Sexual Abuse, Immigration, Billy Graham: 5 Interesting Resolutions Passed at the SBC Annual Meeting
Resolution 2 – On Abuse
Resolution 2 called upon the Southern Baptist Convention to "condemn all forms of abuse and repudiate with a unified voice all abusive behavior as unquestionably sinful and under the just condemnation of our Holy God."
"... we strongly urge abuse victims to contact civil authorities, separate from their abusers, and seek protection, care, and support from fellow Christians and civil authorities," continued Resolution 2.
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"... we implore all persons to act decisively on matters of abuse, to intervene on behalf of the abused, to ensure their safety, to report allegations of abuse to civil authorities according to the laws of their state, and to pursue church discipline against impenitent abusers."
During the amending process, the phrase "and ask forgiveness" was added to the whereas that reads: "We deplore, apologize, and ask forgiveness for failures to protect the abused, failures that have occurred in evangelical churches and ministries, including such failures within our own denomination."
The resolution came at a time when the SBC was under public scrutiny for various allegations towards seminary figures including former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson of failing to report incidents of sexual abuse and assault.
During the annual meeting, SWBTS Interim President Jeffrey Bingham told those gathered that he would make it a priority "to create a safe environment and a campus culture that protects and cares for the victims of abuse."
"At Southwestern, we denounce all forms of abuse, all behavior that enables abuse, all behavior that fails to protect the abused, and all behavior that fails to protect those who are vulnerable to abuse. We pray for the abused and we agonize for them," said Bingham.
