The Thursday addition of the Pensacola News Journal carried a story about Southern Baptist ministers and sexual abuse. In the past few days SNAP-Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, delivered a request to the Executive Committee of the SBC requesting the denomination adopt a zero tolerance stance and create an independent review board to investigate molestation reports. SNAP says that about 40 cases of sexual abuse in SBC churches have been reported. These have been garnered in reports from some 20 years. The request of SNAP to the SBC is understandable. If only one person has been abused it is one too many. However, the request made to the SBC shows a very incomplete understanding of Baptist polity. Seems it is time for a little lesson in Baptist methodology.
 
Baptist churches are independent organizations. While churches like ours at Olive choose to affiliate with the Southern Baptist denomination, we are in no way controlled by a denominational board or committee. No SBC-appointed review board would have any jurisdiction at Olive or any other Baptist church. Our hierarchy does not work that way. We do not work for the SBC, State Convention or Baptist Association. They work for us. We are not accountable to them. Rather, they are responsible to the churches.
 
Every Southern Baptist church is an independent AUTONOMOUS body. The church is self-governing. No person in Baptist headquarters tells a church who is qualified or not qualified to serve as a staff member. The local church is RESPONSIBLE for selecting its own staff. That same church should do its homework and know all it can about a person they place in leadership as pastor or any other post. Background checks and personal references must be a priority. Sister churches should supply honest answers to questions when asked. But the responsibility is always on the local church. No one from outside can make a Baptist church do anything. Encouragement, warning and advice can be given. But no one reviews Olive from the outside. We are responsible to God for our decisions.
 
Make no mistake.  Sexual abuse of children or adults by a minister would never be tolerated at Olive. It is not only sin before God but unlawful before man. Forgiveness and restoration are matters to be dealt with in a serious Biblical way. However, no pedophile is worthy of or welcome in the pulpit.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Posted on Friday, February 23rd, 2007 at 9:48 am.
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