Unmasked blogger blames First Baptist, Sheriff's Office

[BridgeTroll]

On Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at the FBC Jax regularly scheduled business meeting, Judge A.C. Soud, President of the FBC Jax Board of Trustees brought a motion to the church that included charges against the accused blogger, and also a statement of the church's intent to "confront aggressively" what would be deemed "...unjust criticism and ridicule of the ministry, staff, leadership, pastor, and people expressed to the general public at large in any form and by any means by any member of the church...". The motion was overwhelmingly approved by asking those in attendance to show their approval by standing to their feet.

Who is Judge A.C. Soud?  This is beginning to sound even more ominous...

[stephendare]

He is the powerful husband of former council president Ginger Soud.  His two boys are both attorneys as well.

[BridgeTroll]

Well now we know how they were so easily able to get a subpoena for Googles records... OMG... are these people more powerful than GOOGLE???

All may be lost...

[Deuce]

These tactics are no different from what the Church of Scientology does.

[stephendare]

Ha!  The more I am finding out about the background of this story, the madder its making me.

I have gotten three accounts that I was one of the list of original suspects in the hunt for the blog author....

Hmph!  I wish!  The blog author has a brilliant news story that looks like its going to go national.

[stephendare]

Well, I just got done reading the entire blog.

What a clusterduck.

Fascinating reading.

[stjr]

Ha!  The more I am finding out about the background of this story, the madder its making me.

I have gotten three accounts that I was one of the list of original suspects in the hunt for the blog author....

Hmph!  I wish!  The blog author has a brilliant news story that looks like its going to go national.

National?  UPI sent it out over its wires today:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 9 (UPI) -- A Florida man whose blog criticizes his church and minister wants to know how a police detective who also provided church security was able to unmask him.

Thomas Rich told the Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union that he has lodged a complaint with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office about the behavior of Robert Hinson.

Rich and his wife have been warned that they could be charged with trespassing if they enter the First Baptist Church. Mac Brunson, the pastor, barred the couple even though he acknowledged that Rich's blog made no threats.

Hinson obtained a search warrant in September for the blog fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com, forcing Google to give him Rich's identity.

While Hinson found no evidence of a crime in a two-month investigation, he turned over his findings to the church. Rich said he only learned of the investigation when he heard from the church.

Undersheriff Frank Mackesy said that Hinson, an intelligence officer, has responsibilities that include investigating threats against religious institutions. He said that Hinson's own relationship with First Baptist was not a conflict of interest.

[stjr]

These are some names mentioned in the "Next Mayor" thread.  How many are connected to FBC?

Jim Bailey, Jacksonville Native and Longtime businessman.  Owner of the Daily Record and a longtime booster of the downtown area.  Committed to historic preservation and a very civil kind of guy.  In many committee meetings with Jim, Ive always found him to be pleasant, positive and rock steady.

Dan Davis, City Council President, Northeast Florida Builder's Association.  Sincere, dynamic, goodlooking.  The few times Ive met with him, ive found him to be intelligent, quick to learn and recognizeably southern.

Ronnie Fussel.  City Council President. Smart and resourceful.  Been around a good long while and has a pretty keen insight into all the bullshit that keeps stuff from happening.

Mike Hogan.  City Council President, Tax Collector and I think another elected office.  Rock solid Baptist.  Very very nice man.  Clearcut conservative somewhere to the right of Milton Friedman.

Glorious Johnson.  A bit of a wild card, very colorful and fun.  Incredibly openminded and unpredictable.  City Councilmember, former republican now a Democrat.

Audrey Moran.  One of the more interesting, committed and intelligent citizens of the city.  Former cheif of Staff for Delaney, Head of the Children's Commission and was transition director for Sulzbacher.  Also part of a pretty powerful judicial family, she herself is a JD.  I have never sat down with Audrey that I didn't leave thinking that I was lucky to have taken some of her time, and I have never met anyone who didnt feel the same way about her. Very open minded, very positive and clearcut about goal achievement.

Jerry Holland.  Rock Solid Baptist.   Pretty nice guy with bigger ambitions.  Little League Coach and President of the City Council.  Supervisor of Elections.

Jim Overton, Duval County Property Appraiser.

[stephendare]

Jerry Holland

[lindab]

Does anyone know if WJXT covered this story?  Can't find it on their website and wondering why not.

[stephendare]

It was on channel 12 alot

[lindab]

Right. The two first coast news stations have mentioned it and it is on their web. Nothing from WJXT, Ch. 4 at this point.

[BridgeTroll]

This is perfect for FARK...

[thekillingwax]

This is so great. I'm sorry for Rich, it's got to be a pain but for his troubles, he'll get front row seats for watching FBC go down in flames. Okay, probably not but I'm hoping it at least goes sorta like how I'm imagining it in my head. I worked there for a few years and while there are some genuinely nice people there, the people calling the shots are rotten to the core. I thought things might've been different with Brunson- he came in with a mighty administrative shakeup and got rid of Pigg, the former administrator who was a two faced bastard but nothing ever changes, I suppose.

As America is slowly growing more progressive and less tolerant of this kind of BS, I'm hoping this completely blows up in FBC's face. For every evil blogger they out, 20 more will take his place.

Also, anyone know if they went ahead with that class/group for "sexually dysfunctional adults"? I remember reading about it a while back. I guess it was FBC's way to fix those dirty gays and those of us who watch r-rated movies.

[blizz01]

Evergreen Terrace (Jacksonville's hardcore specialists) had a track on their Wolfbiker album titled - "To The First Baptist Church of Jacksonville" - probably not my style, but fitting parting shot by those guys..........