“Investigations without due process are wrong,” one messenger said as he proposed an amendment that would include cross-examination of those making abuse allegations. “We must do everything to protect every single victim of sexual abuse, but we can’t do that by neglecting what God’s Word says.”
The SATF did not receive the suggestion as a “friendly amendment,” meaning that they did not recommend its inclusion, after Frank gave clarity to the fact that a footnote in the recommendation defined due process, which did not include cross-examination but was best practice for determining a preponderance of evidence in a trauma informed manner. That definition was part of the overall recommendation. The amendment was not added.
Another messenger opposed the recommendations, suggesting that sexual abuse accounted for a small fraction of what occurs in SBC churches.
“Now you can say, oh, well, this is just the tip of the iceberg. And your mind can soar, and the like. But it strikes me that the burden of proof is upon those who say that we have a dreadful problem that needs to be met,” he said. Going on to say that he believes sexual abusers “should be shot,” he nevertheless referred to the proposed reforms as “an assault on our polity.”
Frank pointed out to the messenger that Executive Committee lawyers had a list of around 400 convicted sex offenders who had served in SBC church leadership, which according to most conservative estimates, likely only accounts for 3-5% of offenses.
Another messenger, who was a pastor and sexual abuse survivor, strongly urged the SBC to adopt the SATF’s recommended reforms, saying, “I will tell you, as a pastor for 30 years, I’ve talked to countless survivors and victims. I talked to a brand new one last week, and I urge you: the world is watching. This is not everything that needs to be done, but it is a starting spot.”
“This is exactly the point of our cooperative ecclesiology to work together for common godly goals,” said another messenger later in the discussion. “The question is the incalculable value of a single soul who bears the image of God, let alone the cost to our witness for not responding strongly to sexual abuse.”
Another amendment to strike Guidepost Solutions’ name from the recommendations was presented by an Ohio messenger. This recommended amendment came in light of Guidepost Solutions’ affirmation of LGBTQ+ Pride Month in a tweet earlier this month, a concern raised by a number of messengers, as well as to emphasize the Convention’s intention to carry out reforms in such a way that is congruent with Southern Baptist polity. That amendment was included.
Outspoken Texas pastor Tom Buck came to the microphone to raise a question related to the SATF. Accusing the SATF of being apathetic toward the situation involving the leaked draft of a personal story of abuse written by his wife, Jennifer, Buck called into question whether SBC churches and survivors could trust the Task Force.
“Before we vote to potentially start any potential level of bureaucracy in the SBC or set up a system of reporting, which I believe we should have in the SBC,” Buck said, “what assurance do these messengers have that when they go to report something that involves sexual abuse, that they won’t be hung out to dry the same way my wife and I have?”
Frank expressed his condolences to Buck regarding the situation of Jennifer’s leaked draft, and further explained that he had done as much in direct messages to Buck previously. Nevertheless, the purview of the SATF was to examine and report on sexual abuse allegations in the Executive Committee from 2000 to 2021 and had no authority over the situation regarding the dispute between Buck and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
