Southern Baptist Convention Releases List of 750 Clerics Suspected of Sexual Assault

The South American Baptist Church has faced allegations of sexual abuse involving 40 clerics from Joe County, according to a report shared with the Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. These claims have sparked calls for accountability within the broader Southern Baptist Convention, which is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States.

In late May, the Southern Baptist Convention released a list of 750 clerics suspected of sexual assault, along with details of their alleged cases. This list was compiled following a comprehensive report commissioned by a third party, Guidepost Solutions, which conducted a seven-month investigation spanning the past 20 years. The report, totaling 288 pages, was part of a broader effort to address concerns raised by victims and advocates.

The controversy began with an in-depth investigation published in the Houston Chronicle in 2019, which exposed allegations of sexual abuse against Baptist clergy. Victims and members of the South American Baptist Church repeatedly demanded thorough investigations, yet these requests were initially rejected by the Executive Committee of the South American Baptist Church. The committee even dismissed the allegations as part of a “Satanist plan to block our preaching of the gospel.”

At last year’s United States-South Baptist Annual Conference, the Executive Committee finally agreed to investigate the matter with credible independent organizations, leading to the hiring of Guidepost Solutions. The findings were compiled and made public for the first time by a former employee of the South American Baptist Executive Council.

The former employee described the report as “very disturbing,” indicating a significant shift in the Church’s approach. Griffin, representing the Georgia Baptist Society, emphasized the Church’s commitment to prioritizing victims. He noted that while challenges remain, the organization has trained over 7,000 church volunteers to recognize and report abusive behavior.

With 14 million members, the Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Christian organization in the world outside the Vatican. Unlike the Catholic Church, which is centrally governed, the Southern Baptist Convention operates independently, with each congregation responsible for the selection and employment of its members.

The list of individuals involved in the United States Baptist Association is available at the provided URL.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)