In a statement, Hammond writes:
In my initial contact with Pastor Brown, I expressed my desire as executive director to initiate a line of communication between my office and his church. In the midst of that conversation, I told him I was praying for him, the church, and that I was sorry for the way this came about. I realize now this wording has been rightly received by survivors and concerned Southern Baptists as insensitive and inappropriate. They’re right; it was. For that, I ask forgiveness, and to anyone who has suffered at the hands of abusers, I want you to know my resolve to address this issue in our churches and my openness to hear from you. I should have been more careful not to leave the impression that I was more concerned about a church or a process than the priority of one abuse victim.
Pittman is thankful for Hammond’s statement, although he remains cautious about expressing any hope the SBC will indeed change its ways.
@_thomashammond and @jdgreear appear to want to do the right thing, will the rest of the #SBC follow their lead? https://t.co/5UsVjgIHJl
— Dave Pittman (@Dave_Pittman) March 5, 2019
Moving Forward
However, Pittman would like to see the removal of August Boto, the interim head of the EC, from leadership. According to the Houston Chronicle, Boto reached out to Brown very quickly after Greear’s report naming the 10 churches he wished the EC to look into. Boto’s communication with Brown displayed a concern for the reputation of Trinity over concern for the multiple victims of Trinity’s music minister.
And this is precisely what the victims of sexual abuse within the church wish to turn around: The haste with which some leaders dismiss allegations of abuse in an effort to protect the institution over the person damaged. Hopefully, there will be more apologies like Brown’s in the days ahead as the church (collective) learns how best to support those who are victims of sexual abuse and how to help them heal.
