EC general counsel disputes group’s child sex abuse claims in AP story – (BP)
EC general counsel disputes group’s <br>child sex abuse claims in AP story – (BP)
The Southern Baptist Convention “deplores and condemns” child sexual abuse and provides resources for its member churches to battle it, an attorney with the SBC’s Executive Committee said in a statement Feb. 22.
Will other so-called “Baptist” groups come under the same scrutiny?
Will the “local church” be responsive?
Will society understand “autonomy”?
Does “bueracracy” describe “church”?
Lot’s of questions. It will be interesting to see how the answers play out and what other questions arise.
Bellevue Baptist had a minister on staff for 34 years who raped his own young son 17 years ago repeatedly for 18 months but never resigned his position. The reason he was outed? When the son grew up he told his father he would remove fellowship with him and his mother if he did not remove himself from the ministry. The father then told the pastor who still did not fire him. He kept him on staff for 7 months until the son made it public and there was an outcry from the members.
What is the law concerning the pastors confidentiality in these cases? I was under the impression any abuse had to be reported no matter what. Whatever the law, the minister was not qualified according to scripture and should have been removed that instant.
We do know that many victims of this heinous crime do not come forward for years…sometimes until they are adults. After seeing how this has been handled by the Catholics to the Baptists…I can see why. The people you should be able to trust the most…you can’t.
“What is the law concerning the pastors confidentiality in these cases? I was under the impression any abuse had to be reported no matter what. Whatever the law, the minister was not qualified according to scripture and should have been removed that instant.”
This is correct. There is no confidentiality when a crime has been committed. Romans 13 (and other places) lay it out in rather clear terms that so far as the law is in accordance with the law of God the gov’t. should be obeyed.
And this is the point in which autonomy comes in to play. The SBC is not a governing body — it advises and provides resource pools for the local churches. The Local Church in the case of Belvue dropped the ball. But then if a true NT model of church was actually being realized (I could probably count on one hand the number of churches that do) I doubt seriously it would be a church discipline problem at all. 1 Corinthians 6 et al would really have meant something besides a quaint Sunday School lesson.