Prominent Evangelical Leader Ousted for Online Slander Campaign

Dr. Josh Buice, a well-known Christian preacher, author, and the founder of one of the largest evangelical conferences in the United States, has been removed from his leadership position at Pray’s Mill Baptist Church (PMBC) in Douglasville, Georgia, following allegations that he used fake social media accounts to slander other ministers and Christian leaders online. The scandal has also led to his resignation as president of G3 Ministries, a non-profit organization he founded in 2010 and headquartered in Metro Atlanta.

The announcement of Buice’s indefinite leave from PMBC and his departure from G3 Ministries was made on May 12, sending shockwaves through the evangelical community. G3 Ministries, in an official online statement, revealed that Buice had admitted to operating under multiple anonymous identities online – at least four social media accounts, two anonymous email addresses, and two Substack platforms – over a period of three years. The purpose of these accounts, according to the statement, was to defame and publicly slander other ministers and Christian figures.

The elders of PMBC reportedly uncovered irrefutable evidence of Buice’s actions. The victims of this online slander campaign included not only faithful pastors, some of whom had previously spoken at G3 conferences, but also several elders within PMBC itself. The G3 Ministries board condemned Buice’s actions as "sinful in nature" and "deeply divisive," stating that they had caused "unnecessary suspicion and strife within the body of Christ," and particularly within the eldership of PMBC.

The statement from G3 Ministries did not delve into the specific content of the slanderous posts and emails. It remains unclear exactly what allegations or accusations Buice made against his targets through the anonymous accounts. USA TODAY has reached out to Buice for comment but has yet to receive a response.

Buice, known as a reformed Baptist and an outspoken critic of Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leaders on issues related to race and social justice, initially denied creating the anonymous accounts when confronted by the board, the G3 statement said. However, in a subsequent updated statement released on May 13, G3 leaders reported that Buice had confessed to the "public and egregious sin."

The board of G3 Ministries expressed deep disappointment and concern, stating, "We believe Josh Buice has stained the mission and character of G3 Ministries." As a result, the organization has made the decision to remove all of Buice’s content from every platform associated with G3 Ministries.

"From our founding, G3’s purpose has been to educate, encourage, and equip local churches with sound biblical theology. With sadness, yet in light of these recent events, we do not believe Josh’s content will help fulfill that purpose any longer," the statement read.

As of May 14, G3 Ministries’ X account still listed Buice as the ministry’s founder, but the link to his social media page led to a message stating that the account no longer existed. G3 Ministries has declined to provide further comment to USA TODAY beyond the initial statement.

Buice’s rise to prominence in the evangelical world began after he pastored churches in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was hired as the head preacher of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church in June 2010. According to his online biography, Buice, who is 41 years old, became a Christian at the age of 25. He and his wife attended seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and they have four children.

Buice is also known as a Calvinist pastor who withdrew from the Southern Baptist Convention after claiming it had become "too woke and liberal," as reported by Religion News Service. He authored and edited a book titled "The New Calvinism: New Reformation or Theological Fad?" USA TODAY has also contacted PMBC for comment on the situation.

The G3 in G3 Ministries stands for "gospel, grace, and glory." The non-profit organization’s mission is to assist local churches by investing in pastors and providing them with sound biblical theology, ultimately for the glory of God. The first G3 Conference was held in Douglasville, Georgia, on the campus of Pray’s Mill Baptist Church in 2013. The annual event experienced rapid growth, expanding from 750 attendees in 2013 to 6,500 in 2021, making it one of the largest evangelical conferences in the nation.

The G3 Conference bills itself as a theology conference focused on God’s Word rather than the pragmatism and techniques often emphasized in other evangelical conferences.

According to G3 board leaders, Buice’s actions have forced the board to cancel this year’s conference, which had been scheduled to take place in September. The cancellation was prompted by the fact that several of the scheduled speakers had been "sinfully targeted by him through anonymous accounts."

The board has promised full refunds to those who had registered for the event. "We did not want to put these brothers in the difficult position of deciding whether to participate in an event so closely tied to someone who had maligned them," the board wrote in its updated May 13 statement. "We understand this is disappointing to many who have faithfully supported the conference over the years, but we believe this was the necessary and right course of action in light of such grievous sin."

The G3 Ministries board acknowledged the sensitivity and complexity of the situation and requested patience as they seek to be transparent and biblical in their response, ensuring that both the "sinner and victims" are treated in a godly manner.

"These are difficult matters and may take some time to fully unfold. Please be patient as we seek to be transparent and biblical and treat the sinner and victims in a godly manner. Please continue to pray for the church, the elders, the victims, Josh, and his family as they walk through this difficult process," the statement concluded.

The scandal surrounding Josh Buice has raised significant questions about accountability, integrity, and the use of social media within the evangelical community. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact G3 Ministries, Pray’s Mill Baptist Church, and the broader evangelical landscape.