The president of the Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday defended his decision to attend a meeting of ministers with President Donald Trump — but said he didn’t sign a Bible that praised his “greatness.”
J.D. Greear posted a statement on Twitter explaining his rationale, and declared “I'm just as committed as ever to decoupling the church from partisan politics, and my desire for the SBC remains what it always has been - promoting a culture in which the gospel is above all.”
“Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zones for the sake of the gospel,” he added.
But the North Carolina megachurch pastor said he wasn’t one of the more than 100 ministers who signed a Bible for Trump, with the inscription, "History will record the greatness that you have brought for generations,” AL.com reported.
“I did not sign the Bible - I was not asked and was not aware it was being given,” he said in his statement.
TV Evangelist Paula White read the inscription and said, "We pray this prayer. If you all agree with that, say 'Amen,'" according to a transcript of the event, AL.com reported.
White, senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Fla., serves as chair of the Evangelical Advisory Board for Trump.
Greear was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June and will be presiding at the next annual convention in Birmingham in June 2019, AL.com reported.
There are about 16 million Southern Baptists nationwide, the news outlet reported.
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