NASHVILLE (TN)
Monroe News-Star [Monroe, LA]
June 9, 2022
By Ian Robinson
A nearly 300-page report detailing years of sexual abuse and its cover-up within the Southern Baptist Convention from ministers was released in May.
The report, a result of a seven-month investigation by Guidepost Solutions, detailed a credible allegation of sexual assault against former SBC President Johnny Hunt one month after his term ended in 2010 and how high-ranking staff maintained a list with the names of ministers accused of sexual misconduct but did nothing about it.
SBC published a list of accused abusive ministers on May 26. The listed included Jason Cooper, former pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church in Rayville and Victor Mitchell, former pastor of Old Mount Olive Baptist Church in Oak Ridge. Both were convicted in August 2009 of indecent behavior with a juvenile and oral sexual battery.
Michael Wood, lead pastor of the First West Church, referred to the report as “heartbreaking” and “infuriating” in a prepared statement.
First West Church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. The church has campuses in West Monroe, Fairbanks and Calhoun, and was not named in the report.
“Seeing former senior leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention place the protection of an institution over the protection of children and the care for survivors is maddening,” Wood said in the statement. “Our hope and expectation is with heartfelt repentance, new senior leadership, and the strong resolve of the people of the SBC who are willing to do what’s right regardless of the cost, the SBC will adopt the provided recommendations for necessary change.”
In the report, Guidepost made 17 recommendations, including urging the SBC to establish an offender database, a formal apology to survivors and clarification of standards for member churches and clergy.
Guidepost’s team interviewed 330 people and reviewed five terabytes of data to investigate the SBC Executive Committee and its handling of abuse claims, treatment of victims and resistance to reform between January 2000 to June 2021.
SBC releases list of accusers:Southern Baptist Convention leaders publish long-secret list of accused ministers
Attempts to reach Macedonia Baptist Church and Old Mount Olive Baptist Church for comment were unsuccessful.
The Southern Baptist Convention, based in Nashville, Tennessee, has more than 47,000 cooperating churches and 13.6 million members and is considered to be one of the most influential within American Christianity.