Monday, August 15, 2022

Southern Baptists and Sexual Abuse

A few thoughts related to the Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse Task Force (SATF) and Guidepost Report. 

1.  Sexual abuse should be reported to the police.  It is a shame when abuse is alleged, but the accuser is unwilling to file charges. 

2.  If you are truly guilty of sexual abuse, don’t expect me to excuse it. 

3.  All of us need to be vigilant to avoid any type of sexual abuse. 

4.  The SATF and Guidepost seemed a little one-sided.  Why not hear from more than one side?  Why not a more diverse committee?  At times it seems like a trial with only the Prosecution allowed to speak.  The accuser needs to be heard; but, so does the accused.

There is good, needed information in the Guidepost report.  There are instances, however, where one side of the story is not told, even though it is in public records.  Other times when one side of the story is minimized. 

5.  Often, on this issue only one side is allowed to be heard.  At least one website is very quick to delete any comments on this subject that do not fit their narrative.  The opposing side may have some valid perspectives.  Without allowing the other side to be considered, you may be left with groupthink. 

6.  The issue seems to be overhyped.  Sexual abuse is horrible and without excuse, but its overall numbers are low compared to the entire Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). 

7.  There is some amount of difference between outright sexual abuse and consensual immoral relationships.  There is also a difference between illegal relationships and legal, but immoral relationships.  Both are wrong, but there’s a difference. 

8.  If a sexual abuse situation is criminally prosecuted and the offender punished, it is now a matter of public record.  What more are Southern Baptists supposed to do?  SBC churches today are encouraged to do background checks on leaders.  This should reveal any such legal issues.  Also, check references.  If you need help, check with your Association or State Convention. 

9.  There is a big, big difference between a sexual abuser, and someone you feel did not properly handle a sexual abuse situation.  Yet some who never committed sexual abuse are treated like those who did, or even worse; because the accuser thinks they should have handled a situation differently. 

10.  This issue at times seems to be a way for some to handle old grievances.  They use it to condemn their enemies, while condoning their friends.  Social media can be vicious and evil. 

11.  Most of the SBC Executive Committee’s “secret list” was simply a compilation, over the years, of newspaper reports about sexual abuse.  It was already public, nothing secret or sinister about it.  But it was made to look that way. 

12.  It often seems the same group who is quick to accept divorce, will never, never forgive certain situations of immorality or abuse, or even a poor choice of words.  Much of this seems kind of arbitrary.  I’m not making a point about divorce; just that some of the condemnation seems uneven, and perhaps too “woke,” “me too,” and “virtue signaling.”   

13.  It strains credulity that a grown, intelligent woman who had a years-long sexual relationship with a married man (not married to her), be proclaimed completely innocent and a survivor of sexual assault.  The married man involved is most guilty, but there is guilt on both sides. 

14.  There is nothing wrong with SBC lawyers advising their client on how to avoid liability.  That’s a lawyer’s job. 

15.  Some of the accusations could have been handled better.  There is nothing like having the ability to look back and see what you should have done.  Many of those situations were later corrected. 

It does need to be understood though, that some views about this subject have changed in recent years.  Get up to date. 

16.  In more than one instance, some have said we need to change our practices or pass this motion, so no one is ever abused again.  Wouldn’t that be grand?  But sin is always present.  We can work to prevent it, speak against it.  But abuse, crime, greed, murder, drug abuse, immorality will always be among every group of human beings. 

17.  Never accept, “Believe all women.”  Women lie, just like men, and any other group.  That’s why we investigate and attempt to hear all sides.  Don’t be so quick to dismiss the example of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39). 

But do take accusations seriously, and if it involves illegal activity, report it to police.  Treat all sides with respect.  See Judge Righteously article below. 

18.  If a church has a sexual abuser, and they properly and legally deal with it, they are often put in the same category as a church who accepts or hides abuse.  That is obviously unfair. 

To those of you who viscerally disagree with me, according to God’s Word you still have to love me! 

*******

Megan Basham previously wrote for WORLD magazine and now writes for Daily Wire.  She has written a very thoughtful, investigative article (Southern Baptists’ #MeToo Moment).  Read it, as well as the Guidepost Report.  It gives a needed balance.  A couple quotes are published below, and the link to the article is given. 

“a total of 409 accused abusers were found over the course of 21 years in approximately 47,000 SBC churches.”

“six different SBC pastors pointed out to me that very little in the Guidepost report was actually new information. In many of the cases, flagrant mishandling of allegations had already been addressed and the men involved removed from office. And the highly publicized list the executive committee was keeping of abusers was, in fact, culled from newspaper reports. Every accusation it contained was already in the public domain.”

-Southern Baptists’ #MeToo Moment by Megan Basham

https://www.dailywire.com/news/southern-baptists-metoo-moment

 

Also: https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/former-ec-vice-president-counters-guidepost-characterization-of-abusers-list/

 

-David R. Brumbelow, gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com, August 15, AD 2022. 


Articles:

Judge Righteously

Note:  I referred to this article at a site and provided a link.  My comment and link were deleted. 

On an earlier occasion, I referred to several Bible passages mentioned in this article.  The website informed me these verses had no relevance to sexual abuse in the SBC.  How could they not?  Read the article and decide for yourself. 

Basic Baptist Doctrines / Beliefs

Baptists on Tithing

Other Articles in lower right margin, Web Version

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