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	Southern Baptists Won't Create a Sexual Predator Database By Bob Smietana The Tennessean June 11, 2008 http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/NEWS06/806110445/1023/NEWS01 INDIANAPOLIS — A top leader at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting urged fellow Baptists to drive sexual predators out of the churches. Morris Chapman, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's executive board, told more than 7,200 church representatives meeting here Tuesday that preventing sexual abuse in the church is the responsibility of local congregations. "One sexual predator in our midst is one too many," Chapman said. "Our denomination and our local churches must condemn publicly this vile act." The executive committee announced Tuesday it would not create a national database of Baptist ministers accused or convicted of sexual abuse. The church representatives — called messengers — asked the committee last year to consider creating such a database. "The convention has no ecclesiastical authority over local churches," Chapman said. Instead of a Baptist-only database, Chapman and other Southern Baptist leaders argue that churches should use the national sexual offender database, maintained by the federal government. Christa Brown, the Baptist outreach coordinator for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said the decision was disappointing but expected. "A database is not a threat to local church authority," she said. "It would give churches a much needed resource." There's no hierarchy Preventing sexual abuse is particularly complicated for Baptists. Unlike other denominations, like Roman Catholic or mainline churches, Baptists have no hierarchy. Each church hires, ordains and fires its own clergy. In fact, the convention has no comprehensive list of its own ordained ministers. That state of affairs baffles Brown. "The convention takes in $200 million a year for its cooperative (giving) program," she said, "and they can't come up with a list of ministers who carry the Baptist brand into the world. It's unbelievable." But the Southern Baptist Convention Web site does publish a voluntary directory of ministers thought to be in good standing with the convention. Ministers can submit their contact information and be added to the directory. Sing Oldham, vice president for convention relations, said the convention has removed pastors accused of sexual misconduct from the directory in the past. Help is available In the weeks leading up to the annual meeting, the national convention published several new resources and recommendations to help local churches prevent sexual abuse. And, churches are urged to do background checks on potential pastors. Chapman said that churches should always report alleged abuse to the police, rather than trying to sweep it under the rug. "We will never get rid of the problem by pawning sexual predators off on another unsuspecting church," he said. Mike Pennington, director of missions for the Bledsoe Baptist Association, which serves Sumner and Macon counties, said despite their autonomy, local churches don't have to figure out what to do on their own. Most congregations are part of a local association, and can call on staff members like Pennington for help. "We can get the legal and professional help they need to do the right thing," he said. Contact Bob Smietana at 259-8228 or bsmietana@tennessean.com
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