The executive board of Birmingham Baptist Association (BBA) released a statement July 29 saying it is investigating recent allegations against BBA Executive Director Mike McLemore.
The allegations resurfaced after a story was published by the Birmingham News on July 2, in which an accuser charges that McLemore knew about and covered up alleged incidents of sexual abuse by a former staff member of Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham, where McLemore once served as pastor (see full story in the July 17 issue of The Alabama Baptist).
The statement, written by the BBA executive committee and adopted by the BBA executive board during an executive session, is as follows:
“The executive committee of the Birmingham Baptist Association is investigating the recent allegations against our executive director. The executive committee is grateful that our executive director continues to cooperate fully with the investigation of the allegations brought against an ex-staff member of one of our BBA churches. Any possibility that our leadership may have been involved in covering up the sexual abuse of a minor/minors must be considered thoroughly.
“The executive committee is grieved by the sexual abuse of minors. Those who have been sexually abused by clergy are deserving of special compassion. The churches of the Birmingham Baptist Association are encouraged to take every necessary precaution to protect minors against sexual abuse.”
(TAB)
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