The Rural Blog
In a bid for greater transparency, the Southern Baptist Conference’s Sexual Abuse Task Force has published online an independent report detailing how its leaders protected pastors and local church staff accused of sexual abuse while ignoring, pressuring and trying to discredit sexual-abuse survivors.
The report includes the database of alleged abusers, along with links to news articles and other details. However, a note at the top cautions that the list is incomplete, has not been proofed or adequately researched, and is not always specific to Southern Baptists. Some names and other details have been censored, possibly to preserve the privacy of minors.
In a press release accompanying the report, the task force called on other Southern Baptists to heed the report’s findings and care for abuse victims as well as “provide a culture of accountability, transparency, and safety as we move forward.”
The task force called for specific reforms:
• The next SBC president should create a task force to ensure reforms are implemented.
• The Executive Committee should hire experts to work with victims and train state conventions on how to respond to abuse allegations.
• All SBC boards and committees should undergo background checks as part of the selection process, and should and receive training on sexual abuse prevention and survivor care.
• All SBC-affiliated seminaries should teach staff and students about sexual abuse prevention and survivor care.
• The Executive Committee should budget for and hire a salaried staffer for the SBC’s Credentials Committee, which assesses whether churches are operating within SBC standards of faith and practice.
I completely agree with the report of the Sothern Baptist Convention Report. There is no room for covering up such actions. We must be transparent in our relationship with the Love of Jesus. Truth is always the best policy.
Dr. John Stephenson Former Superintendent of Education for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and I thank all the staff for dealing with this matter with truth and honesty with justice.
Member of Bethesda Community Church, Independence Kentucky.
(Luke 7:31) And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
(Luke 7:32) They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
(Luke 7:33) For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
(Luke 7:34) The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
John the baptist (no miracle) not same as follow Jesus (signs and miracles)