Christian Group Forms Special Unit To Battle Church Abuse
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee has approved the creation of a new department dedicated to addressing and preventing sexual abuse within its congregations. This decision came after a vote during a Tuesday meeting of the SBC Executive Committee Trustees, following up on a directive from the SBC Annual Meeting in June to establish a permanent entity focused on sexual abuse response and prevention.
Jeff Iorg, the new president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, explained that the formation of this department was influenced by discussions with the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force earlier in the year. He emphasized that while previous task forces have done important work, it is now time to take concrete action. “It’s time to stop talking about what we’re going to do and take an initial, strategic step of action,” Iorg said, as quoted by The Baptist Press.
The department will receive its initial funding from a $1.8 million contribution made by Send Relief in 2022, specifically for sexual abuse reforms within the SBC. Iorg noted that while this is just the beginning, it is a critical first step in addressing the issue and building a workable solution for the future.
The SBC has faced significant criticism in recent years for mishandling sexual abuse allegations within its member churches. A 2022 investigation by Guidepost Solutions revealed that SBC leaders had often failed to address credible accusations of abuse, intimidated victims, and resisted efforts to improve safety, primarily to avoid legal risks. Later, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into the SBC’s handling of these allegations, with which the SBC agreed to cooperate.
Although the DOJ ultimately did not file charges against SBC officials due to insufficient evidence, a charge was brought against Matthew Queen, a former professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, for falsifying records related to the school’s handling of sexual abuse cases. Additionally, a civil lawsuit filed against the SBC Executive Committee and several member churches was dismissed by the plaintiffs earlier this year.