The Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention has named Jeff Dalrymple as the head of the office that will be dedicated to the long-term implementation of denominational reforms to address sexual abuse prevention and reporting.
Dalrymple’s appointment comes roughly eight months after the temporary task force assigned with implementing reforms was dissolved having fallen short of its purpose to create the “Ministry Check” website, which would serve as an online database of SBC pastors, church leaders, and volunteers who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse.
While the task force did succeed in creating a resource toolkit for churches seeking training in abuse prevention and reporting, task force chairman Josh Wester reported at the denomination’s annual meeting in June 2024 that the team had been plagued by liability concerns that had kept it from implementing the Ministry Check site.
Wester nevertheless expressed optimism that the Executive Committee would complete the task under the leadership of its new president, Dr. Jeff Iorg.
“If we hadn’t had the cooperation and leadership that we’ve seen from Dr. Iorg, we probably would have just tried to extend the task force another year,” Webster said, “rather than turning it over to a body that not only has been in turmoil, but was really at the center of where this started.”
“If we get here next year and there are no names on the database, which seems unfathomable to me,” Wester said, “I’m confident that messengers are going to rise up and demand to know why and potentially take whatever actions are necessary, because [the database] is completely achievable.”
Iorg has now announced that Jeff Dalrymple will spearhead the effort to complete the task.
Dalrymple comes to the position after serving as executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP), which works to set national standards to protect vulnerable groups.
Dalrymple has also served as a vice president at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was previously in a leadership position at the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
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“During our multiple interviews, I was consistently impressed with Jeff’s breadth of technical knowledge as well as his calm and reasoned demeanor about these sensitive issues,” Iorg said in a statement to Baptist Press. “He has the informational background and strength of character needed to take on this strategic new position.”
