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	Baptists Adopt Sex-Abuse Statement By Greg Garrison The Birmingham News June 14, 2007 http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1181809195194780.xml&coll=2 San Antonio - After repeated calls for a stand on sexual abuse, the Southern Baptist Convention on Wednesday adopted a resolution urging churches to perform criminal background checks on clergy and employees. The statement also renounced child abusers and those who cover up their actions. "That shows it's an issue of broad concern," said the Rev. C.B. Scott, pastor of Westmont Baptist Church in Birmingham, a foster parent who had submitted one of several proposals to take a stand against sexual abuse. "The abuse of children is widespread; it's bad," he said. "They need help. I urge pastors and churches to support the Alabama Baptist Children's Home. They provide compassionate care for children." Another pastor, the Rev. Wade Burleson of Enid, Okla., had submitted a request for Southern Baptists to consider establishing a database on sexual abusers found in its programs. He said the resolution that passed, which called for quick response to allegations of abuse, did address many of his concerns. "There's a unanimous consensus we're going to deal with this problem," Burleson said. The resolution noted that LifeWay Christian Resources, the publishing arm of the 16.3 million-member denomination, and many state Baptist conventions offer materials to help churches address the issue of preventing abuse. "I believe most churches already do background checks and take this issue seriously," said the Rev. Roger Willmore, pastor of Deerfoot Baptist Church in Trussville and president of the Alabama Baptist Convention. "There's been an awareness raised because of the Catholic fallout," said the Rev. Mike McLemore, director of the Birmingham Baptist Association. He was referring to abuse allegations, lawsuits and bankruptcies in some Catholic dioceses. "It's something we need to address. We have training and workshops available through our state convention." Bush via satellite: President Bush, as has become an annual custom, addressed the Southern Baptists live by satellite Wednesday and received several standing ovations from the 8,500 church messengers gathered in the convention center a few blocks from the Alamo. He praised Southern Baptists for their support of troops, for international relief efforts in Sudan and elsewhere and for stands opposing abortion and in support of adoption. "Southern Baptists are committed to spreading a culture of life and my administration is also," he said. He praised Baptists for helping send aid to Darfur. "People in Darfur cry out for help," Bush said. "Southern Baptists and the United States will not turn away." He highlighted U.S. efforts to fight AIDS and malaria in Africa and said Southern Baptists have helped fight those problems. "You're rising to meet the challenges of broken souls, in a broken world, with compassion and courage," Bush said. "It helps our souls and helps our spirits when we help those who suffer." Southern Baptists also passed a resolution condemning racism and noting the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision, in which the court held that blacks had no legal rights. The statement noted and reaffirmed a 1995 apology for slavery and racism by the Southern Baptist Convention, which is the nation's largest Protestant denomination. Greg Garrison: ggarrison@bhamnews.com
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