Disgusted, Saddened, Embarrassed, and Angered by the SBC

by Keith Watson

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. Romans 13:3-4

At a recent Pastor’s Roundtable, the question was asked, “How are you and your church responding to the release of the Executive Committee’s report on sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)?”  At that moment, I didn’t have adequate words for my own response.  I still don’t.
But I am trying. 
In this blog I want to share my personal response and then a practical response from our New City Elders.

My Personal Response:
God has given systems, structures, and leaders for the good of people.  Systems and structures are given to ensure care; to meet the needs of others, especially the vulnerable; and to make sure there is justice and protection.  Leaders are given to oversee those systems and use them for the good and protection of people.  The authorities should be a “terror” to those who do what is bad and a place of safety and protection for those who have not done wrong.

The book of Amos is largely about the corruption of systems and structure by leaders who were evil.  These leaders used the gifts of God, systems, structures, and even laws, as weapons for their own protection and gain rather than for the protection and good of others, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized.

We see a picture of God’s heart against such men in Mark 11 and John 2.  Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers set up in the temple and drove those selling in the temple out with a whip.  In part, I believe the anger of Jesus was because those money changers used a system of worship for their own greed and, particularly, they were doing so at the expense of the poor.  They were abusing a system that was given for the good of God’s people. The religious leaders who should have guarded those systems and those people chose instead to participate in the benefits of the system and disregard the needs of the people.  Jesus was rightly angered.

My responses to the Executive Committee’s report have ranged from disappointment and despair to disgust and anger.  I am filled with hurt for the HUNDREDS of KNOWN victims of sexual abuse who have been ignored, pushed to the side, bullied, and maligned.  I am filled with anger that the same men who eagerly have pointed out the woes of society have hidden the truth of abuse and neglect in churches, some even alleged to have been abusers themselves.  I am sickened.  The leadership of the SBC have used their power and position for their own gain and protection rather than for the good of others. They have brought pain and hurt to countless people as they abused the very systems meant to protect those people. This abuse and cover up is documented for at least twenty years.

The politics behind calling for the investigation and how the SBC should respond to the growing allegations of mishandling abuse claims has been almost as sickening for me as the findings themselves.  For 20 years, abuse victims have asked for help and for an investigation, and for 20 years the leadership and their legal counsel have denied, lied, covered up, and hidden, all while bullying many who sought truth and justice.  Those in power have lobbied churches and their “messengers” to vote against leaders who tried to bring the allegations of sexual abuse to light. They have used their platforms to speak ill of those leaders, call them names, and destroy their reputations and jobs.

These leaders have ignored the power of the gospel for decades while they hid behind it as their reason for sweeping things under the rug.  It is disgraceful.   Rather than rehash everything involved, let me point you to the report, a response from Dr. Russell Moore, and a short video response with Dr. Albert Mohler.

A Practical Response from New City Elders
Our elders understand that God has given us the task of shepherding His sheep at New City.  One of a shepherd’s jobs is to defend the sheep, including the weak and vulnerable.  Shepherding includes caring for injured sheep and dealing with predators who would bring harm. 

This means that it is our desire to see healing for those who have been hurt by sexual abuse.  We are available to hear your story, help where we are able and connect you with professionals who may also be a healing help. 

It also means that we are prepared to take necessary steps to protect the people God has placed under our care at New City.  This is not new for our Elders.  We have stood, literally, between a raging and abusive husband and his wife.  We have taken in some who have been abused.  We have provided housing, counseling, and involved legal authorities.  We are committed to protecting the abused and shining the light of truth and justice on abusers.

We are drafting now a clear policy for the church staff and church at large on dealing with harassment and abuse.  It will spell out what has always been true – we want to hear from you if you see abuse, fear abuse, or have been abused.  We will take all reports seriously and each will be investigated.  Our New City Partners should see more on this in the coming days. 

Finally, we are in the early stages of revisiting our relationship with the SBC.  Our values and the values of many in SBC leadership seem to be at odds.
 

Conclusion:
I am heartbroken for the men and women, boys and girls who endured such terrible abuse from the people meant to protect them.  It is gut wrenching.  I am horrified by the abuse of power that we have seen over the past 20 plus years in the SBC.  It confuses me.  It frustrates me.  It makes me angry.  I know that this behavior is not indicative of the SBC as a whole.  I know there are thousands of churches across this country doing all that they can to love and follow Jesus, to live Christ-like lives, and to share the good news of the gospel with others. 

While I don’t know the future of the SBC or our future with the SBC, I do know that the mission of Jesus will continue. I know that the gospel will go forward and the church will ultimately prevail. I am confident, not because this catastrophe will bring an end to sexual abuse and brokenness, but because our God is faithful and true and he has promised that not even hell itself will stop his work through his church.

Would you pray with me for the many who have been hurt over these decades? Would you pray with me for their healing and for peace? Would you pray for the many churches rocked by these scandals? Would you pray that in the SBC there would be a broken repentance that humbles the leadership and flows through the more than 47,000 SBC churches?