They took drastic action.
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) recently expelled seven churches for mishandling sexual abuse allegations, following the launch of an abuse hotline in May 2022. This hotline received over 1,000 reports, with nearly 70% involving Southern Baptist churches. Of these, 128 cases were forwarded to the SBC Credentials Committee for further investigation, ultimately leading to the expulsion of seven churches for their failure to adequately respond to the abuse claims.
Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, emphasized the significant impact that mishandled abuse cases have on survivors, congregations, and communities. He reaffirmed the denomination’s commitment to making every church a safe environment and warned of zero tolerance for abuse. However, Iorg noted that the data collected through the hotline doesn’t fully reflect the entire scope of the issue, stressing the need for continued vigilance in addressing the problem.
Among the seven expelled churches, Grove Road Baptist Church in South Carolina and West Hendersonville Baptist Church in North Carolina were specifically mentioned, having been removed in early 2024 for their mishandling of abuse allegations. This action follows revelations from a 2022 report by Guidepost Solutions, which highlighted the SBC’s failure to properly address abuse claims and its reluctance to take preventive measures, largely due to concerns over legal liability.
In response to the Guidepost report, the SBC has since implemented several reforms to improve how it deals with abuse allegations. A key step was the creation of a permanent department focused on abuse response and prevention, which was approved during the SBC’s Annual Meeting in June 2022. This new department, led by Jeff Dalrymple, aims to prevent sexual abuse and offer support to survivors across SBC congregations.
These actions reflect the SBC’s broader commitment to reform and accountability. While the denomination has made progress, it remains cautious in fully understanding the scope of abuse within its churches and recognizes the importance of ongoing efforts to ensure safe environments for all its members.