigate scrutiny and a third-party investigation into how it has handled sexual abuse allegations and survivors.

In the lawsuit, Stone accused Moore of leading a “malicious and defamatory campaign against him” that allegedly kept him from being elected SBC president. Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, won the election in a runoff, earning 52% of the vote. Among other allegations, Stone claimed Moore harmed his reputation and caused “extreme mental anguish and emotional distress.”

The lawsuit specifically focused on two letters Moore wrote as ERLC president. Stone alleges the first letter, released Feb. 24, 2020, was in “retaliation” for Stone’s role in leading a task force created to investigate the role of the ERLC. The task force concluded the ERLC was a “significant distraction from the Great Commission work of Southern Baptists.” The task force also noted the organization negatively impacted the Cooperative Program, the SBC’s giving channel for ministry and missions. In the lawsuit, Stone claimed Moore began a campaign against him within days of the creation of a task force.

The second letter was released to the public June 2 and, according to the lawsuit, “contained false allegations” claiming Stone and other EC leaders inhibited sexual abuse reform. Southern Baptist messengers would go on to approve a Sexual Abuse Task Force at the annual meeting a couple weeks later to investigate allegations against the SBC Executive Committee of mishandling reports of sexual abuse and survivors.

The task force will report its findings in Anaheim, California, during the SBC’s next annual meeting in June 2022.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Nashville school shooting: ‘Multiple’ victims reported
    Nashville school shooting: ‘Multiple’ victims reported
    March 27, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • 27 Christians killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria
    27 Christians killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria
    March 27, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for April 2
    Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for April 2
    March 27, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Nashville school shooting: ‘Multiple’ victims reported

Police are investigating a deadly shooting reported Monday morning (March 27) at a private Nashville school. According to media reports, there were “multiple” victims. Police

27 Christians killed in two separate attacks in Nigeria

Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed 27 Christians in two attacks this month in Kaduna State, Nigeria, Morning Star News reported. Both attacks took place

Explore the Bible Sunday School Lesson for April 2

Remain in Me John 15:1–17 Viticulture is an interesting year-round business. My contacts in the vineyard business testify to the hard work involved as well

Children’s ministry leader shares helpful practices for teaching gospel to kids

Talking to her eight grandchildren about Jesus comes as naturally as breathing for Jenni Carter. “I pray for them to have authentic relationships with Jesus,”

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel