Yet Another Memorial Day Deception: Senior Pastor Dr. Ben Young - 3rd Installment

Welcome to the next installment of Yet Another Memorial Day Deception: Senior Pastor Dr. Ben Young.

On the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend 2025, Pastor Ben Young sent a letter attempting to defend the events surrounding the May 2023 alleged bylaw changes, and resulting governance, at Second Baptist Church. He painted a picture of order, unity, and legality.

But, in his OWN WORDS, Pastor Ben Young acknowledges that accountability is important and then provides information that explains precisely why the governance structure designed by the alleged bylaws are dangerous and is not in the best interest of Second Baptist Church.

We now continue to explore the difference between the talking points and the facts. The items below are backed by timelines, firsthand accounts, and legal context.

Here are Pastor Ben Young’s direct statements, in red font, followed by our response.

Pastor Ben Young’s Statement: “Do I own the church? Could I sell it and pocket the money? Any illicit, self-interested financial dealings with church resources would be a violation of the bylaws, not to mention a violation of our leadership roles in the church.”

JCC Response: That all sounds good but is not accurate. Section 5.10 of the alleged bylaws states that self-dealing is NOT a violation of the bylaws. And, because the Senior Pastor has virtually unchecked powers with no true oversight by an independent board that is elected by the membership, he has the ability to do almost anything he wants. And just because an entity is non-profit does not mean that the person who controls it cannot generate enormous wealth from the generosity of its donors.

This will be covered in greater detail later, but the MLT controls what can and cannot be done, and the MLT is unquestionably controlled by… guess who? The Senior Pastor. Anyone who does not believe this, read the alleged bylaws, Section 5.02, which says the MLT shall be considered the governing body of the church. They shall have final authority for affairs pertaining to property. They shall have the power to buy, sell, mortgage, pledge or encumber any church property.

So, if Pastor Ben Young controls the MLT and the MLT can sell assets, then yes it can be done, and the proceeds can be used to pay exorbitant salaries, exceedingly large housing allowances, or for other lavish perks, all of which are increasingly commonplace in “staff-led churches.”

One example would include Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church, who has a very similar governance structure to what Pastor Ben Young is defending. Another example would be Pastor Ben Young’s brother, Dr. Ed Young, Jr., of Fellowship Church, who sold a Fellowship Campus in Miami, with no vote or approval by the membership of that church who financially supported the campus with their tithes. People have wondered how a pastor could have multiple multi-million dollar homes and a private jet. By the way, Fellowship Church has virtually the same bylaw structure that was thrust upon Second Baptist by the Young Group. MUCH MORE on that subject to follow….

Pastor Ben Young’s Statement: “Do I have unlimited powers?

Here are five additional levels of leadership and accountability, in addition to the staff, that help us serve:

• We have a Ministry Leadership Team that serves this church as a board of directors. The terms "Ministry Leadership Team" and "board of directors" are synonymous. This team consists of church members and other individuals who have expertise in financial, legal, and ecclesiastical matters.

JCC Response: As we explain later, in great detail, the Ministry Leadership Team (MLT) is appointed by Pastor Ben Young and they are all but one either family members or people paid by the church, and Pastor Young himself says they “do not run the church.”

• Pastor Ben Young’s Statement: We have a major independent accounting firm conduct an annual audit.

JCC Response: The bylaws that governed the church for ~20+ years stated that all members had the right to review the audit, but the alleged new bylaws have removed the rights of the membership to see the audit.

• Pastor Ben Young’s Statement: We have a finance team comprised of church members from all campuses.

JCC Response: All of whom can be removed by the Senior Pastor at any time for any reason and are not allowed to see the audit.

• Pastor Ben Young’s Statement: We have a budget team comprised of church members from all campuses.

JCC Response: All of whom can be removed by the Senior Pastor at any time for any reason and are not allowed to see the audit.

• Pastor Ben Young’s Statement: We have a personnel team (comprised of only church members) that helps with compensation and other church business.”

JCC Response: All of whom can be removed by the Senior Pastor at any time for any reason.

All levels of “leadership and accountability” have one thing in common; they are controlled by the Senior Pastor!

As irrefutably stated above, each of those levels of accountability serve at the pleasure of Pastor Young, so if they do not agree with him, they can be removed. And this is precisely what he has done since he took control of the church a year ago. Anyone who has questioned his absolute authority has been removed from their role. This includes former members of the MLT/Board, Deacon officers, finance committee members, Bible study directors, teachers, and others. Accountability does not exist when the person who is supposed to be held accountable can simply dismiss those who question their authority.

The shocking thing here is how Pastor Ben Young seems to forget that most people have heard the story of the proverbial, “fox guarding the hen house.” If someone is not watching the fox, what might happen….?

Is this what Dr. H. Edwin Young meant when he told multiple witnesses, “This was the biggest mistake of my life!”?

Pastor Ben Young – Do the Honorable Thing – Right the Wrong of 2023

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. The leader’s role is to protect the church, for generations!

Here within is the obvious solution that would remove this matter from the court system and allow the church to heal and be unified. Pastor Ben Young, we are calling on you 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.

Call a meeting of the church membership to vote on the alleged new bylaws that you believe should govern the church. If the membership votes to support the proposed new bylaws, everyone will know that it was the will of the church body, with full disclosure and no deception. These steps would provide a fair and transparent process:

• Schedule a vote on the proposed bylaws with 60 days’ notice to all members of Second Baptist, at a centralized location for efficiency

  
  

• Provide both electronic and physical copies to all members at least 30 days in advance so they can make an informed decision

  
  

• Require every person who attends the meeting to sign in and have an independent third party verify their church membership

  
  

• Let both sides of this issue present their case to the membership with equal time

  
  

• Then let the members cast a written vote which is counted by an independent third party that is agreeable to both sides

This 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. 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.

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. 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.

Stay tuned for the next installment, with a more detailed look at the facts.

Please send this to every Second Baptist member you know.