SBC leader resigns amid investigation turmoil

Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee since 2019, opposed the committee’s Oct. 5 decision to waive attorney-client privilege to allow outside investigators to look at legally protected communication related to sexual abuse cases. “Due to my personal integrity and the leadership responsibility entrusted to me, I will not and cannot any longer fulfill the duties placed upon me as the leader of the executive, fiscal, and fiduciary entity of the SBC,” Floyd said in his resignation letter. His resignation is effective at the end of this month.

Why is this significant? The 86-member Executive Committee is tasked with making decisions for the SBC between its annual meetings of “messengers” or delegates from local churches. As CEO, Floyd oversaw the staff that supports the committee’s operations. The law firm Guidepost Solutions is investigating how the Executive Committee handled sexual abuse cases that were brought to its attention during the past two decades. Floyd’s departure follows the resignations of the committee’s legal firm of 56 years and 10 committee members in recent weeks. The committee must form a seven-member search team to replace Floyd, according to church bylaws.

Dig Deeper: Read my report with Sophia Lee about why church delegates demanded the outside investigation.