Abuse and the Independent Local Church
In May, the SBC commissioned and published a report on the denomination’s response to abuse. It was highly self-critical. Now the DOJ is launching an investigation into the SBC, which never settles well.
Such investigations are concerning from several perspectives.
The indications from the vast majority of leaders within SBC organizations and educational institutions are that everyone will cooperate fully. That seems like good advice—when the institution investigating you is not using your own investigation as a pretext for persecution. I do not know that is what is going on here, but SBC leaders would be wise to be wisely represented legally. Sometimes justice is not what the justice department is pursuing.
Let me be clear. Abuse must never be tolerated and should always be appropriately and legally reported. Child abuse, spousal abuse, gender abuse, employee abuse—none of these should be tolerated by Christians or Christian institutions.
One of the mysteries here is why the DOJ is looking into this at all. Abuse is always reported to local law enforcement and abuse investigations are in the purview of local and state authorities.
Another perplexing issue is that the SBC is a fairly loose association of many various entities. State conventions differ from the national convention, seminaries and colleges are not interconnected and often represent a wide range of theologies and practices. Most of all, the individual local churches are considered independent and neither the national nor state conventions have authority over local churches that would allow policy enforcement or punish evildoers.
In fact, investigation and punishment of abuse should be reserved for civil authorities like police and various child protective service agencies.
The responsibility of churches and church leadership is to report abuse and then do everything possible not to hinder a police investigation. For the FBFI, we are a fellowship of individuals. We do not even have any officially recognized relationships with any local churches, colleges, or other organizations. We do not have the authority to implement abuse prevention requirements anywhere except at our own functions.
We can remind all with whom we associate to be vigilant in abuse protecting against abuse.
It is important that we help to educate those within our constituency about abuse prevention and reporting. We have published a number of articles here over the years. I would highly suggest everyone re-read them and re-examine their abuse prevention policies. Let’s reiterate some basics.
Have clearly defined child protection policies for your ministry and review them with all leaders regularly. Keep them diligently.
These policies should include guidelines for criminal background checks on all church employees and anyone that works with children. It should have provisions protecting both children and adults from accusation by having a two-adult rule in place. It should have guidelines for reporting potential criminal activity.
Determine a ministry protocol for dealing with domestic abuse cases that do not include children.
These are some of the most challenging situations any pastor faces. In the middle of that difficulty, it is imperative to have guidelines that help those involved spiritually and protect vulnerable people from harm.
Take every abuse allegation seriously.
Do not brush it under the rug no matter how unbelievable it might seem. Our job is to help people spiritually. Pastors and churches are not equipped to perform criminal investigations and certainly are not equipped to administer criminal punishment.
Church discipline can wait.
Church discipline is a matter of biblical obedience and churches must practice it, but it is not necessary to practice church discipline at the expense of a criminal investigation. Let the police do their job first, then do yours later.
For further suggestions on this issue, I would refer you to two articles that David Shumate did with Rachel Mitchell, a Maricopa County Attorney who specialized in prosecuting abuse crimes. Rachel Mitchell is now the sitting Maricopa County Attorney and is running for re-election this fall.
https://www.proclaimanddefend.org/2012/03/19/interview-with-rachel-mitchell-part-1/
https://www.proclaimanddefend.org/2012/03/20/interview-with-rachel-mitchell-part-2/
There is a danger that the abuse issue could become a pretext for persecution of religious entities, even churches. However, the greater tragedy would be that such allegations would be true.
We should soberly take this moment to make sure our own houses are clean.