The following resolution will be presented at the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware’s Annual Meeting on Nov. 15, 2021, at First Baptist Church, Laurel. Messengers will vote on the resolution at that time.
In Support of Sexual Abuse Survivors and The Task Force
Whereas, we affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 Article XV, which states in part, “All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society … We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick … In order to promote these ends, Christians should be ready to work with all men of goodwill in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.”; and
Whereas, the messengers of the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville passed overwhelmingly the motion (see endnote for full text) creating a Task Force for the purpose of an independent investigation of the SBC Executive Committee requiring that privilege be waived; and
Whereas the trustees of the SBC Executive Committee are nominated to their positions for the purpose of executing the will of the messengers who are sole members; and
Whereas the trustees and staff of the SBC Executive Committee struggled to affirm the will of the messengers and eventually did so; and
Whereas our brothers and sisters who are survivors of sexual abuse at the hands of Southern Baptist Pastors, Ministers, Deacons, Sunday School teachers, and/or members should be heard, honored, and cared for in a way that honors our Savior; therefore, be it
Resolved the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware (BCM/D) at our 2021 Annual Meeting declare that we wholeheartedly and unreservedly affirm the original Sexual Abuse Task Force motion from the 2021 convention floor approved by an overwhelming majority of messengers present, and be it further
Resolved that the BCM/D calls upon the trustees of the SBC Executive Committee to continue to fully abide by the terms given to them by the messengers at the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention, and be it further
Resolved that the messengers of the 2021 Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware annual meeting call on our convention of churches to support victims of sexual abuse by exposing all forms of abuse through faithful teaching and preaching of God’s Word, by immediately and fully reporting every known case of sexual abuse to the proper civil authorities, removing from membership any church that knowingly perpetuates sexual abuse among its members or staff, and stands ready to offer holistic support to survivors of sexual abuse; and be it further
Resolved that the BCM/D Executive Director, staff, General Mission Board members, Associational Missional Strategists/Directors of Mission and pastors commit to implementing the Southern Baptist Caring Well Initiative (https://www.caringwell.com/) to the fullest extent possible. In addition to the common practice of background checks and child protection policies, this initiative will serve our affiliated churches in protecting our men, women, and children from the trauma of sexual abuse within the churches affiliated with the BCM/D; and be it further
Resolved that the messengers of the 2021 BCM/D Annual meeting request that the Affiliation Committee of the General Mission Board research the potential of requiring preventative measures like Caring Well Initiative, background checks, and child protection policies for a church to be considered in good standing with the BCM/D. This committee would report its findings to the Officers of the General Mission Board no later than 90 days prior to the 2022 BCM/D Annual Meeting so that the Officers of the General Mission Board can immediately make this report public to all BCM/D churches in good standing and be it further
Resolved that the messengers of the 2021 BCM/D Annual meeting request that the CFO of the BCM/D research ways to provide funding to help cover the cost of background checks and other measures seeking to prevent sexual abuse from occurring within BCM/D churches. This report would be submitted to the Officers of the General Mission Board no later than 90 days prior to the 2022 BCM/D Annual Meeting so that the Officers of the General Mission Board can immediately make this report available to all BCM/D churches in good standing.
Brad O’Brien, brad@jesusourredeemer.com, Jesus Our Redeemer Church, Baltimore, MD
Keith Myer, keith@harvestbc.com, Harvest Baptist Church, Salisbury, MD
Chris Snider, chris@catonsvillebaptist.org, Catonsville Baptist Church, Catonsville, MD
Brent Brewer, brent@fbclaurel.com, First Baptist Church, Laurel, MD
Chul H. Yoo, chulyoo@cccashton.org, Christ Community Church, Ashton, MD
Russell Spikes, russspikes@verizon.net, Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Clarksville, MD
Brian Sandifer, brian@phbc.com, Potomac Heights Baptist Church, Indian Head, MD
Joseph (Jay) Jones, joseph@freedomchurchbaltimore.org, Freedom Church, Windsor Mill, Baltimore, MD