Illinois Baptist
A most amazing baptism Nate Adams P. 2
Leaders lament abuse investigation findings Cover-up documented, reforms proposed ahead of SBC Annual Meeting Nashville, Tenn. | SBC Executive Committee chair Rolland Slade led committee members in a prayer of lament at the opening of a special-called meeting covering the 288-page report on the EC’s handling of sexual abuse claims in the denomination. “We are still processing,” the California pastor said. “We are lamenting, listening, and learning.” What we’re learning is the history of abuse claims that were documented but not made public and the refusal of top EC leaders to engage with survivors of abuse. There were also new reports of abuse that resulted in the resignation of popular evangelist Johnny Hunt as vice president of the North American Mission Board. Hunt denies the 2010 encounter. (See related story on page 5.) “We are sorry to the survivors for all we have done to cause pain,” Interim EC President and CEO Willie McLaurin said. “On behalf of all Southern Baptists, I want to issue a formal apology to all survivors.” The report was the result of a seven-month investigation of EC actions relating to abuse from 2000 to 2021. Prompted by an expose published in the Houston Chronicle in 2019 that documented cases of abuse where the offenders were allowed to move to new ministries in other SBC churches,
IllinoisBaptist.org
JUNE 1, 2022 Vol. 116 No. 6
“A great wrong has taken place… A world is watching.” – SBC President Ed Litton
creation of an abusers database. One of the more surprising revelations was the existence of a secret file of abuse claims and convictions of SBC clergy held by EC leaders who publicly said such a database was impossible because of Baptist polity protecting the autonomy of local churches. The list was compiled by EC staff from news reports and calls from victims starting in 2007 when Chapman was CEO. There are 703 names on the list. In their 95-minute meeting, McLaurin said the list will be released to the public once the names of survivors and witnesses are redacted. According to the Chronicle, nine clergy on the list are still active in SBC churches. “At this moment phones are ringing in the SBC with more survivors calling to report,” EC Interim P. 4
‘Oasis’?
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
IB
messengers at the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting in Nashville ordered a third-party investigation. Messengers also ordered incoming SBC President Ed Litton to appoint a Sexual Abuse Task Force. An investigating firm, Guidepost Solutions, produced the report from more than 300 interviews with victims, witnesses, clergy, and EC staff and leaders at a cost of $2.7 million. The document released May 22 produced findings called by secular media “bombshell” and by Southern Baptists as “grievous.” More than 400 claims were documented, a few involving famous names in Southern Baptist life. It said previous EC CEOs Ronnie Floyd, Frank Page, and Morris Chapman failed to report abuse claims in order to protect the denomination from lawsuits such as those that have bankrupted many Catholic dioceses. “They had no problem providing creative ideas on ways to reduce legal liability,” the report said. “Overall, the legal advice focused on liability created a chilling effect on the ability of the EC to be compassionate towards survivors of abuse.” Floyd and his aide Greg Addison were criticized by investigators in 23 different examples and EC attorney August Boto in 33 examples, according to the Tennessean. Boto led a 2008 effort to stop
MISSION
Our ‘Priority’ Speakers urge transformation through discipleship P. 7-9
in focus While advocates promote Illinois as an abortion destination, churches prepare to save lives. P. 11
THRIVE
Aid for Ukraine Medical missions ignite this Illinois church P. 10
TABLE TALK
Hope after Uvalde? What tragedy requires of us P. 13