Message from the Pastors on the SBC Sexual Abuse Report
Dear Redeemer,
We are writing you in light of the third party report that was released last Sunday (5/22) regarding an investigation into sexual abuse in several churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. We are thankful to be a part of the SBC. The reports of this abuse have left us angry, sad, and frustrated.
We have spent the week looking through the report, and have had to stop a number of times due to the density and grievous nature of the report.
We are typically slow to respond to the latest news because of our desire to be measured and non-reactive. We are writing this to you all in an effort to speak on something that is heart- breaking and within our own denomination. While there is much more that can and should be said, we want to leave our commentary brief and direct.
1) Rather than this being a time for talking points and self-preservation and defense, as a church we ought to grieve that these offenses have happened in our denomination. We are calling on you to pray for victims and for the perpetrators. That Christ would provide healing and redemption.
2) We ought to sit in the brokenness and let the Spirit do his convicting and restorative work. Anger, sadness, and frustration are natural and healthy responses to injustice and unrighteousness.
3) Pray that God would preserve our church from such horrible actions. Pray that we would be courageous and humble as we seek to provide a space for the Holy Spirit to do his work in our midst.
4) If you have been abused in a church (sexual, physical, emotional, or otherwise), we want to encourage you to reach out to us or to reach out to Joshua Vallejos to talk through how you might pursue healing and spiritual vitality.
5) At Redeemer, if there is a criminal offense committed by members or on Redeemer’s campus, it will be reported to civil authorities. We will seek to care for those involved, but given the nature and repercussions for criminal activity, as a obligated reporting entity, we must report such offenses.
6) The Gospel compels us to provide a place of grace and mercy and safety for everyone— especially the most vulnerable in our midst. This is why we have our child protection policy as a church. Sometimes such strictures can make people uncomfortable because we are a church and people assume that it is a safe place. This is also why everyone who works with children and youth undergo background checks. We are thankful to Ashley for the measures she has put in place to ensure our most vulnerable are cared for safely.
7)Encourage and support our measures, as a church, to protect the vulnerable in our congregation through our Child Protection Policy.
8) This June the SBC will convene in Anaheim, California June 12-15. If you would like to go to represent our church, please let us know by June 7 (pastors@redeemergreenville.com) so we can bring your name to the church to affirm you go as our Messenger.
In closing, spiritual leadership is something God takes with utmost seriousness (Luke 17:1-4, James 3:1). We are convinced that those who have committed these actions have denigrated the teachings of Jesus who warned his followers about the gravity of sinning against the vulnerable.
We believe this is a revelatory moment for our denomination and for the evangelical church in America to pursue holiness and purity and righteousness and the way of the Cross. In an age where celebrity is pursued by those in leadership and Christians are enamored by the latest and coolest church, the call for committed Christ-followers is great. We believe the path the Lord has set us on as a church is not as flashy but it is the very essence of following Jesus. We long to make true disciples in our actions. This is the harder path and not as glamorous. It requires humility and confession.
Yes, we cry for justice and seek measures to realize it. We also weep and reckon with our own sin and how we have hurt others. We also must double-down on our efforts to genuinely follow Jesus in the way of his Cross.
Grateful for you and that we are pursuing genuine discipleship and community together,
Matt and Russell