VIRGINIA BEACH (VA)
Christian Broadcasting Network
February 12, 2019
A multi-month Houston Chronicle investigation into sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches has rocked the denomination and prompted calls for immediate, aggressive action.
Southern Baptist president J.D. Greear called for the denomination to mourn and repent. He promised to put the Southern Baptist Convention’s spiritual, financial and organizational resources behind an effort to stop predators in churches and other Southern Baptist institutions.
He also called for the care of victims saying “the safety of victims matters more than the reputation of Southern Baptists.”
Dr. Russell Moore, the president of the convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, called on churches to report all child abuse cases to the civil authorities.
Moore also addressed church governance issues which historically have been used by denominational leaders to reject calls for abuse protection measures such as a registry of offenders to track predators who move from church to church.
“Church autonomy is no excuse for a lack of accountability,” said Moore. He called on churches that use issues like sexual immorality or opposing missions to deem another church “out of fellowship” to do the same for churches that cover up rape or sexual abuse.
Last year the denomination created a Sexual Abuse Presidential Study Group, largely in response to the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements. One of the key goals is to train churches to recognize sexual predators and how to respond to charges of abuse.
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