This week a report was released about gross and horrifying mishandling of sex abuse allegations by the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Executive Committee. Frankly, I find this report incredibly disheartening. I can’t imagine the pain of these victims and how it tainted their view of God and His Church.
Last Sunday we studied Psalm 101 and the call to personal integrity as the basis for striving for public integrity. Psalm 101:2 is the resolve of a leader and reads, “I will walk with integrity of heart within my house.” Clearly the SBC has not walked with integrity in our house. If any Christian ministry, local church, or denomination cannot walk with integrity in their own house, then they should not exist. Our call is to minister the gospel to the most vulnerable. If we are not caring for the most vulnerable, then we have failed in our mission.
By God’s grace, after the publication of a Houston Chronicle article in 2019, the messengers to the SBC approved a motion to empower a third party investigation. The scope of the investigation was to confirm allegations that the SBC’s Executive Committee was indeed mishandling reports of sexual abuse amongs leaders and churches in the SBC. I believe the approval of this motion is a heartening development highlighting most in the SBC desire these issues to be addressed.
Moving forward I believe the SBC, local churches, and local church leaders must remain vigilant on the problem of sexual abuse. I believe we need to be humble and transparent when we make mistakes. I believe we need to learn from those mistakes.
Our Elder Team has yet to meet since the publication of the Guidepost Solutions report. The top agenda item at our next meeting will be this issue. We will discuss how we as a church should respond. We will also discuss what lessons we need to learn and reforms we need to implement.
The math says that the SBC has been the most effective missions sending agency and church planting ministry in church history. It is also currently providing the best and most affordable theological education for those called to ministry. However, this week, I care very little about the SBC. I’m not proud of it this week. This week, and every week, our concern should be for the vulnerable and the abused. Pastors, leaders, and congregants need to be content walking away from any church, denomination, or ministry if it cannot function with better integrity. We need to be resolved to “walk with integrity of heart within [our] house” (Psalm 101:2).
Below are some links to helpful resources:
A brief FAQs summary of the issue by The Gospel Coalition can be found HERE
The Houston Chronicle’s articles can be viewed HERE
The 288-page Guidepost Solutions report can be viewed HERE