He requested each of the SBC’s entities — which include the Executive Committee — to report on their efforts at the 2020 meeting that was to be held in Orlando, Florida, before the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation.
He asked that they consider three topics.
“One: What is their entity doing to foster effective abuse awareness, prevention and care?” he said, after describing himself as a messenger, or delegate, from a Franklin, Tennessee, church.
“Two: What additional steps has their entity taken to address abuse since the 2018 SBC annual meeting in Dallas, Texas? Three: How is their entity partnering with the efforts of the Sexual Abuse Advisory Group to address abuse?”
Later that day the Committee on Order of Business announced that proposal would be referred to the entities.
Just before Bethancourt made his motion, Floyd, the Executive Committee president, was introduced by Stone, then the chairman of the Executive Committee, who noted that the office Floyd was filling had been “unexpectedly vacated.” Floyd was succeeding Frank Page, who resigned after “a morally inappropriate relationship.”
Right after Bethancourt spoke, two other people made motions urging other steps related to sex abuse. One asked for the International Mission Board to include in its report the full update of a law firm’s examination of sexual abuse allegations in that agency. Another sought the Executive Committee’s consideration of a plan to aid churches that might need funding to investigate sex abuse in their midst.
The second request was ruled out of order and the third was referred to the Executive Committee.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
This article originally appeared here.
