Southern Baptists Address Sexual Abuse & Trafficking Despite Criticisms

on April 23, 2014

“One in six women has been raped or assaulted in her life,” said Trillia Newbell, author of United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity from the pulpit of the Southern Baptists Convention’s (SBC) Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s (ERLC) first-ever summit addressing today’s cultural issues. Newbell graciously encouraged, “Pastors you must educate yourself.”

As noted in the article, “Women, Sexuality, and the ERLC Summit,” several premature assumptions accused the Southern Baptist’ first-ever ERLC Sexuality & the Gospel Summit of ignoring sexual abuse. ABP News even ran a story highlighting SNAP representative Amy Smith who claimed on day one of the three day summit, that the topic of sex abuse is “noticeably absent.” However, the Southern Baptists quieted their critics by honestly addressing the seriousness of sexual abuse within evangelical sanctuaries and beyond.

“I don’t want you to be distracted by the statistics. Forget the numbers for a minute and simply picture your sisters’ faces,” instructed Newbell, consultant for the ERLC’s new women’s initiative, to a room filled with seminary students, pastors, and lay leaders including many women. “These are the women we want to care for. Victims who need to be rid of their disgrace and find grace, love, and the healing power of the gospel.”

During a Q&A session, when asked about sexual abuse in the church, Dr. Russell Moore, President of the ERLC, encouraged leaders be prepared to care for victims “through Caesar and the church” by first immediately calling the authorities and then by appropriate church discipline with church members involved.

In a break-out session entitled, “Traffic Stop: How the Gospel Can Overcome Sex Trafficking,” Pastor Tony Merida taught participants how to recognize abused or trafficked victims and how to respond.

“Sex trafficking is rape for profit,” said Merida. “It has been going on in our backyards for years.” He continued that evangelicals must “teach people that we live a life of social justice.” When one participant raised the question, “If I live in a small town, then what can I do to end sex trafficking?” Merida offered a fresh answer, explaining that Christians can talk to their local police chief, take advantage of local organizations’ resources but also remember to “minister to your local law enforcement officers.” He explained that because local law enforcement deal with issue head-on, are overworked, tired and rarely thanked it is important to “let them know they are supported.”

Issuing clear-cut instructions for pastoral care of women, Newbell said, “This is a very short talk that only scratches the surface on women and sexuality.” She continued, “[T]here’s the issue of marriage and the purity culture, fear and pressure because of the effects of pornography, abortion, and as has already been discussed at length same-sex attraction as well. All issues that you might need to explore when you go home.”

“This shouldn’t be the end of the conversation,” concluded Newbell. “But it should be the beginning.”

 

 

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