So tell me, just how does that affect their ability to drive out sexual predators from their pulpits? What you write is a distinction without a difference. Because they don't have an ecclesiastical hierarchy doesn't absolve them of collectively rooting out the rot within their “independent churches." Putting forth "repentance" as a solution is both laughable and criminal, and you should be ashamed to have anything to do with any "independent church" that seeks to hide criminal behavior of any kind, but particularly sexual abuse. I don't know how your God regards this stuff, but mine is dead set against it.
Wait a sec. I don’t Support the SBC nor do I condone any church that tolerates or condones illegal behavior. I have no idea where your insinuations come from. I merely pointed out the SBC is not a denomination nor a church.
The Board of Deacons handles such personnel issues. Generally in a BC the preacher would just resign when such an event came to light (indeed it does happen). In the case discussed it sounds as though the preacher had a big chunk of the membership on his side including a number of deacons. Really bad news when that happens and it generally prefigures a split congregation and lots of people leaving and a whole lot of very bitter feelings among the remnant. Talk about the evil men do living on this is a perfect example.