Attached is the response received from the FY 2019/2020 Chairman of the Deacon Body.  We understand our petition was on a Deacon agenda and the Deacon Chair reported that he had "talked with Rick and Mark and the intent of the petition was not as written; therefore, no further action would be taken."

The former Deacon Chair took the position that, to proceed, the petition must have a motion from the Deacon Body, discussed and voted on by the Deacon Body.  This position is clearly contradictory as defined in the Bylaws of our Church.

On Sunday, May 17, 2020 the FY 2020/2021 Chairman of the Deacons was selected.

First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale is a congregationally driven body.

Below is the response received on May 2, 2020:
"Rick/Mark – Good morning and thank you for your note and follow up regarding the petition that was sent to the me and the Deacon Body. The petition was discussed during the Deacon meeting. I explained that I had received the names on the petitions and that I was vetting them against the membership role. I explained that we (you and me) had a phone call as well and that while the language included in the petition calls for the removal of the pastor and executive team; that this was not the goal of the petition based on what you had explained to me on our call.  During the discussion with the deacons there were no motions made by the Deacon body. I would also acknowledge that based on the review of the names on the petition; as well as some of the comments during the Deacon meeting, you have likely already had a debrief of what was discussed as well as the outcomes of the meeting.
Please know that the issues addressed in the petition and as voiced by those in membership as well as just concerned regular attenders and others have been heard. My letter to the congregation was not intended to address only those on the petition but all of those in our congregation. If you feel it would be appropriate or helpful for me to address those that are on the petition directly I would be glad to do so – but I feel that my responsibility is not only to those on the petition but also those not on the petition. There are essentially three groups of people in our congregation at this time. Some that are upset and believe that Pastor James should no longer be our pastor, some that are concerned with some of the decisions and/or process by which decisions have been made but believe Pastor James should remain as a part of the solution and another group that believes in Pastor James and the decisions that have been made. No matter which of these positions someone finds themselves it is important as a church we remember that there are multiple perspectives on these matters at hand.
As we discussed on our call – there will be no winners if it comes down to a vote. The Bride of Christ will suffer in either scenario or outcome. At this point I am asking you to pray that God would move in a mighty way and have grace and favor on the Bride. That as a church our focus would be on Jesus Christ and that our Pastor would be able to connect with the congregation to inspire and instill not only trust; but more importantly a heart for the Lost in south Florida.  Let us not grow weary of doing good! Praying for you both now that God would meet you at your place of need."
All the best -
Paul Weinberg, PLA, ASLA 
Executive Vice President
2312 S. Andrews Ave, Ft. Lauderdale 
Office: 954.788.3400 | Mobile: 954.593.7848 
Email: pweinberg@keithteam.com 
www.KEITHteam.com