The Southern Baptist Convention's Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force announced this week that a "ministry check" site will be launched by Guidepost Solutions.
Guidepost Solutions is the firm that the SBC Executive Committee brought on to investigate the SBC's own handling of sexual abuse cases. As Christian Headlines previously reported, in May 2022, Guidepost Solutions released its report that confirmed SBC had mishandled sexual abuse cases and mistreated sexual abuse survivors.
According to ChurchLeaders.com, the website will provide a database with the names of pastors and church leaders who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. The cost of the site is estimated to be between $1.5 million and $2 million.
SBC group Send Relief has already earmarked $3 million for the task force to use towards reforms and new policies.
"Although we were told for decades this was impossible, last June, our convention voted to get this done," taskforce chairman Marshall Blalock said during a Monday SBC Executive Committee meeting. "There has been no cooperative mechanism to relay information from church to church to help each other to stop sexual abusers from going [from] place to place."
Critics have said they worried about creating and maintaining a database of sexual offenders in the church and its legal liability, but Guidepost Solutions found in its report that the Executive Committee legal counsel was already maintaining a secret list.
Blalock said that the new website will be launched by Guidepost Solutions' new faith-based division, "Faith Based Solutions." The division will be led by veteran attorney, SBC church member and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary alumna Samantha Kilpatrick, the Baptist Press reports.
"We are actually opting for one of our own to spearhead this initiative," Blalock said. "She is [a] godly, capable, and trustworthy person. I could not be more grateful that she is willing and available to come alongside us in this process."
Meanwhile, Tom Ascol, Florida pastor and former candidate for the SBC presidency, said he was disappointed the SBC chose Guidepost Solutions. He pointed to a June 2022 tweet where Guidepost Solutions featured LGBTQ+ pride colors to celebrate Pride Month.
"The #ARITF admits that they know Guidepost supports 'causes contrary to Southern Baptist beliefs' as an 'ally' to LGBTQ+ activists, but they choose this organization anyway. Are you satisfied with this? Are you content to have millions of CP dollars go to this organization? If not, then let those who work for you hear from you & demand a change."
Related:
Russell Moore Calls Actions of SBC Leaders ‘Blasphemy’ following Release of Sex Abuse Report
Photo courtesy: Glenn Carstens Peters/Unsplash
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
