Second Baptist Houston lawsuit proceeds to trial after mediation fails

A lawsuit against leaders of Second Baptist Church of Houston is set for a jury trial on July 27, following the failure of mediation efforts. The court records indicate the trial will take place in the Business Court of Texas, 11th Division. No further details about the mediation process have been disclosed, as the mediator’s letter to the court only notes that the attempt was unsuccessful.

The lawsuit was initiated by a group of church members who formed a nonprofit organization called Jeremiah Counsel. The group aims to promote, protect, and restore integrity, accountable governance, and donor protection for churches in Texas, with a specific focus on Second Baptist Church.

Jeremiah Counsel filed the lawsuit against Pastor Ben Young, former Pastor Ed Young, Associate Pastor Lee Maxcy, and Dennis Brewer, who previously served as chief financial officer of Fellowship Church in North Texas. The plaintiffs have labeled these individuals as “The Young Group.”

The charges allege that the defendants conspired to steal church assets and prevent the congregation from selecting its own pastor. The plaintiffs accuse Ed Young of implementing a series of changes starting in 2023 to ensure his son, Ben Young, would become the senior pastor of Second Baptist, which has a congregation of 94,000 members.

These changes are said to have bypassed the democratic processes that had been in place under the church’s bylaws for 95 years. The plaintiffs argue that this action was not solely about family succession but also about consolidating power and control over the church’s governance and assets.

The case raises important questions about accountability, transparency, and the protection of congregational rights within religious institutions. As the trial approaches, the outcome could have significant implications for church governance and the legal standing of religious organizations in matters of internal leadership and financial stewardship.

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