After several months of being urged to take action, leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention actually met today to discuss the important issue of combating clergy sex abuse. It will be very interesting to see if anything comes out of today’s discussion. Leaders of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and other Clergy and the Voice to Stop Baptist Predators have been trying to raise awareness, and Ethics Daily has run numerous articles about their efforts. Today’s piece about the discussion at the Executive Committee meeting of the SBC also includes a link to a video shot by Ethics Daily on the issue (I believe they are planning to include original video when they can to make the news more dynamic and informative). Regardless of what comes out of today’s discussion, this demonstrates the power of speaking out. If one remains focused and on message, people will eventually begin to listen.
UPDATE [2-21-07]: Ethics Daily has a piece today about how the discussion went at the meeting. Unfortunately, it seems I was overly optimistic about it. I think there was a little progress here in that the leaders are now actually aware of the issue. However, they did not seem to be open to taking any needed action and seemed to be more concern with defending their reputations. More work is still needed.
UPDATE [2-21-07]: Ethics Daily has a piece today about how the discussion went at the meeting. Unfortunately, it seems I was overly optimistic about it. I think there was a little progress here in that the leaders are now actually aware of the issue. However, they did not seem to be open to taking any needed action and seemed to be more concern with defending their reputations. More work is still needed.
My comments are not directed toward this blog but rather toward people who think they have the right to impose their ideas on others under the mask of making things 'right' in the Baptist church. I abhor the attacks of ministers on trusting church members. I abhor the inadequate handling of these situations by inexperienced church leadership. However, I abhor more the fact that people with little knowledge of Baptist church organization expect Baptist convention personnel to implement changes in church organization across the convention that are not consistent with Baptist beliefs and organization. Each Southern Baptist church is an independent and autonomous organization, joining or not joining the national, state, and local Baptist organization solely at the will and the vote of the congregation of that particular church. It is clear there needs to be a greater understanding of Baptist 'ways' before these people voice their opinions to the world's media. I speak as one who has attended Baptist churches since 1948 and who has been a Christian for 50 years. I have no agenda other than to serve my Lord, but if this (the abuse, the inexperienced leadership - and the interference of non-Baptists) is not addressed by members of our denomination then our denomination will cease to exist as we know it and become more like the world instead of more like our Lord!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. There is definitely a lot to think about with this issue.
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