Anti-Trump pastor forced out by church for frequently promoting social justice: report

20 May 2025

Dr Ben Boswell on Nov 10, 2024 (screengrab, YouTube)

Dr. Ben Boswell was forced to resign as a senior pastor of Myers Park Baptist Church in November last year when he strongly criticized President Donald Trump, just days after his victory in the 2024 presidential election.

During a sermon, Boswell called Trump "an extremist who led an insurrection at the Capitol where people were murdered" and said Trump's election was "a misguided choice."

He called on the members of his Charlotte, North Carolina, church not to give up after Trump’s election.

Two weeks after that sermon, he was forced out of his liberal church.

Religion News Service reported Tuesday that it had obtained a recording of the meeting where the decision to seek Boswell's resignation was made. According to the recording, Chairwoman Marcy McClanahan said that people had been complaining about Boswell frequently mentioning social justice issues in his sermons.

“A lot of these people left the church … in the last few years. If any of you talked to them, you heard the same thing over and over again — I’m tired of being indicted because I’m white. I’m tired of being banged over the head every week about immigrants and LGBTQ, and I just want to come to church and be encouraged. … I think what we need is 80% comfort and 20% social justice," McClanahan reportedly said during the meeting.

She also pointed out that attendance at Myers Park had declined from a peak of 350 to just 150 since Boswell's arrival. According to the recording, she mentioned that church staff had also expressed concerns about his leadership.

A church vote resulted in a 17–3 decision requesting Boswell’s resignation.

While serving at Myers Park, Boswell created an anti-racism program titled “Confronting Whiteness,” which is also the name of his book and a related conference series. Around 1,000 individuals have attended the conferences, and he has trained 100 facilitators to carry the initiative forward, per RNS.

Among the few who opposed the move to force Boswell out was Tim Emry, a deacon who later stepped down. Emry noted growing discomfort among senior church leaders regarding Boswell’s outspoken criticism of white cultural norms within the church.

"We’re the good white people, right? We want different people to come in, but we want them to learn how to do it our way," Emry told RNS.

Meanwhile, following his departure, Boswell is now preparing to launch a new Baptist congregation with the backing of many former parishioners. His first sermon is scheduled for June.

The new church’s logo depicts a butterfly escaping from chained legs — a symbol of liberation. In a video on the church’s website, Boswell pledges to establish a spiritual community dedicated to challenging oppressive systems and advancing justice, equity, and freedom for all.

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