We gathered some very early responses here.
These are responses we have seen since Sunday night:
JOURNALISM:
Adelle Banks of Religion News Service has a timeline.
Ruth Graham and Elizabeth Dias at The New York Times. Some nice context here.
Eric Ortiz of NBC News.
David French at The Atlantic places the scandal in the context of other sexual abuse scandals: Liberty University, Ravi Zacharias, Catholic Church, and Kanakuk Kamps.
Sarah Pulliam Bailey with four takeaways.
Revealing thread from Robert Downen of The Houston Chronicle:
Just a brief note that I copy + pasted a bit out of chronological order midway through this, in case you were slightly confused. Apologies, been a long few days.
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
CBN is a splinter SBC organization that was formed in 2020 re: what they say is a “liberal drift” in the SBC, one of the most theologically conservative denoms w/ members who still largely/staunchly support the GOP/Trump.https://t.co/yMdqH6Z5KV
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
In ‘18 Patterson, a monumental evangelical figure, was ousted as pres. of an SBC seminary for his handling of rape reports. Unearthed sermons also showed PP bragging about counseling a woman whose husband routinely beat her bc he once came to church.https://t.co/iTRo8OflSD
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
Given the abuse crisis by then dominating the Southern Baptist Convention, it would have been a huge deal if Patterson was leading a “grassroots” movement like the CBN. He’d *just* been booted for his handling of sex abuses.
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
After his ouster, PP promised to ride into the sunset. He said the SBC was bigger than one man. Days after he was booted, he allegedly orchestrated a “secret coup” to siphon millions in scholarship money from his former seminary and Baylor Univ.https://t.co/ApFZ3feXlX
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
When CBN released promo videos, longtime SBCers noticed familiar background details- items they’d seen in the office of … you guessed, a one Paige Patterson.
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
I routinely asked CBN folks about Patterson’s involvement, given his history on abuse claims.
CBN stayed mostly quiet re: PP's involvement. CBN members on the SBC Exec Comm- the group at the heart of this week’s explosive report- framed themselves as protecting the SBC from new “liberal” leaders, who were outspoken on abuse and Patterson.https://t.co/eMbeCgIFmW
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
Side note: The pastor of the church that honored Patterson? He had a history of abuse allegations, and the church is no longer SBC.https://t.co/UADzT1mNmG
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
At the next SBC exec comm meeting (the same group from this weeks report) CBN-aligned members tried to censure Pres. Greear. And they launched an investigation into another leader, Russ Moore, who they accused of hurting donations via his work on abuse
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
Moore says CBN/Exec leaders launched the investigation in retaliation for the conference; He later left the SBC because of what he called mafia-style intimidation/threats. https://t.co/pW67H6cSeC
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
CBN leaders kept pushing back on abuse reforms; As SBC churches coalesced and demanded reforms on abuse, CBN intensified its warning of a then-little known, graduate-level field of study of structural racism in American jurisprudence.
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
It’s name?
Critical. Race. Theory.
Beth Moore, the famous Bible teacher, was their biggest target. In ‘21 Beth eft the SBC. It was a massive deal. https://t.co/LvgrOHSlk8
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
Russ Moore’s letter- and assertions that other leaders tried to silence his abuse work- set off a firestorm ahead of the SBCs ‘21 meeting. Sex abuse was suddenly back in the spotlight, drowning out months of CRT dramahttps://t.co/IokixZvIxY
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
Also, there were pirates.
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
I know – it’s very weird. Please don’t ask me to explain this. I can’t. It’s all so strange and really is beside the point. But I feel ethically obliged to mention that there really were pirates.
Yargh. https://t.co/xOHkeiWFkA
The same day, Stone was accused of verbally accosting a survivor who was attending the SBC meeting to raise awareness about abuse. https://t.co/E3NEFIPuSD
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
Stone, who led the Exec comm until losing his bid for SBC presidency, later sued Russ Moore over the leaked letter. This angered a lot of people given Biblical commands against suing other Christians. The suit was later dropped.https://t.co/FQetKwb8jx
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
In Oct. ‘21, the Exec Comm was supposed to meet to approve a legal agreement with Guidepost, the third-party firm hired to do the investigation requested by SBC churches. CBN-aligned Exec members forced three 9-hour meetings as they opposed the move.https://t.co/S6Fr93Qcvh
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
At one point, a longtime SBC exec member- who was CBN affiliated, openly stated that his goal with the investigation was to vindicate other SBC leaders accused of mishandling abuse.
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
In ‘19, that member tried to kill other reforms:https://t.co/3ZaKAet2QD
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because it was at the heart of this week’s report on SBC abuse- the same report that was commissioned by SBC churches last summer, and which CBN folks delayed via the three meetings they demanded in October.https://t.co/bG4JFzo0s3
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
A day later, on Monday, the CBN tweeted their statement
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
If you havent paid close attention, you def wouldnt know that the CBN’s founding is rooted in support for Patterson, whose handling of abuse has been documented since 1991-his ouster in 2018.https://t.co/BKAxu8SGxJ
….which means you probably didn’t note the myriad findings in the report that say Patterson was uncooperative with Guidepost investigators. https://t.co/BKAxu8SGxJ
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
This week’s report focuses heavily on a handful of exec members/their role in creating what Guidepost called a culture of silence that had a chilling effect on survivors’ willingness to come forward.https://t.co/60nov7Z3ns
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
But despite the profound influence both have had on the Exec Comm and SBC over many, many years, neither Patterson nor the CBN get more than a few mentions in the new report.
— Robert Downen (@RobDownenChron) May 24, 2022
WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY FINAL POINT: Seriously, there were pirates. Why.
The Associated Press on the push to publish the names of sex abusers.
Ed Kilgore at New York Magazine.
The Dallas Morning News covers the role of Jack Graham and Prestonwood Baptist Church. And here. Also the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
The Nashville law firm that represented the SBC Executive Committee “sharply disagrees” with the report.
Tennessean religion reporter Liam Adams on today’s meeting of the Executive Committee:
And a reminder of the story/key info to know. https://t.co/K4OiakEVSd #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
Today, in less than 20 minutes, the SBC Executive Committee is scheduled to meet. It will be an open session. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
Pastor Rolland Slade (@pastorrolland), EC chairman, calls the meeting to order. Said 54 people (didn't clarify if those are all members) are in attendance and "I just want to remind us this is an informational meeting." #SBC pic.twitter.com/e0th39y1dO
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
After finishing his prayer, Slade said he wants to acknowledge survivors and the survivor community. He also asks for patience when it comes to making decisions in response to the report. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
EC interim CEO/president Willie McLaurin speaks. "We are sorry to the survivors for all that we have done to cause hurt, pain and frustration." #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
Besen said he called Julie Myers Wood w/ Guidepost Solutions to ask her to keep the hotline open for survivors to continue to call and make reports. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
WOAH! #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
Besen announces Boto's secret list will be made public.
The publicizing of this list will not be immediate. Further review of it needs to be done first. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
EC member Jim Gregory responds and asks how EC members can make decisions/indicate positions on these actions that Besen just announced. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
This 👆🏼 statement will be issued today. The question on the table rn is whether it’s issued by some EC leadership/members or technically the whole EC. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
NEW: 97% of EC members vote to approve the statement. #SBC https://t.co/rCsJQdBuOx
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
EC member Harold Phillips offers thoughts on Besen's earlier statement about revoking Boto's retirement benefits, saying he has questions and concerns about it. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE ABOUT TODAY'S MEETING: this is a very parliamentarily (not a word) confusing meeting. To @kateshellnutt's point 👇 #SBC https://t.co/eohQg9Zbbl
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
I've seen the agenda for this meeting and it was very vague. And then, remember, Slade opened the meeting saying it was purely an informational meeting, so no votes. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
ALSO, another point on the vote about the statement to @ChristaBrown777 is that if I heard correctly, Slade will be allowed to follow up with EC members who were not present. But another thing I will need to clarify. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
So, I'll just go ahead and say it: the rules and structure of this meeting were not fleshed out as fully as they should be. This resulted in confusions about procedure that new viewers of EC meetings might conflate with sentiment/opinions. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
I get the EC's desire to respond to the report ASAP. It would have been helpful if it would have been spelled out a little clearer at the outset. #SBC
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
…
— Liam Adams (@liamsadams) May 24, 2022
-Some additional bold decisions will likely be made in the near future, including publicizing a secret list and exploring revocation of Augie Boto's retirement benefits. #SBC
Here is Christianity Today’s Kate Shellnut’s coverage of the meeting:
The EC is meeting now. Chairman @pastorrolland opens with a word of prayer and discussing a time of "lamenting, listening, and learning," but that it won't be a time of inaction.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
The interim EC president has offered an apology and introduces their legal counsel. Of course, Guenther, Jordan & Price—named in the report—stepped down last year.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
I believe these attorneys are with their new firm, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.
EC counsel Gene R. Besen said the Executive Committee decided last night to make Augie Boto's secret list of abusive pastors public as soon as possible.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
They are redacting victim's names, witness names, and uncorroborated allegations.
EC is currently discussing the logistics of putting out an immediate apology crafted by EC lawyers and staff on behalf of trustees when trustees themselves have not voted on the contents of the statement.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
The meeting was called as informational, so no vote/no agenda to vote.
As a result of the Texas lawsuit, Boto is unable serve in “any fiduciary capacity, whether as an officer, director, or trustee,” per the terms of the settlement. It's believed to be the first such punishment in SBC history. https://t.co/m5iQ0CJNdc
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
The report reveals how the EC trustees went along with what its former lawyers told them.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
Now that their new lawyers are dictating (good, needed) responses, some trustees are speaking up about wanting to do the right thing but not simply because of legal direction.
Among the Ec, not unanimous support for statement apologizing to survivors. 97 percent. https://t.co/Ktn9KncClV
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
First challenge to the consideration around Augie Boto's retirement: "If we rescind his retirement, we gonna have to rescind a lot of people's retirement."
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
This @SBCExecComm meeting is kind of in a weird in-between place where it was supposed to be purely information and then they voted to do business, so there's no agenda, but that hasn't stopped them from making decisions.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
Ok @Jonathan_Howe now's the time when you tell all EC members that they can talk to us in the media. 🙂
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
Interim president Willie McLaurin said the EC is preparing FAQs for trustees who get questions from media as well as a synopsis on the report.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
Sounds like Guidepost has the Boto list and that it is expected to be made public at some point, but the EC is trying to release it sooner.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
I imagine there's reason GP didn't include it in the report? Logistics of checking 700 people?
EC counsel Gene R. Besen: "Prompting releasing that list is in our best interest." Emphasizes the importance of the document for the survivor community and the general public.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
Ed Litton—SBC president—says the great wrong of abuse calls for transparency and right response: "We have become too familiar with using techniques to slow processes down."
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
Finance committee member suggests using the funding for Vision 2025 (former president Ronnie Floyd's plan) for survivor response. But chair says the money has already been designated by SBC messengers, so it would take a vote at the annual meeting to shift funding.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
EC legal counsel Scarlett Singleton Nokes speaks in Christian terms when talking about dealing with the survivor community, references her morning quiet time, the study of gentleness, etc.
— kate shellnutt (@kateshellnutt) May 24, 2022
The Houston Chronicle also covered the meeting.
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS:
Former head of the SBS Executive Committee Ronnie Floyd responds to the report.
Denny Burk:
“I’m reading & processing the SBC SATF report, but this much is clear: we have much, much work to do. The emotions range from shock & anger to disappointment & heartbreak. Though painful, I’m thankful for this report.”
— Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) May 24, 2022
@jasonkeithallen https://t.co/UB6gpkviih
“I must move ahead with the confidence, based on long experience, that faithful Southern Baptist laypeople, pastors, and denominational leaders will do the right thing, once they know what that right thing is.”
— Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) May 24, 2022
@albertmohler https://t.co/qbAAqhCfqG
The pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church responds.
Tom Ascol, current candidate for SBC president:
"I was grieved deeply as I read the report of the SBC Sex Abuse Task Force. Sex abuse is horrific and failure both to work for its prevention and to respond Christianly in the wake of it should cause Christians and churches to look to the Lord with godly sorrow and repentance. 2/
— Tom @tomascol (@tomascol) May 24, 2022
"Southern Baptists must recommit ourselves to uphold God’s standards of holiness and purity in all things, especially in caring for those who are most vulnerable among us. 3/
— Tom @tomascol (@tomascol) May 24, 2022
Russell Moore interviews Rachel Denhollander
The Mississippi Baptists respond to the report.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary president Danny Akin:
— Daniel Akin (@DannyAkin) May 23, 2022
Robert Jeffress says that there is “no excuse for this.”
The Louisiana Baptist Message responds.
Rick Warren:
Kay was sexually abused as a child at church. I honor & support the courageous women & men who exposed abuse coverups in the SBC. I'm grieving for the victims & enraged at the perpetrators & those who protected them.
— Rick Warren (@RickWarren) May 23, 2022
“Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed" Jesus Mark 4:22
To use "world evangelism" as a reason for a cover-up of sexual abuse cases is the ultimate blasphemy.
— Rick Warren (@RickWarren) May 23, 2022
"Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are despicable & disobedient, worthless for doing anything good." Titus 1:16 (NLT)
The pastor of Madison Baptist Church in Georgia responds at The Gospel Coalition.
Albert Mohler on the “reckoning of the Lord“
Word & Way covers the report.
OTHER OPINION:
Jonathan Merritt on how the report is a “repudiation of the past 40 years“
Shane Claiborne:
I wish more Southern Baptists believed that sin affects systems, not just individuals. Without a vision for systemic change it’s hard to address the “principalities and powers” within institutions. That makes repentance difficult, and repair even more difficult.
— Shane Claiborne (@ShaneClaiborne) May 23, 2022
Beth Moore: “You have betrayed your women.”
More Beth Moore:
I loved you. You have betrayed your women. It’s too late to make it right with me. It is not too late to make it right with them.
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) May 23, 2022
National Association of Evangelicals:
Amanda Marcotte connects the scandal to anti-abortion.
Not directly related to the sexual abuse report, but interesting nonethless:
Some 20 years ago, Russell Moore was indistinguishable from Al Mohler, Owen Strachan, Denny Burk, etc. Somewhere there was a fork in the road. Moore took it; the others didn't. (Or couldn't.) I want to hear that story.
— SlacktivistFred’s 1611 Project (@SlacktivistFred) May 22, 2022
Is Russell Moore a hero in all of this?:
True, but let's not over-heroize him in the story:https://t.co/ZbFeTAKEnV
— Brian Kaylor (@BrianKaylor) May 23, 2022
Joe Carter of The Gospel Coalition with some “Frequently Asked Questions” about the report.
Abuse victim Christa Brown:
Dear @SBCExecComm: Tomorrow at your special called meeting to discuss the Guidepost report, I urge you to make public the entirety of your list of pastors & ministers accused of sexual abuse, in whatever form it's been kept for lo these many years.
— Christa Brown (@ChristaBrown777) May 23, 2022
Post. It. Now.#SBCdatabaseNOW https://t.co/1PZe44G978
Abuse victim Jennifer Lytell on today’s meeting of the SBC Executive Committee:
If the trustees want information and transparency they need to start with releasing the names of the three trustees who abstained from affirming that vote. @sbcexeccomm.
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
Wait, does Jim Gregory have a wallpaper border of books in his office instead of actual books?
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
By all means, let's make sure we protect what's fair for the trustees. That's definitely the priority.
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
Here's what the @SBCExecComm just revealed to the SBC and world: The problem is not in the past and the problem is not legal counsel. The problem is bad actors and those can be in any number of roles. Clearly including current trustees.
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
Yep, it needs burnt down. This is insane. You can't say the problem was the lawyers when they now have good legal counsel and they're fighting it. @Jonathan_Howe @pastorrolland @deaninserra @JaredcWellman @keahbone Please someone speak up and stop this,.
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
Let's be real, even if Jim Gregory has found some valid procedural point to raise, the fact that the first thing out of his mouth was not, "I need to acknowledge I have been on the wrong side of this issue throughout my tenure and therefore I resign" is everything I need to know.
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
Remember when I said that the most positive consequential thing to happen in the @sbcexeccomm in the past 20 years was Gene Besen and Scarlett Nokes coming on as legal counsel? Yeah, I was telling the truth then just like all the times before that made their counsel essential.
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
After a solid day of processing, I want to make it super clear that the SBC report would not exist if not for @Jonathan_Howe’s internal work to support the messenger’s motion. Also, I need to report I saw him repeatedly put himself on the line w/Floyd to support survivors (cont)
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
comments would have been made. But I want the @SBCExecComm @pastorrolland & other survivors (@ChristaBrown777 @ThigpenTiffany @juleswoodson11 @Dave_Pittman) to know is that I have watched him do the right thing at the most crucial moments this past year. He’s not like the others.
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
To @BaptistPress on the “key leaders” response article:
— Jennifer Lyell (@jenlyell) May 24, 2022
1. I am officially requesting that the word “key” be removed from the title and anywhere else used.
2. I think you forgot to contact a whole category of people https://t.co/XbRYFMtK3z
SCHOLARS:
Beth Allison Barr:
I may regret this, but in full disclosure, my email response. https://t.co/8VDD6tqiXP pic.twitter.com/AMhyBAMNcT
— Beth Allison Barr, PhD (@bethallisonbarr) May 23, 2022
Today just isn’t a good day to tell me I need to be more tolerant of theologies that subjugate women.
— Beth Allison Barr, PhD (@bethallisonbarr) May 22, 2022
It just isn’t.
Today is a day to mourn, pray, and (please God!) repent for what we as followers of Jesus have done to women.
Scot McKnight:
Union Univ prof of theology reviews Beth Barr's criticism of complementarianism just as we discover 700 plus abusive pastors were harbored by the executive committee. Brad Green, what you have written about the SBC’s abusive pastors? @bethallisonbarr
— Scot McKnight (@scotmcknight) May 23, 2022
Anthea Butler:
The fact that these men of the SBC keep coming after @bethallisonbarr just lets you know tone deaf, abusive ,and reprehensible they are. They are abusers too. https://t.co/G41nAqwsD8
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) May 23, 2022
You know what I really want to see in the next few months/years? A similar report on African American denominations and sexual abuse in the church, just like this SBC report….#notholdingmybreath
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) May 23, 2022
and cheering for Roe's fall.. you have another thing coming. The Southern Baptist Convention is a powerful arm of the Republican Party, and this report just shows the kind of fake morality that the denomination and the Republican Party ascribes to.
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) May 22, 2022
All of the talk about groomers and pedophiles and the biggest denomination of White Protestants, the Southern Baptists convention has been hiding and protecting their sexual abusers for DECADES #SBCtoo
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) May 22, 2022
To the survivors, the brave men and women who came out to tell your stories of abuse, may this, as hard as it is, continue to help your healing process. I'm on your side. #SBCtoo
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) May 22, 2022
All the theology in the world is not going to save people who don't give a damn about injustice. The sinners prayer, evangelism and full churches ARE NOT a substitute for overlooking and hiding sexual abuse.
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) May 22, 2022
To put the blame on the devil trying to stop evangelism because people are reporting sexual abuse is the most crass, venal, ignorant and hateful thing . These men are unfit ,unworthy, and are quite frankly, the devils henchmen themselves.
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) May 22, 2022
But hey, what can you expect of a denomination that started in racism and will burn itself down in sexual abuse that it denied over and over again. Listen. As many times as Southern Baptists dragged Catholics? Shit. Same sins. Same depravity. Same patriarchal BS. @SBCtoo
— ProfB (@AntheaButler) May 22, 2022
Kristin Kobes Du Mez responds at her Substack page.
Diana Butler Bass:
They need to fire people. Clean house. Haven't they "listened" enough? They got 400 pages of listening.
— Diana Butler Bass (@dianabutlerbass) May 24, 2022
I never want to hear another peep of theological or moral self-righteousness out of any of those SBC leaders. Not a single expletive deleted word.
— Diana Butler Bass (@dianabutlerbass) May 22, 2022
And how the right-wingers in my own Episcopal church used the SBC playbook.
— Diana Butler Bass (@dianabutlerbass) May 22, 2022
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