Southern Baptists hope to take steps at their upcoming annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala., to address continuing reports of sexual abuse in their denomination
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The document also included a list of ways for state and regional groups to help churches handle sex offenders, including developing a covenant that, if violated, would limit their church attendance or access to church property.
Easter said she considers offenders to be too dangerous to be permitted in a church gathering.
“Predators should be ministered to by trained professionals separate from the regular church meetings and completely separated from vulnerable people,” she said.
Here we go again:
“…help churches handle sex offenders…”
“Predators should be ministered to by trained professionals…”
All sex offenders are predators, right?
Want to see your church begin to wither away and eventually die, start by ostricizing sinners from the group and soon the church is empty. The Baptist here are establishing a defense mechanism, but not from offenders so much as the attorneys & actuaries that follow them for profit.
I belong to a church, that is part of large denomination (not SBC). Most people there knows about my pass and I have recently been assigned in a key leadership position, with open access to anywhere and anytime on the campus, keys to the buildings and authorized to operate church vehicles. There are strike welfare protocols in place that protect children, families and staff. The balk of the burden of protecting children falls on the parents, example children are not allow to go to the restroom unless the parent escorting them. Children church are open space and at least 2 adults in full time attendance with no doors closed. All private prayer and counseling is with at least 2 in attendance. Members of gender groups are matched with of that same gender. If, an individual of the opposite gender desire private counsel with the pastor, 2 female staffers are in attendance. No one is allowed to roam the halls. The main problem in the church is false accusations and not former sex offender.
From a Christian perspective Jesus in Matt. 25:40 clearly states, “what you do to the least of these my brethren you do it unto me” So if churches treat registrants any differently than other members of the church that church is not upholding the fundementals of their own principles, teachings and beliefs. Better to leave such a church if you are a believer whether your a registrant or not.
Seems to me that the “inadequate response” to sexual abuse allegations was to require more than a mere accusation. Concurrently, the “adequate” response is apparently to accept the allegation as fact and force the accused to prove his innocence. And we’re not supposed to have a problem with that.