Before an overflow crowd at Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Seattle, Rev. Dr. Leslie D. Braxton announced his resignation as senior pastor of the church. Braxton offered his resignation to the congregation during the Sunday morning worship services that was held just prior to the second of two votes by the membership on whether or not Braxton should be removed as senior pastor of the church. The first vote was held on Thursday evening. He stated to the congregation that the vote was not important, and that even if he had won the vote on Sunday that the conflict, division, bad press and besmirching of the church’s name would continue. Something that Braxton believed was not in the best interest of the church. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that I can win a vote,” said Braxton. “Somebody has to have enough God in them to stop it (all of the internal conflict at Mt. Zion). I love Mt. Zion too much to watch Mt. Zion be ripped beyond repair.” “In place of a vote, I offer my resignation,” he said in a surprise announcement to the congregation. Braxton’s resignation brings to rest an on-going internal conflict that has garnered much attention outside of the confines of the church. There is no indication of when the church will begin the process of finding a successor for Braxton. While Braxton’s resignation was effective immediately, he is scheduled to give his last sermon at Mt. Zion later this month.
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