Four days after their senior pastor pleaded guilty to lie to federal investigators, members of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, heard a sermon on Sunday on the biblical qualifications of pastors.
Matthew Queen, who has been on administrative leave from the North Carolina Church since May, pleaded guilty last Wednesday, October 16, to one count of making false statements to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI in June 2023. The charges relate to the alleged covering up claims of sexual abuse against a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where Queen was then a professor of evangelism for the interim president.
The Queen has not resigned as Greensboro’s pastor, and church leaders are reportedly wondering how to deal with the strange situation. Church bylaws require a 75% affirmative vote to remove a pastor who does not resign himself. He only became the church’s pastor in February, three months before he was fired.
Church bylaws require a 75% affirmative vote to remove a pastor who does not resign himself.
Sunday morning interim minister Chuck Register he preached a sermon based on 1 Timothy, which outlined the biblical qualifications for a pastor.
Chuck’s Registry
“Events took place last Wednesday in a federal courtroom in New York that brought us all to this place of worship with the same question on our minds,” Register said. “The question is this: How do we approach the issue of pastoral leadership at Friendly Avenue Baptist Church? …Ladies and gentlemen, my duty before Almighty God on Sunday mornings as I stand before you is simply to teach the word of God, so that in teaching the word of God and helping you understand the word of God, the Spirit of God may receive the word of God and can instruct, shape and guide God’s family. So this morning, being true to this responsibility to the Father, I want us to go through the biblical qualifications of a pastor and discuss those biblical qualifications. This is my prayer and I have been praying since Wednesday morning that the Spirit of God will receive the word of God and instruct you, shape you and guide you as God’s family in the days ahead.”
At the end of the service, church member Darin Humbard made a report on behalf of the deacons, who had earlier established a special commission on the Queen’s leadership.
Darin Humbard
That commission was scheduled to report on its findings on Nov. 2, but last week’s guilty plea appears to have changed the dynamic.
So Humbard read the statement aloud from the church, which was sent to church members following the Queen’s guilty plea on Wednesday. This statement says:
Dr. Matthew Queen appeared in court today and pleaded guilty to a serious crime by pleading guilty to a felony count of making false statements to the government. Sentencing is scheduled for February 2025. While this date is subject to change, we firmly oppose any conduct that undermines trust and integrity.
Dr. Queen remains on administrative leave and will not attend services while our leadership evaluates his status with Friendly Avenue Baptist Church. We are committed to transparency throughout the process and will provide further updates once our internal review is complete. We realize this news may be difficult to process and encourage you to seek support from our pastoral staff and each other. Please pray for our church leaders and our friendly family as we experience this season and pray for the Queen family.
That same day, church leaders delivered public press release that says:
Friendly Avenue Baptist Church leaders announced the ongoing lawsuit and Dr. Matthew Queen’s agreement to the settlement. Dr. Queen pleaded guilty to a serious crime, pleading guilty to a felony count of making false statements to the government. Dr. Queen’s sentencing is scheduled for February 2025.
We firmly oppose any behavior that undermines trust and integrity. Our church leaders are reviewing these recent events as they work to complete the investigation and make recommendations to church members regarding Dr. Queen’s status and relationship with Friendly Avenue Baptist Church, all in accordance with the church’s governing documents.
Our main concern remains the spiritual well-being and support of our congregation. We are committed to maintaining a safe and caring environment for all members and participants. We ask for prayers and understanding during this difficult period.
Related articles:
Matt Queen, we barely knew you | Review by Benjamin Cole
Matt Queen pleads guilty to making false statements to the FBI
Former seminary administrator pleads not guilty and is placed on leave by his NC church
Former Southwestern administrator charged with falsifying sex abuse records
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