The Inherent Problems and Delays With SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force Are Starting to Be Noticed.

“The NICS database has holes big enough to drive a Mack truck through. “John Kennedy

On Friday, I will post an article that will affect a well-known church in a large metropolitan area. Once again, it is a church that I attended and love. The issues involve a church takeover, spiritual abuse, emotional trauma, and power held in the hands of a select few rather than the entire church. It is essential to write this post promptly, and I will spend a considerable amount of time “getting it right.”

I look forward to your input in the comment section. I have a feeling your comments will be read.


As everyone knows, I have long supported SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) (and its evolving names.) So many stories of sexual abuse found on this site involve the SBC. My initiation into the widespread sexual abuse problem was in a local SBC church in which an SBC seminary student abused a large number of young teen boys.

Given that the SBC messengers overwhelmingly supported this initiative, many hoped to see a database and a hotline established in short order. Alas, it was not to be. This week, BNG posted Every member of the SBC’s abuse reform task force should resign in protest by Christa Brown.

The following problems inherent in the SBC demonstrate that there will be little effort on the part of the entrenched church leaders to implement difficult change.

The infamous amicus brief

Thanks to journalists, we now know that even while SBC officials were putting on a show at the June 2023 annual meeting, touting the launch of an empty shell of a database as “historic,” and even while they were promoting their uncaring “Caring Well Sunday” in September, behind the scenes, they already had filed an amicus brief in a Kentucky case — a case in which the SBC isn’t even a party — to actively argue against even the possibility of justice for child sex abuse survivors.

The infamous Paul Pressler with alleged stonewalling of prosecution

And consider what we’ve learned from the sexual abuse lawsuit involving Paul Pressler. Documents produced by the SBC Executive Committee “spelled out the SBC defense philosophy of delay, filing a multitude of motions, and blaming the victim.”

Although this wasn’t surprising — SBC officials have long worked to crush SBC clergy abuse survivors — having this tactic spelled out in the SBC Executive Committee’s own documents should give pause to any doubters. And again, this kind of behind-the-scenes “stonewalling” was going on at the same time as SBC officials’ performative displays of caring about abuse.

Allegations against Greg Wills, who is still a member of the ARITF.

In October 2022 and December 2023, former BNG Clemons Fellow David Bumgardner wrote to Bart Barber and the task force, detailing serious corroborated concerns about task force member Greg Wills. Bumgardner alleged that, while at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wills had sought to obtain confidential information about an SBC sexual abuse survivor and threatened retribution against those who sought to assist the survivor.

…Wills has a prior relationship with an accused abuser who is a co-defendant in litigation against the SBC.

A promised database has not been presented that includes the names of convicted and imprisoned SBC pastors while credibly accused pastors will likely NEVER be included.

It hasn’t even named those criminally convicted. Nor has it bothered to transfer to the new database the hundreds of names that were on the Executive Committee’s long-secret list. Furthermore, by its own admission, the task force has completely stalled out on including the most needed category of names — pastors determined to be “credibly accused” by independent investigation.

On 9/13/23, the website said it was committed to facilitating access to those credibly accused. However, they would start with those convicted or found liable for sexual abuse.

An Overview of Ministry Check

A significant development in our ongoing efforts is the creation of Ministry Check. This initiative, which we introduced several weeks ago, is not merely a tool or a website but a comprehensive platform designed to enable Southern Baptist Churches to prevent abuse by sharing crucial information.

  • Our intention is to assist churches in helping one another prevent abuse, acknowledging that they often rely on reference checks when hiring candidates for ministry positions.

  • However, this process is limited by the information available.

  • Ministry Check will address this limitation by facilitating access to information about individuals who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse, beginning with those who have been criminally convicted or found liable in civil court for sexual abuse. 

  • We are well underway in the process of launching Ministry Check, and we anticipate announcing the official launch date soon.

Here is proof from the ARITF’s website, and be sure to keep checking…

Coming soon, Ministry Check will provide leaders with the ability to search for information about individuals who have been convicted, found liable, or confessed to abuse.

Visit again for updates on the launch of Ministry Check.

The sexual abuse hotline has received hundreds of calls but not a peep if anything was done with the info.

despite hundreds of reports made to it, the SBC has released no information about who those reported pastors are, or whether congregants in their churches have been informed. The hotline appears as little more than a theater piece; it presents an illusion of accountability but without the reality.

Given the information from Christa’s excellent article, here are my concerns.

  • Given the SBC’s penchant for keeping secret lists, is the SBC keeping a secret list from the hotline? Is it happening all over again?
  • Who is answering the hotline, what advice is being given, and is there a report presented to anyone as a means of accountability?
  • The SBC will never allow “credibly accused” pastors to be placed on the list. That is one way to protect their friends. Why should we believe they wouldn’t do this again?
  • How much has the ARITF/hotline cost the faithful so far?
  • We are now on day 121 since the October report. I’m keeping track and will post an update.
  • The ARITF website appears to give confusing information, such as whether credibly accused pastors will be listed. Dee has a prophecy for all of our readers. The SBC will NEVER allow the list to post credibly accused pastors, which is why the ARITF has stalled.

Given the information available, it appears that the ARITF is hampered. There needs to be accountability regarding timetables, hotline calls, etc. I believe the hotline workers have been given a template outlining what they can say or not say during these calls. They probably have a template for recording and reporting or not reporting info. I believe those templates should be released to the faithful. Unless they are, I worry that nothing is being done and accountability is lacking. I pray I’m wrong.

It’s time. This has gone on for too long.

Special thanks to Christa Bronw, who is a retired appellate attorney.

Comments

The Inherent Problems and Delays With SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force Are Starting to Be Noticed. — 30 Comments


  1. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    The inherent problem is that it is being run by the very organization that has this monstrous sexual abuse problem.

    It should be completely separate from, and completely funded by, the SBC.


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    Who needs abuse reform to keep the child abusers away from the pulpit when it’s much easier and much more important to keep uppity women out?


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    Gus,

    Priorities!!!


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    “Ministry Check will provide leaders with the ability to search for information about individuals who have been convicted, found liable, or confessed to abuse.”

    Provide “leaders” with information about criminal predators using the church as their hunting ground?

    Control. Among the authoritarian strongman guys-only group at the top of the org’s Hierarchy. Like the Patterson-Pressler cohort.

    Dangerous. Control the narrative, the information shared, the who knows what about who does what.

    More of the same old. The Good Ole Boys Club of boys will be boys as they theologically duct tape (silence) women, youth, and children.


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    OT: Request of prayer for healing. Thank you and God bless you, too.


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    Let us pray:

    O God, Creator of the Universe Who has made every man and woman in Your image, give strength to every victim and survivor of violation in the church, so that they will speak the truth about what happened to them, and may the truth set Your church free, in Jesus’s Name. We are ever grateful to our Heavenly Father, to His Son Jesus Who saves us and to God’s Holy Spirit Who dwells within us.


  7. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    I live in New York State. A few years ago the Child Victims Act opened a temporary“look back window” for adult survivors of child sexual abuse to sue perpetrators and organizations that covered up abuse, even if the statute of limitations had expired. Several Catholic dioceses in the state declared bankruptcy due to having to pay out damages from these lawsuits. Some school districts are feeling the pinch too. And there is a move going on to make the change in the law permanent. Personally, I think this is a great idea. If hiding abuse were riskier for organizations than exposing it, the Larry Nassars and Jerry Sanduskys of the world would have a lot fewer victims before they were caught.

    Incidentally, the SBC legal strategy of delay, shotgunning motions, and if all else fails blame the victim, is not unique. Someone I know well is bringing a CVA case against a teacher who abused them as a child and the school district where the abuser worked. They are experiencing similar tactics from the perp and school district’s legal team. If the defense can drag things out and make it too exhausting and costly for the victim to continue, they’ve won.


  8. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Ava Aaronson: OT: Request of prayer for healing.

    Praying….


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    CMT: If the defense can drag things out and make it too exhausting and costly for the victim to continue, they’ve won.

    Whoever has the deepest pockets….and it’s usually not the victim. Very big sigh.


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    Ava Aaronson:

    Dangerous. Control the narrative, the information shared, the who knows what about who does what.

    Give them the Propaganda numbers – “Two thousand Roentgens, not fifteen.”


  11. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    researcher: Whoever has the deepest pockets….and it’s usually not the victim. Very big sigh.

    MONEY TALKS.
    Whoever pours more money into their shysters, wins.
    May as well auction the verdict to the highest bidder – it’d be more honest.


  12. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    researcher,

    “Costly” in a financial sense, yes, but it is emotionally costly as well. The legal process can re-traumatize people, and many victims understandably decide it’s not worth going through that and possibly losing the case anyway. The person I referred to knows several others who were abused by the same perpetrator, but these others want nothing to do with the lawsuit. Who could blame them?


  13. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    It took me several years of confusion and frustration to realize it, but men are the only ones who truly matter in the SBC. They have been making that blatantly obvious for decades. (And remember???….. it was women who took a public stand to exposed the abuse and started all of the “distractions” and “trouble”).
    I never expected much if anything would be done for abuse survivors and future victims. And, I think protection for the perps and their protectors goes much deeper and broader than SBC leadership.
    Too many of the men who have been credibly accused of abuse and the men who have been exposed for protecting them are heroes in the SBC. Too many deacons, elders, and John Does in the pews idolize those men. They do not want their heroes and idols to fall. They can’t let their demigods get knocked off of their oh-so-high pedestals.
    So, pretense and distractions. Move along, nothing to see here.


  14. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Nancy2(aka Kevlar),

    It is not just “men”, it is “powerful men, that speak the party line”…. Think Paul Pressler, or Jerry Sandusky…. They abused boys… and/or young men…..


  15. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    CMT:
    I live in New York State. A few years ago the Child Victims Act opened a temporary“look back window” for adult survivors of child sexual abuse to sue perpetrators and organizations that covered up abuse, even if the statute of limitations had expired. Several Catholic dioceses in the state declared bankruptcy due to having to pay out damages from these lawsuits. Some school districts are feeling the pinch too. And there is a move going on to make the change in the law permanent. Personally, I think this is a great idea. If hiding abuse were riskier for organizations than exposing it, the Larry Nassars and Jerry Sanduskys of the world would have a lot fewer victims before they were caught.

    Incidentally, the SBC legal strategy of delay, shotgunning motions, and if all else fails blame the victim, is not unique. Someone I know well is bringing a CVA case against a teacher who abused them as a child and the school district where the abuser worked. They are experiencing similar tactics from the perp and school district’s legal team. If the defense can drag things out and make it too exhausting and costly for the victim to continue, they’ve won.

    Sounds like the M.O. of a certain former POTUS that all these so-called Christians in the SBC and others wholeheartedly support.


  16. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Nancy2(aka Kevlar),

    I so totally agree with you!

    It has taken a long while for me to finally realize this organization was founded so powerful MEN could take a stand for the right to own other people.

    And it has not changed. The sad truth is that it is still a bunch of MEN seeking the power privilege position for the money running the show.

    It is not a place for faithful Christians to belong, serve, visit, contribute, or otherwise validate.

    They still see themselves as a whole as predestined to be the ones on the top of the heap, with the men at the very highest point. Lottie and Annie were allowed to go function as preachers to the lesser folks, aka those with darker skins or not citizens of the USA even though they led men. Then it was white man at top in leadership, then white women, then all those not blessed to be white. Today the sole focus seems to be on being male.

    And at the deepest gut level, it is still all about owning other people. Still about slavery.

    And still wrong.


  17. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Ava Aaronson: OT: Request of prayer for healing.

    Praying…


  18. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Nancy2(aka Kevlar): They can’t let their demigods get knocked off of their oh-so-high pedestals.
    So, pretense and distractions. Move along, nothing to see here.

    Boston is very Irish and very Catholic, and they thought it would always be business as usual too.
    They had a rude awakening in court.
    And so will the SBC, it’s only a matter of time.


  19. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Jeffrey Chalmers:
    Nancy2(aka Kevlar),

    It is not just “men”, it is “powerful men, that speak the party line”…. Think Paul Pressler, or Jerry Sandusky…. They abused boys… and/or young men…..

    Also remember “The more Pious, the more Perversion.”


  20. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Nancy2(aka Kevlar): I never expected much if anything would be done for abuse survivors and future victims. And, I think protection for the perps and their protectors goes much deeper and broader than SBC leadership.

    Remember Boz T.
    In all his years as a prosecutor specializing in ChoMo cases, he NEVER saw a church take the side of the victim. Always “RALLY ROUND THE PEDO, BOYZ! GAWD SAITH!”

    (With optional Spiritual Warfare and PERSECUTION!!!!! cards dealt off the bottom of the deck.)


  21. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Ariel,

    Ariel, Thx so much. God bless.


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    researcher: Praying….

    Researcher, thx so much. God bless.


  23. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    CMT: “Costly” in a financial sense, yes, but it is emotionally costly as well. The legal process can re-traumatize people, and many victims understandably decide it’s not worth going through that and possibly losing the case anyway. The person I referred to knows several others who were abused by the same perpetrator, but these others want nothing to do with the lawsuit. Who could blame them?

    That….which also makes me very sad.


  24. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Ava Aaronson,

    Prayers ascending as i write this.


  25. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Here’s a sad thing to ponder … I doubt that 80+ of SBC’s 15 million members know anything about long-time and widespread sexual abuse by hundreds of church leaders, nor that ARITF was formed to look into it. If you were to canvas members exiting your local SBC church(es) this Sunday, inquiring about their knowledge of this mess, they would look at you like racoons caught in car headlights. Their pastors surely know about this, but haven’t informed and warned their congregations as they ought. (if you doubt me, try surveying Southern Baptists in your area). If the majority of Southern Baptists knew this, they wouldn’t sing “We Are Standing on Holy Ground” this Sunday. IMO.


  26. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Ava Aaronson,

    I prayed for you just now, Ava.


  27. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Max: I doubt that 80+ of SBC’s 15 million members

    meant to say “80+ percent”


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    Max,

    dee,

    Max and Dee, you have no idea – I am ever so grateful. God bless you both, and all of the praying Faithful TWWers x 100fold. On the mend now. God is good.


  29. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Ava Aaronson: On the mend now.

    Yay! 🙂


  30. Notice: Undefined variable: button in /home/guswo2wr8yyv/public_html/tww2/wp-content/plugins/quote-comments/quote-comments.php on line 127

    Max: Max: I doubt that 80+ of SBC’s 15 million members

    meant to say “80+ percent”

    Above the threshold where Groupthink locks in and Dissidents/Traitors are Purged by any means necessary.