Shots Fired in Second Baptist’s Governance War
Ben Young’s Defense Sparks Fierce Rebuttal Over Lost Voting Rights
Disclaimer: This article discusses ongoing litigation between parties at Second Baptist Church. The allegations and claims made by both sides have not been proven in court. Second Baptist Church leadership maintains that all actions were taken legally and appropriately. Readers should be aware that this is a developing legal matter where facts remain in dispute.
A storm is brewing at Houston’s Second Baptist Church, where Senior Pastor Dr. Ben Young’s Memorial Day weekend letter defended bylaw changes that critics say robbed nearly 90,000 members of their voting rights. Young called the May 2023 tweaks “prayed through, biblically and legally sound,” but the Jeremiah Counsel Corporation is hitting back hard, alleging a shady, rushed process that broke church tradition and Texas nonprofit law. At stake: whether Second Baptist’s century-long member-led legacy was legally flipped to a staff-led setup.
Pastor Young’s Memorial Day Weekend Response
The Memorial Day weekend release of Pastor Ben Young’s email carries a certain irony, as it was over this same holiday two years prior that the sequence of actions began which would ultimately lead to a lawsuit. In his correspondence, Ben Young painted what the Jeremiah Counsel calls “a picture of order, unity, and legality” regarding the controversial May 2023 bylaw changes that fundamentally altered Second Baptist’s governance structure.
The significance of Pastor Young’s letter grew after it was leaked and obtained by the Houston Chronicle, which published details of the correspondence in a May 27 article by Eric Killelea. According to the Chronicle, Young’s May 24th message was sent to directors, teachers, and deacons and categorically denied the allegations of deception. In the email, Young stated, “Though the rumors, inaccuracies, and lies, are too many to answer, one simple way to respond is—‘the narrative being spread is not new and it is not true.’”
A Pivotal Statement on Church Governance
A key moment in Pastor Ben Young’s defense came when he described Second Baptist as “a staff-led church, beginning with our pastors.” Critics, including the Jeremiah Counsel, argue that this statement confirms their central concern—that the 2023 bylaw changes fundamentally shifted the church’s governance away from its nearly 100-year tradition of being member-led. In response, the Jeremiah Counsel wrote, “For nearly 100 years Second Baptist has been a MEMBER LED CHURCH, until the membership was unknowingly stripped of their voting rights at the May 31, 2023, meeting.”
Pastor Young further explained that “the congregational voting provisions were updated within the bylaws to enable Second to run with efficiency and effectiveness given the size and scope of the ministry.” The Jeremiah Counsel seized on this explanation, asserting, “FINALLY!!! It is about time that Pastor Ben Young admits that all ~90,000 members of Second Baptist Church were STRIPPED OF THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, via a rushed, concealed, and deceptive meeting in May of 2023!”
The Jeremiah Counsel contends that this rationale contradicts earlier suggestions that the bylaw changes were motivated by a need to combat a “woke agenda.” Instead, they argue, Pastor Young’s own words point to a consolidation of power by shifting Second Baptist from a member-led to a staff-led governance model.
The Trustee Authorization Claims
The Jeremiah Counsel disputes Pastor Young’s claim that trustees “unanimously authorized” the bylaw changes, alleging that trustees were not informed of the proposed bylaws until May 28, 2023—less than 48 hours before the vote—and that a request to postpone the meeting for proper review was rejected.
The Jeremiah Counsel’s argues that these statements are patently false claiming that: “Trustees will testify under oath to refute Pastor Ben Young.” The allegations, which have not yet been tested in court, include:
At the May 3, 2023 trustees meeting, they were not told of any proposed new bylaws
Trustees didn’t learn about the May 31st church meeting until May 21st - just ten days notice
They didn’t receive the proposed bylaws until Sunday, May 28, 2023 - less than 48 hours before the scheduled vote, over the Memorial Day weekend
The trustee allegedly involved in formulating the bylaws didn’t receive a single draft until May 24th and actually requested that the May 31st meeting be postponed for proper review - a request that was rejected
They claim the rushed timeline raises serious questions about the legitimacy of any trustee “authorization” and suggests a deliberate attempt to limit scrutiny of the proposed changes.
The “Formulator” Fabrication
Pastor Ben Young’s letter included a particularly troubling claim about one of the lawsuit organizers: “Ironically, one of the organizers of the group that brought this lawsuit was the same person who helped formulate the bylaws and present them to the church.”
The Jeremiah Counsel disputes this characterization, stating that the trustee in question “ did not receive a single draft of the proposed new bylaws until May 24th” and “did not help formulate the bylaws.” They allege he actually requested postponement for proper review, which was rejected.
The Jeremiah Counsel argues that Pastor Young’s claim about the trustee’s involvement is misleading, suggesting he either knowingly misrepresented the process or was misinformed, both of which raise concerns about his credibility.
The Deception at the Heart of May 31, 2023
The most serious allegations center on what the Jeremiah Counsel claims took place at the May 31, 2023 meeting, where members were said to have approved the new bylaws. According to the Counsel, the process was fundamentally deceptive, though these claims have not yet been adjudicated in court.
Critics argue that the lead-up to the bylaw changes was marked by a lack of transparency and disclosure. The proposed bylaws were not distributed in advance, and copies were not provided to the roughly 200 people who attended the meeting. Attendees were reportedly unaware that the changes they were voting on would remove their own voting rights. Additionally, the provision eliminating member voting was embedded within the “Marriage and Family” section of the bylaws, rather than being clearly highlighted or disclosed to the congregation.
Legal Violations and Due Process Failures
Beyond the ethical concerns, the Counsel alleges serious legal violations in how the bylaw changes were implemented. Under Texas NonProfit Corporation Law, they argue, removing fundamental member rights requires a charter amendment that must be properly disclosed to members in advance.
“The right of members to vote was an inherent right under the original church charter, exercised for nearly 95 years,” the Counsel states. “Under Texas Nonprofit Corporation Law, removing such a right requires a charter amendment. That amendment would need to be disclosed to members in advance of the vote by either providing the amendment itself or a clear summary. Neither were done.”
The Counsel characterizes the procedural failures as more than technical violations: “Members were misled, material facts were concealed, and procedural steps required by law were ignored. These are not minor oversights; they are foundational breaches of trust and due process.”
The Founding Pastor’s Regret
Perhaps the most significant piece of evidence cited by the Counsel comes from Dr. H. Edwin Young, the longtime pastor and father of current Senior Paster Ben Young.
The Jeremiah Counsel claims that Dr. H. Edwin Young, the church’s founding pastor, expressed regret over the bylaw changes, reportedly calling them ‘the biggest mistake of my life.’
The admission from the church’s founder adds weight to criticisms of the governance changes and suggests even family members recognize the problematic nature of what occurred in 2023.
The Accountability Blind Spot
The Jeremiah Counsel argues that Pastor Ben Young fails to see the long-term dangers of the governance structure he defends. “What is most concerning is how Pastor Young cannot see that this structure could be used inappropriately by anyone who becomes Senior Pastor after him,” they stated. “The leader’s role is to protect the church for generations!” This criticism strikes at the heart of the governance debate: whether concentrating power in pastoral leadership serves the church’s long-term interests or merely the current leader’s short-term convenience.
Pastor Young, in a leaked email reported by the Houston Chronicle, defended the church’s structure, asserting it includes robust oversight. “It would be impossible and a little insane to attempt to run this organization as a solo pilot,” he wrote, citing “six levels of accountability” involving campus pastors, the ministry leadership team, independent auditors, finance team, budget team, and personnel team. However, the Jeremiah Counsel contends that these mechanisms, controlled by staff rather than members, fail to replace the congregational oversight that defined Second Baptist for nearly a century.
The Challenge: Do the Right Thing
Rather than simply criticizing Pastor Young’s defense, the Jeremiah Counsel issued a direct challenge that they suggest could resolve the entire controversy. They called on Pastor Ben Young to “lead, as you have the power to resolve all issues with the stroke of a pen, if you are truly willing to do what is best for Second Baptist Church.”
They claim this proposed solution is straightforward: hold a proper vote on the bylaws with full transparency and due process. The Counsel outlined specific requirements that would ensure fairness:
Schedule a vote with sixty days notice to all members at a centralized location
Provide both electronic and physical copies to all members at least thirty days in advance
Require sign-in with independent verification of church membership
Allow both sides equal time to present their case to the membership
Conduct a written vote counted by an Independent third party agreeable to both sides
This process, they argue, would “allow this matter to be resolved within the church, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars of tithes that are being used to pay legal fees on behalf of Pastor Ben Young and the other defendants.”
The Financial and Spiritual Stakes
The Counsel emphasizes that the current legal battle is draining resources that should be devoted to ministry: “Proceeding in this way would enable the membership to have a voice in the governance of the church they love, restore trust in the church leadership, and avoid a long and unpleasant public court battle.”
They frame the challenge in terms that should resonate with any pastor confident in their position: “There is no reason that you, as the Senior Pastor, should not be willing to put the bylaws that you clearly support to a transparent and fair vote of the membership.”
The Contrasting Narratives
Pastor Ben Young’s Memorial Day letter and the Counsel’s response present starkly different accounts of the same events. While Pastor Young characterizes the bylaw process as proper and transparent, the Counsel disputes virtually every key claim he makes.
The pastor’s acknowledgement that Second Baptist is now “a staff-led church” stands in contrast to the Counsel’s assertion that the church operated under member-led governance for nearly 100 years. His claims about trustee involvment conflict with the Counsel’s timeline of events, though these factual dispures remain to be resolved through the legal process.
The fundamental disagreement appears to center on whether the May 2023 process provided adequate notice and transparency to church members - a question that may ultimately be decided by the courts rather than competing public statements.
The Path Forward
The Jeremiah Counsel Corporation has proposed a resolution they believe would restore trust and prevent a prolonged legal battle. The question is now whether Pastor Ben Young will accept their challenge or continue to defend the process that took place.
As the Counsel concluded their response: “If the membership votes to no longer be a member-led church, then everyone will know that is indeed their desire and the decision was made with full transparency.”
For now, the parties remain at an impasse. The Jeremiah Counsel Corporation has indicated their efforts will continue, closing their most recent email with a call to action for supporters:
Meanwhile, Pastor Young, in his leaked email reported by the Houston Chronicle, assured church leaders that Second Baptist “will vigorously defend itself against the claims made in the suit.” Whether this conflict will ultimately be settled through internal church governance or continue to play out in the courts remains to be seen.
The congregation, and the broader religious community, is watching.