I just received an email questioning whether “all Southern Gospel bloggers” are “afraid to touch the topic” of Brandon Barry’s departure from the LeFevre Quartet in light of the controversy at Doug Harrison’s blog.
This came completely out of the blue to me. I had no idea Barry was gone or that there was a controversy surrounding his departure. With some of Harrison’s blog posts generating hundred of comments including some that run several hundred words, I don’t take the time to read all of them. My neglect in mentioning this story (and I suspect other bloggers would agree) is at least partly due to the fact that I didn’t know anything about it.
I use the word “partly,” because I don’t generally report every time a group changes members anyway. Did I write about Glenn Dustin leaving Legacy Five, for example? No, because reports of group members coming and going are typically reported ad nauseum on other blogs.
It certainly has nothing to do with being “afraid to touch the topic,” and I’m writing this still in the dark about what the controversy might be. I’m sure someone will let me know.
The email I received didn’t indicate what the controversy might be, but did say Mike LeFevre had been contacted to verify that Barry is out and the LeFevre Quartet is seeking a replacement. I checked the Bios section at the LeFevre Quartet website. There’s no longer a bio for Barry, so that supports the report that he is out, even though they haven’t issued a statement that I can find regarding their search for another bass singer.
I can’t speak for the other bloggers, but I can say that, since no press release was put out, I was going to wait until a replacement was named to say anything. Anybody who’s followed the Avery thread will know that he’s gone anyway, since I think there was mention of it there.
I for one stopped reading that blog a long time ago. I will not support it in any way, nor do I enjoy the negativity and controversy that it produces.
Weird…sounds like someone out there needs to spend more time praying and less time “whistle-blowing”.
True… but sometimes, the whistle needs blowing. We do have laws to protect “whistle blowers” in some cases. Although, those laws probably don’t apply here.
Jesus gave a mechanism for dealing with a brother in fault, and contacting the “media” wasn’t anywhere in it..
Brian, you are right, of course, but are we sure the issue wasn’t confronted in a Christian manner? From my admittedly limited understanding, it was… at least initially, as this has been an ongoing thing.
And again, you are right that contacting “media” isn’t anywhere on the list. However, I’m just looking at this from the viewpoint that I can finally consider attending a Lefevre Quartet concert and regaining some respect for some people, even though it shouldn’t have taken the “media” getting involved to make them act.
Well, sounds like you know more about it than I do. This is the problem: when the conversation is just whispers and innuendo, nothing good can come of it. We’re just talking in vague circles. That’s why Jesus gave us such a forthright process, so issues could be confronted clearly and effectively.
Would you consider the apostle Paul to be a gossip in violation of the forthright process established by Jesus? Paul wrote of a number of conflicts with individuals. In addition to the clear process of confronting a brother (clear, at least, for dealing with one-on-one conflicts), there are also scriptures warning us about false prophets. In practice, most people choose to neither confront the offender privately nor to warn others about them.
The Wade Weaver story is a great example. If no one reports that story, there’s nothing to stop him from going to another town and doing something similar…yet no one else did. What should have been a widespread warning to all would-be advertisers was sadly confined to this one blog and a few newspaper/TV stories in the secular press. It’s a shame we expect the secular press to do our dirty work for us.
But you’re entirely correct that in one-on-one issues, there should be a small circle starting with the two parties initially and only broadening when that person is unrepentant. I can give you an example of that. Over the years, there have been a few instances where some individual in the SG industry offended me on a personal level by something they said or did. Some I handled well and some I didn’t.
There was one where I did the right thing. At NQC several years ago, a singer chewed me out over what he perceived to be a bad review, when the review was actually quite complimentary. It would have been easy to rush to the blog and tell the world he was a jerk, but I never mentioned him. I dealt with that privately. He eventually acknowledged that I hadn’t intended for the review to be taken in a negative light. I can’t remember if he specifically apologized in so many words, but he at least understood where I was coming from. I wouldn’t hesitate to go hear him sing now despite that relatively unpleasant conversation. Other situations where I did the right thing weren’t resolved so well, but at least I made the effort. And, as I mentioned, there were some mistakes I made when I was younger and not quite as conciliatory that didn’t work out so well.
Yes, sins that are public and widely known should be confronted in public. Paul said “it is reported commonly among you” about the fornication going on in the church. It might as well have been on the news, if they had such a thing back then. I haven’t seen any indication that whatever is that is going on with whoever it is here is a public matter.
You should be commended for the way you handled the matter you mentioned. You said that there have been times when you haven’t handled it as well. I’ll submit that most of us usually do a poor job of handling stuff like that, so you’re not alone.
I am with Brad… Have not visited the site in months and don’t plan to.
JEB
Brian is right on!
Time is well spent when focusing on Him instead of others.
So what’s the controversy? Are you afraid to touch it?
In DBM’s article, the first line of the last paragraph, the blogger stated ….,”The email I received didn’t indicate what the controversy might be,”
Like I stated elsewhere, any more, contact God, maybe your local pastor or trusted prayer warrior. Certainly, not here.
I won’t report anything on this particular story based on the little bit of information that I’ve seen at this point, but I’m not afraid to report matters of record.
Google Musicscribe.com and “Wade Weaver” or “Joseph Smith” for examples of articles I have published in the past that almost all of the other SG bloggers and news organizations chose not to cover.
Those were also stories that few of us knew about! In fact, your blog was the first and only place I ever saw report either of those, from what I remember.
Aaron,
True, but there was nothing stopping you or any other SG blogger or news outlet from covering those stories once I broke them. In contrast, if there’s a relatively “safe” story that one blogger breaks, that same story will appear on several more blogs within hours.
I could see both sides on whether those stories “should” done or not, and I will leave that up to each person’s conscience, but I do have to say that you were very fair on how you did those as I recall. On the Smith thing, it had broken, but you were sensitive in letting his ex explain how it happened and I believe you were rooting for him.
On the Weaver one, if I recall the deal with him, you were warning people.
The greatest media there is is the Holy Bible. However, Trying to remove a mote from someones eye when you have a beam in yours has spiritual ramifications and gossip is a sin. On the other side of the coin, we are advised not to associate with sin. Where this falls I’m not sure, because I don’t know any facts.
Wow! First let me say THANK YOU to those who are being Christ like in their comments concerning this issue. Also I will tell you that Brandon RESIGNED from The LeFevre Quartet, he was not fired as some would have you believe. That can be easily confirmed. Brandon is moving on with his life and would appreciate it if everyone else would too including those in SG that would like nothing more that to continue to spread vicious lies and stand on stage and sing about God’s grace and mercy and then get off stage and run his name in the ground and continue to spread lies just to ruin him. Vengence is mine saith the Lord. As for what everyone has heard….there are always two sides to every story but for some reason folks just want to hear and believe the worst not caring about the truth or who it is hurting when they repeat it. I know I am just his mom and some of you will think I am sticking up for him but I am very aware of what is true and what is not. He made some mistakes and has answered for those but there are just some things that are being said that are totally untrue. We have investigated them and have proof in emails and PI investigations that they are vicious lies made up by….well lets just say some SG singers are just as big of sinners as another. Sin is sin and we need to be careful cuz we all have skeletons in our closets that could easily fall out while we are digging in others closets. I for one am very disillusioned in our fellow Christians in the SG industry as is our entire family. As for Avery and what was said on there…SOMEONE found the perfect lowlife in WC to tell their lies to so he could run with it. No, I am not defending the things my son has admitted to in his past, dealth wit and supposedly been forgiven for. I am defending him in the fact that he is being lied about and pursecuted now by a very mean spirited and insecure [redacted] who will someday have to answer to God for this. Please just leave Brandon and our family alone. You all ruined a wonderful talent.
I do want to add that I am in no way referring to the LeFevre Quartet in recent comments or any of it’s members. They are great guys and we continue to support them and pray for their ministry.