Todd Benkert leaves SBC abuse task force after conflict over pastor’s restoration

Published

2 years ago

February 20, 2023

admin

(RNS) — Todd Benkert, a Southern Baptist pastor who helped force reforms in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination’s sexual abuse policies, has stepped down from a task force he was appointed to last year to implement those reforms.

Benkert’s role on the committee became controversial this week due to a public dispute involving a Florida megachurch that restored SBC President Johnny Hunt to active ministry after he had been credibly accused of sexual assault.

RELATED: Southern Baptists passed abuse reforms last year. Now they have to make them stick.

Hunt was one of a number of SBC leaders named in a 2022 report from the investigative firm Guidepost Solutions hired by the denomination in 2021 to resolve long-running conflicts over sexual abuse. The report found those leaders had chronically mistreated survivors of abuse and spent decades trying to deny responsibility for abuse at individual SBC churches.

The report led delegates at the 2022 SBC’s annual meeting to set up a series of reforms designed to prevent abuse and care for abuse survivors and directed that SBC leaders appoint the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force.

In preparing its report, Guidepost investigated allegations that Hunt, a retired Georgia megachurch pastor, had assaulted another pastor’s wife in 2010, then spent years covering up his actions.

Hunt first denied the allegations and later claimed the incident had been consensual. After taking several months away from preaching, Hunt returned to the pulpit on Jan. 18 at Hiland Park Baptist Church in Panama City, Florida, where the Rev. Steven L. Kyle, a friend, is pastor.

During his January sermon, Hunt claimed “false allegations” had ruined his life.

Kyle and a group of other pastors announced late last fall that Hunt had been through a restoration process and was cleared to return to ministry. That decision was denounced by a number of Baptist leaders, including current SBC President Bart Barber.

After Hunt’s January sermon, Benkert filed a complaint against Hiland Park and another church where Hunt had been invited to speak and told a reporter from The Tennessean newspaper that he had done so. The denomination’s credentials committee, which determines which churches are in good standing, is weighing whether to recommend expelling those churches for not taking the issue of abuse seriously.

In response, leaders at Hiland Park wrote to the credentials committee this week claiming there was no proof Hunt had been abusive and objecting to Benkert’s actions, accusing him of acting as both an activist and a task force member. Hiland Park’s leaders said they will meet with a lawyer to discuss “all of our legal recourses.”

Benkert, pastor of Oak Creek Community Church in Mishawaka, Indiana, said he has been honored to serve on the task force and that he hoped to support their work in the future.

“However, in order to maintain my ability to speak and act according to my conscience on these issues without representing the task force, it is clear I can best support survivors and advance reform in my role as an advocate rather than a task force member,” he said in a statement.

Relatively unknown until he took a key role in the SBC abuse reform movement two years ago, Benkert was one of several pastors who called for an investigation into the SBC’s treatment of abuse survivors at the denomination’s 2021 annual meeting in Nashville. SBC leaders initially moved to refer the matter to a committee, which would have effectively derailed any independent investigation.

But Benkert went to a floor microphone at the convention to challenge that decision, sending the matter to a vote by delegates at the meeting, known as messengers, that overruled the leaders. They eventually approved an independent investigation.

RELATED: Johnny Hunt, disgraced former SBC pastor, makes defiant return to the pulpit

In an announcement that Benkert had resigned, the task force’s chairman, South Carolina pastor Marshall Blalock, said, “Todd has a clear concern for survivors and a passion to see needed changes implemented concerning abuse. We are grateful for Todd’s work and ongoing advocacy in support of abuse reform in the Southern Baptist Convention.” Share Tweet Share

Environment

Tesla sales are down in every single European country except the UK, here’s why

Published

10 mins ago

April 9, 2025

admin

Tesla sales are down in every single European country except the UK, here's why

Tesla sales were down in every European country except for the UK in the first quarter, and there’s a reason why.

That’s while electric vehicle sales are still booming in Europe.

Tesla’s sales declined for the first time in Europe last year, but the decline accelerated in 2025.

Over the last three months, we have been reporting on worrying sales results for Tesla across most European markets, especially in important markets like France and Germany.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Now, we have the delivery numbers for Tesla in all European countries, and the automaker is down 37% on the old continent compared to 2024, which was already a down year for Tesla.

On top of it, Tesla is down in every single country except the UK.

Here are Tesla’s Q1 2025 deliveries in each European country compared to Q1 2024:

Country	Q1 2024	Q1 2025	Change
Germany	13,068	4,935	-62.2%
UK	11,768	12,474	6.0%
France	11,360	6,696	-41.1%
Belgium	7,219	3,019	-58.2%
Netherlands	6,854	3,445	-49.7%
Norway	5,121	3,817	-25.5%
Other	4,420	3,301	-25.3%
Sweden	4,312	1,929	-55.3%
Italy	3,721	3,469	-6.8%
Spain	3,601	3,169	-12.0%
Denmark	3,558	1,549	-56.5%
Switzerland	3,264	1,238	-62.1%
Portugal	2,888	2,145	-25.7%
Austria	2,506	1,304	-48.0%
Poland	1,264	899	-28.9%
Finland	894	475	-46.9%

The drop in sales in Germany was the most devastating for Tesla. It went from being Tesla’s biggest European market to being a distant third.

France also saw a significant 41% decline in sales.

This is also happening while electric vehicle sales are surging, regardless of Tesla’s performance.

Tesla is feeling the pain virtually everywhere in Europe except in the UK, but that’s because Tesla is selling its vehicles for much cheaper there.

In the UK, the Model Y PCP leasing starts at £399, which is the equivalent of €462, when the same vehicle starts €570 in Germany:

Interestingly, that’s not the case for the Model 3, which starts higher in the UK than in Germany.

Electrek’s Take

The reason for that is unclear to me. I’d love to hear theories in the comment section.

Could it be that Tesla planned to produce too many right-hand-drive vehicles and had to lower prices to ensure that it could deliver them?

It’s unclear, but I think the theory has some traction since I just learned that Tesla is also already discounting the new Model Y in Hong Kong – another right-hand-drive market.

Either way, I think it’s clear at this point that Tesla is having significant brand issues in Europe, in addition to increased competition.

Yes, Model Y had some supply issues due to the design changeover, but Model 3 sales are also down 11% compared to Q1 2024, when Tesla was still ramping up production of the Model 3 design refresh.

Tesla shareholders need to wake up. This is a self-inflicted wound that can be remedied by removing Elon Musk.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Environment

Kia’s first electric sedan is almost here, but plenty more EVs are on the way

Published

35 mins ago

April 9, 2025

admin

Kia's first electric sedan is almost here, but plenty more EVs are on the way

That Kia EV sedan we’ve been waiting for is almost here. Kia also confirmed it will launch a midsize pickup in North America. Next week, three new Kia vehicles, including the EV4, its first electric sedan, will debut at the New York International Auto Show. Here’s what to expect.

Kia’s first electric sedan will debut at the NY Auto Show

Back in 2023, the EV4 stole the show as a concept during Kia’s first EV Day. Earlier this year, Kia unveiled the production model, debuting as the brand’s first electric sedan and hatchback.

The electric sedan is among the most highly anticipated EV launches of 2025. Kia’s EV4 will arrive this year as part of its low-cost EV lineup, and it could be a true challenger to the Tesla Model 3.

After opening orders in Korea last month, Kia said the EV4 will “set a new standard for electric sedans,” starting at just 41.92 million won, or about $28,000. It has two battery options, 58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh, providing a range of 237 miles (382 km) and 331 miles (533 km) in Korea.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

With its North American debut now officially set for next week, Kia teased the new EV, claiming it will be one of three new vehicles.

The new vehicles include a sedan, an SUV, and “something in between.” Two will be fully electric, while the other offers a “sporty and versatile approach in the compact car segment.”

More EVs are on the way, including an electric pickup

During its CEO Investor Day on Wednesday, Kia confirmed plans to launch a new midsize EV pickup for North America. In the long-term, the company aims to eventually sell 90,000 units for about 7% of the market share.

Kia’s electric pickup will be based on a new EV platform built for city and outdoor use. According to Kia, it will offer “best-in-class interior and cargo space, a robust towing system, off-road capabilities, and advanced infotainment and safety features.”

Kia-EV-pickup-US — Kia Tasman pickup truck (Source: Kia)

Following the EV6 and EV9, Kia is expanding its electric car lineup with the new EV3, EV4, and EV5, which will roll out this year. Kia is also launching its first electric van, the PV5, to kick off its new PBV business.

By 2030, the company plans to sell 2.33 million electrified vehicles, accounting for 56% of global sales. This includes 1.26 million EVs and 1.07 million hybrids.

As it expands its lineup, Kia expects electrified models to account for 70% of sales in North America, 85% in Europe, and 73% in Korea by the end of the decade.

Kia boasted that it will “lead the mass adoption of EVs by expanding its EV lineup with the addition of another volume model, the EV2,” which is expected to launch in early 2026.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Environment

U.S. crude oil falls 3%, trades below $58 per barrel as China imposes retaliatory tariffs

Published

54 mins ago

April 9, 2025

admin

U.S. crude oil falls 3%, trades below per barrel as China imposes retaliatory tariffs

An oil pumpjack is seen in a field on April 08, 2025 in Nolan, Texas.

Brandon Bell | Getty Images

U.S. crude oil futures fell about 3% on Wednesday, as China announced retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. after President Donald Trump’s sweeping levies took effect.

The U.S. benchmark dropped $1.83, or 3.07%, to $57.75 per barrel by 9:41 a.m. ET. Global benchmark Brent tumbled $1.93, or 3.07%, to $60.89.

The oil sell-off took a leg lower earlier in the session after Beijing announced tariffs of 84% on U.S. goods in response to Trump’s levies. U.S. crude fell more than 7% to an intraday low of $55.12, while Brent tumbled to $58.40 at its lowest point during the session.

China’s tariffs take effect on April 10.

Traders are worried the world is descending into a full-blown trade war that will trigger a recession, hitting crude oil demand. OPEC+, meanwhile, has agreed to accelerate output in May, which will bring more oil to a market that was already facing a surplus.

The collision of recession fears and growing oil supply is a “toxic cocktail,” Helima Croft, global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, told CNBC on Tuesday.

The U.S. and Iran are scheduled to hold talks in Oman on Saturday to discuss the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. Successful negotiations could result in more Iranian oil entering the global market.