Yesterday, the report from Guidepost Solutions was released. This was a report that was called for by the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in June 2021 (of whom I was one). This report was intended to look into how allegations of sexual abuse within local churches were handled when reported to the Executive Committee of the SBC from January 2000 to June 2021.

I knew that this report would be a tough one to read. With our sinful natures, you are going to find “skeletons” in the closet when you go looking. As I’ve been reading through this report, I am heartbroken over what I have read thus far (the report is close to 300 pages). The way in which survivors of abuse have been treated by some in the SBC is sickening. From what I gather from the report, the main reason for not dealing with these things in a more head-on manner was the fear of lawsuits. The fear of a lawsuit??? Are you kidding me??? Some leaders in the SBC that I had looked up to have conducted themselves in anything but a Christ-honoring manner.

The thing that keeps turning my stomach is that as messengers were told that creating and maintaining a database of offenders to warn churches about was difficult to do and possibly a liability, this very database was being kept behind closed doors. Sickening.

I am still working through this report so that I can make an informed decision as to what I, my family, and the church that I lead are to do. I will be in Anaheim, CA this coming June as a part of the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. With all of the items that were on the agenda to deal with, how the SBC moves forward concerning this report and its recommendations sets at the top of the priority list. Certain leaders of the SBC dropped the ball big time, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot do what is right now. I truly believe that the next steps taken will determine the effectiveness and lifespan of the SBC.

I would encourage all SBC churches to send messengers to the annual meeting. I know that it is not cheap to make this trip and time is precious, but some of the changes that need to happen come from those messengers who show up to the annual meeting and vote – this is how this report got done last year. I would encourage all members of SBC churches to take the time to read through this report from Guidepost Solutions. See the reality of what has been and the urgency of what needs to change. I would also encourage everyone to pray for three specific things:

• the survivors of abuse who have had to fight a needless battle
• those who have been involved in abusing or covering up – that they would confess and repent
• the current leadership of the SBC – that they would have the courage to do what is right