“With one collective voice our Convention is expressing its concern for victims of sexual abuse and that is a very good thing. The executive committee leadership also appreciates the continued engagement & active interest of Southern Baptists nationwide in this process.
However, we are concerned that too many of the statements issued reflect disinformation, half truths, and mischaracterizations of the motives and actions of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is committed to fulfilling the will of the messengers including by granting appropriate access to investigators to the documents and information they request to do their work. There is no attempt to defy the messengers or hide information from investigators.
The Executive Committee has been working to get the Task Force to consider a process that will be thorough, transparent and allow for the full truth to the published. We are confident that the intent of the messengers to the 2021 annual meeting can be accomplished without risking unnecessary damage to the Southern Baptist Convention. For instance, the Task Force admits their process may cause the loss of the Convention’s insurance.
Our prayers are for an outcome which meets the needs of the Convention to know the full truth and allows our Trustees to fulfill their fiduciary duties, in compliance with the law. We hope for an ultimate decision which merits the vast majority of the board’s support so that all Southern Baptists can be confident in the final product. Those who appeal alone to divine intervention to protect the Convention also wear safety belts when they drive and insure their vehicles and their homes.”
—SBC Executive Committee Spokesperson