Greear's 'Sexual Abuse in the SBC' Investigators Get First Dibs on Extra CP $$$

[Baptist Believer]

Me too. Seems like most of the cooperation is cooperating with your faction in the fight.

What fight? Is there a pro-sexual abuse faction?

Its one fight to the next to the next to the next in the SBC.

I only support some of the missionary work. I have no interest in being a part of a denominational fight. Been there, done that.

 

[Tom Bryant]

That's a good use of CP dollars. The SBC (like all denominational groups) needs to work out a system for identifying sexual predators and ensuring the safety of those in churches.

You were right. It is just a study to find out how we can, cooperating southern Baptists can do a better job protecting our children from predators.

I have had entirely too many churches NOT asking their previous church what kind of people they were. I was pastor of a church immediately following a male who left the church and the area just when they were starting an investigation. But because the kids and the man went out of state, the state dropped the investigation. He went to become the director of a camp for children. When we found out where he was, we contacted their board and told them they ought to contact Florida about him. They didn't and 6 months later he was arrested for child abuse, convicted and the camp went belly up with money they had to pay to the victims.

Sure the church SHOULD do it, but too many times they don't. And when they don't the cause of Christ is hurt. So a study is in order and is proper in my not so humble opinion.

 

[TCassidy]

Sure the church SHOULD do it, but too many times they don't. And when they don't the cause of Christ is hurt. So a study is in order and is proper in my not so humble opinion.

Sure the church should do it. But if the church does not do it does the Convention have the authority to force the right action on the local church? After all, one of the Baptist distinctives is the Autonomy of the Local Church.

I think the only recourse for the Convention would be through the local/county/state Associations which, as I understand it, would only be able to remove that church from the Associations and thus from the SBC.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Sure the church should do it. But if the church does not do it does the Convention have the authority to force the right action on the local church? After all, one of the Baptist distinctives is the Autonomy of the Local Church.

I think the only recourse for the Convention would be through the local/county/state Associations which, as I understand it, would only be able to remove that church from the Associations and thus from the SBC.

No one is saying that the convention can force a church to do anything. They are studying what can be done. It could be a clearing house so that part of the due diligence of a local church in searching for a pastor/staff is looking in that list. What the church does after that is entirely up to them. Local churches are free to be stupid.

For the local ass'n or state convention to remove a church would mean that they would have to amend the Baptist Faith and Message as well as governing documents.

No one is forcing the church to do anything. They are just studying what can be done to help stop predators from simply going across the country to continue their perversion.

I totally agree that it ought to be the local church who not only checks the references but asks those references for other people who know the person trying to become their next pastor. It must also include checking all the previous churches the person has been at. That's the minimum a local church should do.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I think the only recourse for the Convention would be through the local/county/state Associations which, as I understand it, would only be able to remove that church from the Associations and thus from the SBC.

BTW, not being part of a local association does not remove the church from the SBC. A local church can choose to be a part of any of the 3 or even just the SBC.

 

[Reynolds]

Common sense is what stops predators.
Parents have a responsibility. In my years of investigating sex crimes, I never once arrested a pedophile that did not display the"clues." If I see those "clues," the person does not spend time around my children regardless of what the church, school, or anywhere else says about them. I don't care whose background check they have passed. Passing a proper background check simply means the person has not been caught YET.

 

[church mouse guy]

My problem with anyone other than law enforcement doing the investigation is that those private party investigations more likely than not result in coverups "for the good of the ministry."

The very first thing to do is call 911, then get out of the way and let law enforcement do their job.

I agree that the first thing is to call the police. That is what went wrong in the Roman Catholic Church with all of the homosexual rape. The Bishops and Cardinals covered up for each other and transferred themselves around and paid out a few thousand dollars here and there but almost never called the police.

The first thing to do always is to call the police and report the crime. If the police are not called, the crime becomes more widespread.

Moore and Greear seem to be experts in wasting money. I am praying that Moore resigns and goes to work to earn a living and I am praying that Greear is not re-elected.

 

[Ziggy]

Does anyone else see the irony between the diverting of $250k from mission work and this later action noted in the Executive Committee report? ---

"The EC declined a request to study further the feasibility of remote participation in the SBC annual meeting. Among the reasons cited: "Diverting missions' offerings to pioneer the use of such technology" ....

 

[Reynolds]

Does anyone else see the irony between the diverting of $250k from mission work and this later action noted in the Executive Committee report? ---

"The EC declined a request to study further the feasibility of remote participation in the SBC annual meeting. Among the reasons cited: "Diverting missions' offerings to pioneer the use of such technology" ....

There is a lot of irony in SBC.