NASHVILLE (AP) Rev. Marshall Blalock feels the burden of his new responsibility.
South Carolina pastor is vice-chair of the newly formed Southern Baptist Convention taskforce, which was charged with overseeing an inquiry into how a top denominational body handled sex abuse allegations. This review comes many years after the SBC's public reckoning about the scandal.
Blalock believes that the work of the task team, which was set in motion by a vote at a national gathering of Southern Baptists in June, could form a foundational part in how the SBC will address the issue in the near future.
Blalock stated that if the task force does the same as the convention asked, and if the Executive Committee agrees, then we are making great first steps towards preventing, responding appropriately to, and caring for survivors of sexual abuse.
A landmark report by the Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and San Antonio Express-News that documented hundreds of cases in Southern Baptist churches including many in which the alleged perpetrators were still in ministry, brought the sex abuse scandal to the forefront in 2019.
The new President of the SBC, Ed Litton, appointed the task force of seven pastoral, legal, counseling, and advocacy professionals to oversee an outside firm's investigation into allegations that the Executive Committee mishandled abuse case, refused reforms, intimidated advocates and victims.
Litton said that they were tired of the abuse and needed to address it. He was elected amid divisions about race, women's roles within the church, and how to deal with the abuse problem. However, I believe there was a clear message that this isn't a witch hunt. This is an opportunity to make the past better.
Two months later, the task force has accomplished two important tasks: selecting Guidepost Solutions as the third-party company to conduct the probe and asking the Executive Committee for waiver of attorney-client privilege to allow the investigation to take place at its next business meeting.
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The Rev. said that it is all about finding the truth and then dealing with it. Bruce Frank, North Carolina pastor and chair of the task force.
The Executive Committee has praised the selection of Guidepost and noted that it is the same investigative company it had intended to use before the task team was created.
The committee stated this month that they look forward to meeting with Guidepost to coordinate our activities to support their important work.
Jules Woodson is a survivor of church sexual abuse and is based in Colorado Springs. She remains skeptical but is optimistic that the SBC will make positive changes. After meeting with the task force she was encouraged and is now willing to engage Guidepost, even though she remains skeptical about the firm.
Woodson stated that it is difficult for survivors to have faith in systems and people who have repeatedly failed them. We are finally starting to see steps taken in the right direction for the first time since forever.
She stated that she cried tears and joy when the trustees from the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (the SBC's public policy arm) indicated that the ERLC was willing to conduct an assessment of sexual abuse within the church and put in motion a plan to accomplish this.
"The evil of abuse must be continued to be confronted," Brent Leatherwood (the acting president of the commission) stated in a statement. Our churches must be safe for survivors as well as safe from abuse, as we have stated previously.
Delegates at the June gathering approved the motion, which directed the task force agree to follow the recommendations of the third-party investigator. This includes the Executive Committee staff members and members waiving attorney clients privilege to ensure that the review is open to all information and accurate.
Frank, chair of the task force, requested that privilege be waived Aug. 2. He called it crucial to have full access to pertinent information, accountability and transparency and to properly evaluate reform steps.
Although the Executive Committee didn't make any commitments in its statement, it said that it was not opposed in principle. Any speculation to the contrary is untrue and internet rumor.
Rolland Slade, Chair of Executive Committee, stated that he supports the request as it is the will the members of the June conference. We have the obligation to implement and observe the wishes sent by the messengers.
Rachael Denhollander is an attorney and advocate who was one of the two advisors to this task force. She said that it is essential to identify, recognize and acknowledge truth in order to make meaningful and effective changes.
Denhollander stated that if the executive committee does not waive privilege, they send a clear message to say they reject accountability and transparency.
Woodson stated that all would be not lost in such an event, but that survivors would be responsible once more.
She asked, "How many times do we have to tell our stories over-and-over again?"
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