Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, America's largest Protestant denomination, stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over almost two decades while seeking to protect their own reputations, according to a scathing 288-page investigative report issued Sunday.
These survivors, and other concerned Southern Baptists, repeatedly shared allegations with the SBC's Executive Committee, "only to be met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility from some within the EC," said the report.
The report asserts that an Executive Committee staffer maintained a list of Baptist ministers accused of abuse, but there is no indication anyone "took any action to ensure that the accused ministers were no longer in positions of power at SBC churches." --Restrict the use of nondisclosure agreements and civil settlements which bind survivors to confidentiality in sexual abuse matters, unless requested by the survivor.
The task force had a week to review the report before it was publicly released. The task force's recommendations based on Guidepost's findings will be presented at the SBC's meeting in Anaheim. Among those reacting strongly to the Guidepost report was Russell Moore, who formerly headed the SBC's public policy wing but left the denomination after accusing top Executive Committee leaders of stalling efforts to address the sex abuse crisis.
It cited the case of Dave Pittman, who from 2006 to 2011 made phone calls and sent letters and emails to the SBC and Georgia Baptist Convention Board reporting that he had been abused by Frankie Wiley, a youth pastor at Rehoboth Baptist Church when he was 12 to 15 years old.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A 17-year-old boy died by suicide hours after being scammed. The FBI says it's part of a troubling increase in 'sextortion' casesU.S. investigators have seen an explosion in sextortion complaints from victims, leading the FBI to ramp up a campaign to warn parents from coast to coast.
Read more »
At least seven dead after severe thunderstorm tears through OntarioAt least seven people are now reported dead after a severe thunderstorm ripped through southern Ontario on Saturday.
Read more »
Report all suspected monkeypox cases immediately, Ontario's top public health official ordersOntario’s top public health official issued issued an order to healthcare providers requiring them to report any possible or suspected cases of monkeypox to local authorities.
Read more »
Canadian health officials confirm two cases of monkeypox, investigating a ‘couple dozen’ instances in ‘unusual’ outbreakThe WHO has confirmed cases in the U.S., U.K., and Northern Ireland. Public health officials have also reported cases in Portugal and Spain.
Read more »
Biden signs US$40B for Ukraine assistance during Asia tripU.S. President Biden on Saturday signed legislation to support Ukraine with an additional US$40 billion in U.S. assistance as the Russian invasion approaches its fourth month.
Read more »