Southern Baptist president reverses course on denomination’s abuse crisis
Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice, who previously described the SBC sexual-abuse crisis as more “hoax than reality,” is now calling abuse a serious threat requiring “constant vigilance.”
In his first address to the SBC Executive Committee, Rice told churches to establish safeguards, take every allegation seriously, report accusations immediately to law enforcement and cooperate fully with investigations. He also announced a commission on women in pastoral ministry and proposed adding explicit language about gender, sexuality and marriage to the Baptist Faith and Message. The Roys Report
Give Rice credit for changing direction, but Christians shouldn’t miss the larger lesson. When accusations threaten a church’s reputation, the temptation is:
Protect the church.
Protect the pastor.
Protect the ministry.
Protect the denomination.
That is definitely the wrong order.
So What?
Protect the victim FIRST. A church shouldn’t need lawyers, reporters and survivors dragging it toward transparency.
“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light… But he that doeth truth cometh to the light.” — John 3:20–21 (KJV)
Churches ought to be the first institutions running toward the light, not dragging their feet and covering their eyes from the light.
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Child of God, husband, father, grandfather, rabblerouser, songwriter, pot stirrer, waiting for the King.