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	Sexual Predators in Our Midst By James A. Smith Sr. Florida Baptist Witness June 19, 2008 http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/8988.article Just three days after the Executive Committee reported on June 10 in Indianapolis its response to the Southern Baptist Convention concerning a motion seeking creation of a database of Southern Baptist ministers guilty or accused of sexual abuse, a Baptist minister in southeast Texas was indicted on three charges of allegedly molesting two boys. The arrest of a minister who allegedly took advantage of his sacred duties to satisfy his basest desires is just the latest case of sexual abuse by a minister. It was Texas, but it could have been (and, tragically, has been) Florida—and every other state. Although the minister is not a Southern Baptist, his arrest is a fresh reminder of the importance of the Executive Committee's exhaustive report and recommendations that churches take seriously the matter of sexual predators in our midst. "Simply stated, Southern Baptists find any instance of sexual abuse to be a reprehensible act. It is inexcusable. It is a crime. It is a sin," the Executive Committee report asserted. The six-page report, with 20 pages of background documents, was the result of a two-year study, pre-dating a motion made at the 2007 SBC annual meeting calling for the Southern Baptist sexual predator database. The Executive Committee wisely rejected the idea of a Southern Baptist sexual predator database in favor of the U.S. Department of Justice's Dru Sjodin national sex offender database (http://www.nsopr.gov), which comprehensively catalogues all known sexual offenders, no matter what their religious denomination. The Texas case of an independent Baptist minister would not have been included in a specifically Southern Baptist database, illustrating the inadequacy of a more narrow database. The EC report notes that sexual predators often move from church to church and denomination to denomination, making the DOJ database the most reliable resource for churches. The report also addresses the unique challenge of Baptist polity concerning this issue. Although the EC asserts that it is "strongly persuaded that no church or Baptist entity should employ a known sex offender," there is no means of stipulating such for autonomous Baptist churches. The SBC, state conventions or associations cannot direct the affairs of local churches. Nevertheless, all Baptist bodies—national, state, and associational—have within their purview the ability and responsibility to withdraw fellowship from churches that fail to properly address these maters. While churches are autonomous, so are general Baptist bodies, which are free to remove from their midst church which fail to uphold Baptist convictions, including in the area of sexual abuse. "[I]n our opinion, declaring a church not to be in 'friendly cooperation' with the Convention would certainly be justified in any specific case where a church intentionally employed a known sexual offender or knowingly placed one in a position of leadership over children or other vulnerable participants in its ministries," the report notes. The Executive Committee emphatically rejects the claim that it's OK to fail to report to authorities known cases of sexual abuse to protect church reputations or due to confusion about the application of the biblical duty to offer mercy. "In fact, once an instance of sex abuse becomes known, any such delay will likely do great harm to the witness of the church in the local community. … Also, such delays indicate a misplaced emphasis on the protection of the church over protection of the victim," the report asserts. "Forgiveness must not be used as an excuse for inactivity. The biblical principles of restitution and appropriate judgment are compatible with, and often set the stage for, forgiveness. For these and other reasons, we believe (and in most cases involving minors, it is required by law) that contact should be made with law enforcement authorities immediately upon discovery that sexual abuse of a minor has occurred." The report concludes, "The Executive Committee strongly encourages local congregations to devise policies and execute strategies (1) to be diligent as they choose and supervise their ministers, employees, and volunteers, (2) to be vigorous in their investigations of known or suspected sex abuse within their ranks, and (3) to be honest and forthcoming in revealing the facts to their sister congregations when asked about former ministers, employees, and volunteers." Significant resources for churches in preventing and dealing with sexual abuse have been compiled on the Executive Committee's Web site (http://www.sbc.net/localchurches/ministryhelp.asp), including SBC resolutions adopted in 2002 and 2007, materials from LifeWay Christian Resources, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and an extensive SBC Life special report, "Protecting Our Children." A link to state convention resources, including Florida's (which can be found at: http://flbaptist.org/evangelism/sunday_school/sunday_school_resources.htm), is also included. In his report to the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis, EC President Morris Chapman spoke forcefully about the obligation of churches to take seriously sexual abuse, especially of children. "The Southern Baptist Convention is on record for having stood strongly against sexual abuse. We have long condemned those who would use our churches as a hunting ground for their own sick and selfish pleasure," Chapman said. "At the same time, sexual abuse is a growing crisis in this nation and we must continue to do everything within our power to stop this horrendous crime. Even though the number of Southern Baptist ministers who are sexual predators may seem to be relatively small, we must be on watch and take immediate action against those who prey on the most innocent among us. One sexual predator in our midst is one too many!" Chapman said, "We have a huge responsibility to our Lord, our nation, our church family, and potential victims. Sexual predators must be stopped! They must be on notice that Southern Baptist churches are not a harvest field for their devious deeds. "We shall not turn a blind eye when those in leadership roles violate our trust. We shall be responsive to allegations about ministerial misconduct; and especially so when that misconduct is perpetrated against one of our children. Those who would overpower our children and violate their trust must come to know that they will not be coddled; they will not be protected; they will not find refuge in our churches." Chapman rejected the claim that Southern Baptists have been "anemic in our fight against sexual abuse," promising that Southern Baptists will "spotlight" dangers "lurking in the shadows." "We shall protect the weak and vulnerable. "We shall preserve the integrity of our witness. "We shall provide safe havens for our people. "We shall point out the inevitable consequence of sin. "We shall not allow predators to infiltrate our ministries. "We shall not allow uncertainty to hinder our strong rapid response. "We shall not allow fear of reprisal to stifle the stories of those who have been abused." Chapman pointed to the example of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, which was confronted with one of its ministers arrested in a police sting for allegedly soliciting sex from an officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. Pastor Jack Graham, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, swiftly and forcefully addressed the matter, earning praise from the Dallas Morning News. "We must join Dr. Graham in confronting this horrible crime, exposing it for what it is, and doing everything within our power to protect the children under the care of the ministries of our churches," Chapman said. To the EC report and Chapman's comments, I simply offer a hearty, "Amen!"
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