Fruit Cove Baptist Church Statement

On Pastor Heath Woolman

As many of you know, several years ago Southwestern Seminary was being investigated related to its handling of reported abuse. This was during a time when our pastor, Dr. Heath Woolman, was serving as chief-of-staff to the seminary’s President. Although no one on staff at the Seminary was ever accused of abuse, many people were interviewed, and one of Pastor Heath’s colleagues was eventually indicted due to statements he had made to federal agents.

Although Pastor Heath was anonymously referred to in the indictment, he was never named as a defendant in that prosecution. Nevertheless, during the course of the past year both the Department of Justice and the President of the seminary made, implied or affirmed false representations about Pastor Heath. Our pastor knew these representations to be false. Once we heard the facts, we also knew they were false.

Over the past year, both our church family and the public at large have learned more about the situation at the seminary and the accusations against Pastor Heath. Many encouraged the pastor to speak out in his own defense to set the record straight. While he certainly could have done so, Pastor Heath felt that the most God-honoring thing to do was to remain silent and let God handle the situation. Though it took over a year, that is exactly what has happened. The truth has prevailed.

The Deacon body and Executive Leadership Team at Fruit Cove Baptist Church never wavered in their unanimous support of Pastor Heath. While we are not at all surprised by this outcome, we are pleased that throughout this ordeal, Pastor Heath has been confirmed to be the man of integrity we always knew him to be. We are thankful for the efforts of Dr. Matt Queen and others who worked to ensure that truth prevailed.

We serve a God who sees through all darkness and attempts to obscure. God knows, loves and protects His own. Let us rejoice in Him, and rest in the assurance that He remains the ultimate Judge who judges rightly.

— The Deacons and Executive Leadership Team of Fruit Cove Baptist Church