Abuse Reform Continues in States, Nationally

BY SCOTT BARKLEY & BP STAFF

Abuse Reform and Implementation Task Force chair Marshall Blalock announced Tuesday (April 4) the task force will no longer recommend Guidepost Solutions to establish and maintain a database for those credibly accused of sexual abuse. Messengers approved the creation of a “ministry check” website at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California.

The move comes after continued concerns were expressed by Southern Baptists to the ARITF in connection to a Guidepost tweet last June during gay pride month in which the group stated it was “proud to be an ally” to the LGBTQ+ community.

The ARITF had recommended in February that Faith-Based Solutions, a new division of Guidepost run by Southern Baptist Samantha Kilpatrick, be secured for the role, but in an update posted to the group’s website, they will “consider alternative pathways (dividing the work among smaller firms which share [Southern Baptists’] values) to establish and maintain the Ministry Check website. The ARITF is presently sourcing and evaluating additional firms to assist with the Ministry Check process who meet our qualifications for the highest professional standards.”

That Ministry Check process of evaluating allegations of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches is expected to include two parts—an independent assessment and an independent verification. This two-part approach “will offer a multi-tiered system of checks and balances to justly evaluate evidence.”

According to the update, “if there has been no criminal conviction, civil judgment or confession, then the initial assessment of the credibility of an allegation will be performed by an independent, qualified firm. Each local church has full autonomy in selecting an independent, qualified firm.”

Then “a review panel comprised of qualified experts will review the records of conviction, civil judgment, confession, or the independent assessment performed by the firm voluntarily retained by a local church to verify that the standard has been met.”

Finally, Tuesday’s update also called Southern Baptists to stand firm in their support of the Convention’s Sexual Abuse Hotline saying that due to “the sensitive and confidential nature of these submissions, and the significant privacy issues involved, it is paramount that the current process for receiving disclosures and securely maintaining these records remain in place.”

Calling the hotline “not merely a stopgap measure but rather a means of building trust with survivors” as more permanent solutions for abuse reform are created, the task force said that “by transitioning the hotline to another provider at this critical time, the SBC would forfeit the trust of survivors and hinder our efforts to make our churches the safest place to encounter the Gospel.”

SBC Executive Committee interim president Willie McLaurin affirmed the recommendations of the ARITF saying “continued sexual abuse reform is imperative for our Convention—and so is appropriate care for survivors. The progress Pastor Blalock and the task force have made are encouraging steps toward safer Southern Baptist churches that care well for those who have been abused. We continue to work toward establishing more permanent solutions, providers, and processes to resource our churches in sexual abuse prevention and survivor care.”

The ARITF is expected to give a more formal report and update at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans June 13–14.

ARITF, STATE LEADERS DISCUSS REFORMS, PATH FORWARD

State convention representatives from around the country met with members of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) March 28 to share the status of their state conventions’ responses to sexual abuse prevention reforms and learn from others.

The meeting was held at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

A majority of Southern Baptist state conventions were already active as of late last year in taking measures to prevent sexual abuse and care for survivors. Currently, each one “has some kind of task force or team to work on these issues,” ARITF chair Marshall Blalock told Baptist Press, with 24 of them attending March 28.

Participants shared how they established their groups, the successes and the challenges. Differences included the time frame, with some only having been formed recently, to the number of members serving on each task force.

“I was extremely pleased with the meeting,” said ARITF co-chair Mike Keahbone. “It was a refreshing reminder that a vast majority of our churches are passionately unified in hating sexual abuse and doing their best to prevent it. I also felt very encouraged by the support of those in attendance.”

Keahbone pointed to a spirit of unity he observed in promoting sexual abuse prevention and survivor care while being “intentional in fostering collaboration.”

A lunchtime panel hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) discussed sexual abuse and legislative issues. ERLC vice president and chief of staff Miles Mullin led the panel and was joined by ARITF member Brad Eubank (also the chairman of Mississippi’s task force) and Tony Beam, director of church and community engagement for North Greenville University.

Smaller churches aren’t going to respond as well unless it’s a local presentation. I’ve got 55 bivocational pastors in my association. They’re probably not going to go to the ARITF’s website for information or maybe even the state convention. But they’ll listen to someone they know. . . .

I can take what Oklahoma or North Carolina did and make it Alabama-friendly. We’re not having to start from scratch. That kind of camaraderie shows that we are working together.”

Craig Carlisle, director of missions Etowah Baptist Association

He told BP that Tuesday made him realize that there was much more to do.

“It was encouraging to see the activity of the other conventions,” he said. “Alabama was ahead of the game initially. But I was blown away by how much others are doing and realized we have some catching up to do.”

Those changes include providing more printed resources. There will also be a booth at the state convention’s annual meeting this fall.

Carlisle said he was reminded communicating on the local level is crucial.

“Smaller churches aren’t going to respond as well unless it’s a local presentation,” he said. “I’ve got 55 bivocational pastors in my association. They’re probably not going to go to the ARITF’s website for information or maybe even the state convention. But they’ll listen to someone they know.”

Keahbone said the meeting matched what he and other ARITF members have experienced in similar discussions with their own local associational leaders and pastors.

“They’re taking this seriously and doing a good job in equipping their churches,” Keahbone said. “Their attendance and implementation of their ideas and plans spoke volumes.”

Carlisle said meetings like the one in Atlanta can help task forces everywhere—regardless of their starting point or stature—do more to protect the vulnerable.

Craig Carlisle has been active over the last year in his roles as director of missions for Etowah Baptist Association (EBA) and chair for the Sexual Abuse Advisory Task Force in Alabama.

He has spoken to fellow association leaders at a statewide gathering, and the EBA hosted a symposium on sexual abuse prevention. Before completing his drive home to Gadsden, Ala., Tuesday night, Carlisle first stopped in Cleburne County to talk about the subject in a scheduled meeting with local pastors.

“The materials shared are transferable,” he said. “I can take what Oklahoma or North Carolina did and make it Alabama-friendly. We’re not having to start from scratch. That kind of camaraderie shows that we are working together.”

Versions of this article were published in Baptist Press on March 29 and April 4, 2023.