Seth Udinski, FISM News
After weeks of discussion and several delays, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has finally agreed to allow a third party to investigate the widespread allegations of sexual abuse against the denomination.
The Executive Committee passed the measure in a 44-31 majority vote on Tuesday during a Zoom meeting. This comes after many people inside and outside the church voiced concern that the SBC’s refusal to allow open investigation was an obstruction of justice and harmful to the victims. The investigation will be conducted by Guidepost Solutions, and sources indicate that Guidepost will be allowed total authority over the investigative process.
Pastor Griffin Gulledge from Georgia praised the move, while also understanding that this will permanently impact the SBC:
Taking steps towards honesty, transparency, repentance, those are great things. Those are worthy of celebration. It is huge to see this vote go from losing by a large margin … to ultimately passing by a large margin. But let’s recognize that the result of this is that the Southern Baptist Convention will never be the same.
SBC President Ed Litton, tasked with leading the the denomination through this difficult investigation, finished the virtual meeting with a prayer for the Lord’s leading as the investigation begins:
We have all faced a very difficult and challenging time. We know the cost that has been explained to us again and again. Lord, we pray for your will to be done, what needs to be exposed, and healing begin for many. But above all, that the Gospel, the reputation of this great people called Southern Baptists would rise above it.
FISM News will continue to cover and pray for this investigation, as the specifics of the allegations are revealed in the coming months.