October 28, 2002
CBF reports no action against official who plagiarized
___By Bob Allen
___Associated Baptist Press
___ATLANTA (ABP)--Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leaders handled a plagiarism charge last summer against a senior staff member "in appropriate fashion," according to a review Oct. 17 by the CBF personnel committee.
___Committee spokesman Tim Brendle told the CBF Coordinating Council that Coordinator Daniel Vestal addressed "quickly and forthrightly" reports that Reba Cobb, resource center coordinator, preached a sermon at a Baptist Women for Ministry meeting in June that was plagiarized from a volume of published sermons.
___At the time, Cobb blamed a mix-up by a paid researcher for giving her a sermon that had been written and published by someone else. She subsequently apologized and said she had offered to resign.
___Upon review, Brendle said the personnel committee found that "due diligence has been done" in addressing a perceived breach of integrity.
___"From the beginning, this organization has demonstrated a high level of integrity," Brendle said, noting that leaders sought to implement a "redemptive and biblical approach" that balanced justice and grace.
___Vestal said Cobb has shown "genuine contrition for her actions."
___"I have every confidence in Reba and look forward to our continued ministry together," Vestal said. "The character of this Fellowship is defined by grace. It is not a cheap grace, but it is real and it is redemptive."
___Cobb repeated statements she made to the media expressing regret for her actions.
___"I accept responsibility for the sermon," Cobb said. She said she made "some decisions that were not good decisions" in researching her message, but acknowledged that she, and no one else, preached it.
___She also apologized for any harm her actions brought to CBF or Baptist Women in Ministry and thanked members of the Coordinating Council who had supported her during the ordeal. "Thank you for being people of grace," she said.
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