75. Sexual Abuse and the SBC

Where We Land

In this episode, Aaron, Laura, and Stephen are joined by frequent contributor, Morgan McClure, to consider the unearthing of a scandal in the Southern Baptist Convention and discuss the appropriate responses that Christians should have towards sexual abuse.
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Where We Land's Official Statement:
Many of you have undoubtedly heard news about the the unearthing of a scandal in the Southern Baptist Convention. If you are unclear about this situation, here is a brief, but certainly not all-inclusive explanation of what has unfolded:

An article called, “Abuse of Faith 2019” was published by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express News following a 6 month investigation of the Southern Baptist Convention. The report detailed that for decades, the upper leadership of the SBC had kept a private document which detailed hundreds of people in both paid and volunteer church leadership positions that had been credibly accused and convicted of sex crimes.

In response to this article, the SBC launched their own investigation. Indeed, there in fact was a concealed list of approximately 700 names, the majority of which were Southern Baptist affiliated. This list was concealed from the pastors and congregations of the convention. At the time of the reports’ release it was found that a handful of these convicted people were still working and serving in local churches.

The gross negligence of the leadership of Southern Baptist Convention to share this list with local congregations and pastors, makes them ethically and morally responsible for any subsequent abuse that has occurred because of the document’s concealment.

We, the hosts of the Where We Land Podcast, are deeply grieved over the tremendous pain and suffering that this concealment has caused in the lives of the abused. We condemn the SBC’s act of concealment, which put innocent people in positions of danger and abuse. We are committed to a practice of justice and seeking to live out our faith from a position of truth. It is clear throughout Scripture that God is a God of justice. He is the defender of the vulnerable and mistreated. We as Christians are called to do the same.

So today on the podcast, we have come together to discuss the appropriate responses that Christians should have towards sexual abuse. Thank you for listening!