Paul Brooks resigns as pastor of First Baptist of Raytown

Paul Brooks has resigned over a scandal that is similar to the one involving his son approximately 5 years ago. That incident is covered in http://www.jonthebaptist.com/raytown/documents/Petition.pdf in more detail than I care to read. Members of the community hope this may finally put an end to divisions that formed over the handling of the son’s transgressions, and friends can come together again and put this sad chapter behind them.

Multiple sources have indicated that Pastor Brooks has left the community for Florida and put his home on the market.

Click HERE for Fox4 News coverage

Below is the First Baptist of Raytown’s Press Release on the subject.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  July 11,2011

First Baptist-Raytown Senior Pastor Resigns
Church vows to continue services to membership and community
as search for replacement begins.

RA YTOWN -First Baptist Church of Raytown, one of the largest Baptist congregations in the Kansas City metropolitan area with thousands of members and numerous community ministries, announced that its Senior Pastor, Paul Brooks, retired late last week after concerns surfaced about his activities that may have run afoul of the Church’s moral guidelines.

“It’s a very unfortunate circumstance,” said Jeff Phillips, Chairman of the Church’s Pastor Advisory Team. “Brother Paul was instrumental in the growth of FBR and the spiritual development of its members. He did many fine things and he brought much to the Church community, but his recent moral failing made the retirement appropriate.”

According to Phillips, the Advisory Team became aware over the Fourth of July weekend of concerns about possible activities of Brooks, as well as those of another senior staff member, that, while not criminal in nature, would potentially amount to moral failures under the Church’s guidelines. Brooks and the staff member each admitted the activity and both resigned on Thursday.

Brooks’ retirement letter expressed his appreciation to the congregation for almost 26 years with the Church and pledged his love, prayers, and support for his eventual replacement. “The greatest days of First Baptist Raytown are in its future,” said Brooks in his letter.

The Church plans to begin the search process for a new Senior Pastor in the near future and has a transition team in place to insure that there are no disruptions in the services and ministries provided to its members and the community.

First Baptist Raytown’s vision is to minister to the local community and the greater Kansas City area and to help meet their spiritual, physical and emotional needs. The Church’s ministries include the annual Heart of America Christmas Pageant, the Recreational Outreach Ministry, Celebrate Recovery, and Hope Network which ministers to the disadvantaged and underprivileged in Raytown, Missouri by providing assistance with food, clothing, and medical needs.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact: Lucretia Raby, Personnel Committee, 816-820-9365.