Members of the coalition that fought the Roman Catholic Church’s hierarchy over sexual abuse by priests are asking the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to prevent similar clergy abuse in the denomination’s churches.
Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) delivered a letter to the SBC Executive Committee at its Nashville headquarters Sept. 26. It asks convention leaders to form an independent review board to receive and investigate charges of clergy abuse in Southern Baptist congregations.
Abuse from clergy is a “systemic” problem, the letter said, and must be addressed by the denomination’s main permanent governing body, the Executive Committee. SNAP members also mailed the missive to South Carolina pastor Frank Page, who was elected to the SBC presidency in June.
The letter is the second one they have sent to Southern Baptist leaders.
“Just as family members cannot properly investigate a molestation claim made against a close relative, local church leaders cannot properly investigate a report of clergy abuse made against a much-loved minister,” SNAP members wrote. “The usual dynamics dictate that there cannot possibly be a proper inquiry without outside intervention.”
Part of the difficulty the SBC faces in taking aggressive action involves the autonomous nature of local churches in Baptist polity. Since individual congregations have full control over their decision-making and governing processes, the SBC can’t dictate rules or punishment to them. Abuse survivors complain that too often abusive ministers move on to other churches without being punished, only to repeat the abuse in another location.
“When kids are at stake, there is no place for passivity on the part of denominational leaders,” it said. (ABP)
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