Actually, I was suggesting the opposite. Whether or not they are some sort of church hierarchy or not, they have an obligation to protect their children.
“Whether or not they are some sort of church hierarchy or not, they have an obligation to protect their children.”
All 45,000 individual churches in the SBC have that obligation. Most take it very seriously. But the convention itself has no ability to do anything other than recommend procedures.
For example, the current SBC President was voted in at the annual conference. Just over 5,000 baptists attended and voted. Out of over 45,000 congregations! One person from every 9 churches attended. My pastor likes to go if it isn’t too far. He is the only person I’ve met who had ever gone, and I’ve been mostly baptist for 40 years.
The SBC exists to coordinate missions and seminaries. It is OK at the first and marginal at the second. It doesn’t have any other function. It cannot set any policy. Heck, it doesn’t even have a mandatory statement of belief.
In 2007, a convention passed the following resolution:
“...WHEREAS, This abuse has occurred too often in churches and homes—which ought to be places of shelter and safety—and it has happened at the hands of family, educators, ordained ministers, and ministry workers—who ought to be trusted persons of authority; and
WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention in 2002: called Southern Baptists to practice integrity and fidelity to God; urged accountability among spiritual leaders to the highest standards of Christian moral practice; urged seminaries and related educational institutions to emphasize ministerial integrity; encouraged religious bodies to rid their ranks of predatory ministers; called on civil authorities to punish to the fullest extent of the law sexual abuse among clergy and counselors; called on our churches to discipline those guilty of any sexual abuse as well as to cooperate with civil authorities in the prosecution of those cases; and urged our churches to offer support, compassion, and biblical counseling to victims and their families; and
WHEREAS, LifeWay Christian Resources and many state conventions offer extensive resources designed to assist churches in addressing this issue; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio, Texas, June 12-13, 2007, express our deep level of moral outrage and concern at any instance of child victimization; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we implore Southern Baptist churches to utilize materials from LifeWay Christian Resources and state conventions and other relevant research that help churches prevent child abuse; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we strongly recommend that Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities respond to any suspicions or allegations of child abuse in a timely and forthright manner; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptist churches and Convention entities to exercise moral stewardship by observing responsible employment practices, including performing criminal background checks on all ministers, employees, and volunteers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals who commit heinous acts against children; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we renounce individuals, churches, or other religious bodies that cover up, ignore, or otherwise contribute to or condone the abuse of children; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we pray for righteousness and justice to prevail in our land and intercede on behalf of victimized children, asking God to heal their deep emotional and physical wounds, grow them into mature and healthy adults, and stop the cycle of abuse from repeating itself in another generation.”
http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/1173/on-protecting-children-from-abuse
One of the things the activists are pushing for now is creation of a database of ACCUSED offenders. Not convicted ones. Just accused. If Brett Kavanaugh became a Southern Baptist, he could be put on the “accused” list. If the SBC gives in, I will ask our congregation to consider leaving the SBC. I’d like to see us leave anyways because the seminaries & national leadership is becoming more and more politically correct on just about every issue.