Attendance at Immanuel Baptist Church is down sharply and concerns about the congregation's future are widespread as the church remains divided over the leadership of Lead Pastor Steven Smith, multiple deacons said in recent interviews with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and at a Feb. 4 board of deacons meeting.
"We have lost about 200 members that I could count up," Deacon Allen Smith, who is not related to the pastor, told colleagues during the meeting.
The meeting was closed to the public and news media, but a recording of it was provided to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
"We've got to stop that part or this church will be half of what it is," the deacon added at the meeting.
After hours of debate, the deacons voted to temporarily table a resolution of no confidence put forth by deacons unhappy with the pastor's handling of child sexual abuse allegations.
