Bart Barber (Photo by Morris Abernathy/The Baptist Paper)
Nashville, Tenn. | On day one of its two-day meeting, members of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) learned a new candidate has emerged for President/CEO of the SBC EC and heard a proposal from the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) about starting a new independent non-profit to handle abuse reform within the SBC.
Neil Hughes, chair of the SBC EC Presidential Search Committee, said members of the SBC EC should expect an email on or before February 29 with the name of a candidate for President/CEO of the SBC EC. He asked committee members to save the date of March 21 to gather in Dallas to vote on the perspective candidate. “But don’t book anything yet,” emphasized Hughes, who also is director of missions and executive director of the Montgomery (Alabama) Baptist Association and MBA Community Ministries. “Just pencil it in.”
In his final report to the SBC EC as president of the Convention, Bart Barber announced efforts to implement a new resolutions process. “We’ve changed our process, and I’m happy to say for the first time ever this year you will know what the proposed resolutions are for the SBC Annual meeting well before we gather in Indianapolis,” said Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church Farmersville, Texas. Members of the resolutions committee by the end of February.
Barber also noted a fifth session will be added to the SBC Annual Meeting on Tuesday evening to allow more time for business.
Jonathan Howe (Photo by Morris Abernathy/The Baptist Paper)
In his report, interim president and CEO Jonathan Howe told committee members the cooperative work of Southern Baptists is not transformative if “it’s all about us.” The only way any Southern Baptist or state convention entity can have success “is through the life-changing work of the spirit of the risen Lord.”
Josh Wester, the chair of the ARITF, said he wanted to dispel the misinformation that surrounds the clergy sex abuse database the committee has been tasked with developing such as these databases don’t exist, are uninsurable, or would be targets for lawsuits. Wester responded, “Not only do they exist, but they’re insured. Not only are they insured but they don’t get sued all the time.”
In his report he noted it’s been difficult to put the database into place due to interference from both outside and inside the SBC.
Wester said given these difficulties the committee members agreed establishing an independent organization would be the best way forward. “An independent organization will have more credibility with survivors, more flexibility to help our churches, and more success in accomplishing the mandate given to us,” he said.
ARITF chair Josh Wester, standing with fellow task force members, announces the upcoming launch of the Abuse Response Commission for overseeing further work in addressing sexual abuse reform in the SBC. (BP photo)
The committee is appealing to SBC entity leaders for the financial means to make it possible to launch the organization fully funded.
“This organization will be committed to giving Southern Baptist churches and entities the very best resources to prevent sexual abuse, stop predators from moving from church to church, care for survivors, and become and abuse-free family of churches,” promised Wester.
The North Carolina pastor asked Southern Baptists to join with the committee in seeing abuse reform accomplished across the Convention. “You [Southern Baptists] have been told a thousand times that everyone is against abuse,” he charged. “Now is the time to put those words to action.”
Members of the ARITF held a press conference at the conclusion of Tuesday’s meetings. According to Wester the non-profit is being started “by a group of concerned Southern Baptists,” which includes himself along with current and former members of the abuse task force: Marshall Blalock, Mike Keahbone, Brad Eubank, Jon Nelson, and Melissa Bowen.
Their targeted financial goal to start the organization is $2.5 million which includes an estimated $1 million to launch the Ministry Check database. The group also said it plans to hire an executive director to oversee the non-profit.
The SBC EC met in Nashville February 19-20, 2024.
Day 2: SBC EC handles variety of business items, recommends disaffiliations
– Includes reporting from The Baptist Paper and the Illinois Baptist.