Now is the Time to Do the Right Thing

It is a sad and challenging time for the Southern Baptist Convention. The independent Guidepost investigation on Sexual Abuse in the SBC has uncovered horrific accounts of terrible, sinful behavior and poor character among a handful of top Southern Baptist leaders, including Executive Committee Presidents, a Seminary President, legal counsel, a North American Mission Board Vice President, and some Executive Committee employees. Their actions have egregiously harmed victims of sexual abuse by people in Southern Baptist churches and SBC entities and those attempting to warn the SBC or do the right thing. They protected abusers, vilified victims, and perpetuated the possibility of more abuse through their actions. It appears that in at least one case, even a top SBC leader, Jonny Hunt, was the sexual abuser. These leaders were wrong, sinful, and have hurt our gospel witness of Jesus Christ.

As a pastor of an SBC-affiliated church, I am calling upon the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee Board of Trustees, and the Messengers to the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, to make right the past sins of the EC and fully adopt the recommendations of the Guidepost findings, posthaste. They must also institute better safeguards to prevent anything like this from happening in the future. Churches cannot partner well for the sake of Gospel propagation and theological education if we are unable to trust those appointed to facilitate our partnership.

I encourage pastors and churches to pray for the victims of sexual abuse at the hands of ministers, professors, and church members. Pray for the Southern Baptist Convention and the work ahead of those tasked with making this right. And I challenge Redeeming Life Church to pray for the same things.

I applaud the Messengers of the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting for standing up to those trying to maintain "business as usual" by simply asking the Messenger to rubber-stamp the process. I sincerely hope that the Messengers at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting do the hard work required of them rather than treating the time as an opportunity for a vacation.

May God use these challenging times for his glory and our good.

For the Kingdom!
Pastor Bryan Catherman