Illinois Baptist SBC PREVIEW
NEWSMAKERS
Q & A with Jeff Iorg
Kind words for good examples Doug Munton Illinois Voices P. 6
Rowdy Rodeo?
One tumultuous year—so far P. 10
IBSA NEWS
Search team named Year-long process expected P. 5
PRIORITY
All-Illinois teachers Lead annual women’s event P. 3
SBC NEWS
DOJ ends SBC abuse probe
No EC charges; only one related conviction
Nashville | The federal probe of the Southern Baptist Convention’s handling of sexual abuse claims has been closed, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) told SBC attorneys March 12. In a separate case, a former employee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was found guilty of falsifying notes submitted to DOJ about the school’s investigation of an abuse claim He was given a light sentence. No other charges were filed as result of the DOJ investigation. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York informed us that the investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention and Executive Committee has officially concluded,” SBC attorneys Gene Besen and Scarlett Nokes said. Tracking abusers on back-burner? Continued on P. 4
IllinoisBaptist.org
IB
Home at last
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
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APRIL 1, 2025
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 964
Vol. 119 No. 4
Growing debate expectations from SBC in Dallas 2025 Annual Meeting P. 7-11
Why ‘In his image’ still matters P. 16