Dear Church Family,
Some of you have been asking about the report from the Sexual Abuse Task Force authorized by the Southern Baptist Convention last June. The report is stunning and worse than most imagined. Though the Executive Committee of the SBC (an elected group of persons from every state Baptist convention) secretly compiled a list of pastors/staff members accused of sexual abuse in their congregations, no effort was made to expose the abusers and prevent them from moving on to another church where actions were often repeated. Instead, victims were treated as if the abuse was as much their fault as the perpetrators, lied to, and encouraged to remain silent. Sexual abuse within the ranks of Roman Catholic priests was exposed a few years ago. Sadly, Southern Baptists are right there with them in this regard.
Though painful, this is a horrendous wound that needed to be lanced, darkness that needed to be exposed to the light. The list of the abusers will be released soon, according to reports. This is a time for repentance and apology and whatever kind of reparation is needed for victims. This is a time to pray that God will prune the SBC of this sin no matter how deep the pain. My understanding is that victims finally feel like they are getting their day in court. It does not remove the scars of the abuse and their contemptible treatment by people in power who could have given justice a long time ago but refused to do so.
While it may be impossible to completely remove any chance of sexual abuse, we have taken steps the last few years in First Baptist Church to deter such behavior on our premises. We do not allow known sexual offenders access to our campus. We require two adults in every room where children are present. We have installed cameras in those rooms as well. Our Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual includes a section describing various kinds of sexual abuse and harassment and call for reporting any potential abusive behavior they may witness. We encourage the general congregation to report this kind of thing too.
Outside of our mission enterprises, I have been largely unengaged in the SBC. I haven’t attended a convention since 1988. I am active in the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, however, and offer my denominational service there. I still do not plan to engage in the SBC beyond missions. But many in the SBC are working for meaningful changes that offer some hope in the wake of this disaster. God can redeem anything.
I am attaching two links where you can read the Guidestone Report and a story on the report from Russell Moore who served for years as the Director of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Guidepost Report
Christianity Today
John McCallum
Lead Pastor
First Baptist Hot Springs
Some of you have been asking about the report from the Sexual Abuse Task Force authorized by the Southern Baptist Convention last June. The report is stunning and worse than most imagined. Though the Executive Committee of the SBC (an elected group of persons from every state Baptist convention) secretly compiled a list of pastors/staff members accused of sexual abuse in their congregations, no effort was made to expose the abusers and prevent them from moving on to another church where actions were often repeated. Instead, victims were treated as if the abuse was as much their fault as the perpetrators, lied to, and encouraged to remain silent. Sexual abuse within the ranks of Roman Catholic priests was exposed a few years ago. Sadly, Southern Baptists are right there with them in this regard.
Though painful, this is a horrendous wound that needed to be lanced, darkness that needed to be exposed to the light. The list of the abusers will be released soon, according to reports. This is a time for repentance and apology and whatever kind of reparation is needed for victims. This is a time to pray that God will prune the SBC of this sin no matter how deep the pain. My understanding is that victims finally feel like they are getting their day in court. It does not remove the scars of the abuse and their contemptible treatment by people in power who could have given justice a long time ago but refused to do so.
While it may be impossible to completely remove any chance of sexual abuse, we have taken steps the last few years in First Baptist Church to deter such behavior on our premises. We do not allow known sexual offenders access to our campus. We require two adults in every room where children are present. We have installed cameras in those rooms as well. Our Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual includes a section describing various kinds of sexual abuse and harassment and call for reporting any potential abusive behavior they may witness. We encourage the general congregation to report this kind of thing too.
Outside of our mission enterprises, I have been largely unengaged in the SBC. I haven’t attended a convention since 1988. I am active in the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, however, and offer my denominational service there. I still do not plan to engage in the SBC beyond missions. But many in the SBC are working for meaningful changes that offer some hope in the wake of this disaster. God can redeem anything.
I am attaching two links where you can read the Guidestone Report and a story on the report from Russell Moore who served for years as the Director of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Guidepost Report
Christianity Today
John McCallum
Lead Pastor
First Baptist Hot Springs