Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Aiming to make churches ‘safest places on earth’: ARITF shares annual report, messengers extend work another year

  • June 14, 2023
  • Tennessee Baptist and Reflector
  • Latest News, Louisiana, SBC 2023, Sexual Abuse Investigation Archive, South Carolina
Marshall Blalock, a South Carolina pastor and chairman of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, gives the report for the ARITF during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting.
(Photo by Sam Evans/The Baptist Paper)

Aiming to make churches ‘safest places on earth’: ARITF shares annual report, messengers extend work another year

In a show of support for the ongoing efforts to implement abuse reform measures in the Southern Baptist Convention, SBC messengers voted overwhelmingly in favor of extending the work of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) for another year. 

The vote came on Wednesday — the final day of the SBC’s annual meeting in New Orleans — after the task force presented its report to messengers on the work that has been completed in the past year. 

The ARITF will be renewable by each subsequent annual meeting as needed.

Marshall Blalock, a South Carolina pastor and chairman of the ARITF, said the outcome of the vote represented “a historic day” in SBC life. 

Marshall Blalock, a South Carolina pastor and chairman of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, introduces the report for the ARITF during the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting. (Photo by Sam Evans/The Baptist Paper)

He noted that the vote also was a demonstration of “thousands of Baptist folks from around this country” coming together in unity to say, “Let’s keep this going.” 

Blalock shared those comments during a press conference held after the vote was finalized. 

Earlier, while presenting the task force’s report to messengers, Blalock choked back tears several times. He said that he and other members of the task force have had the “sad honor” of hearing stories of abuse victims over the past year. “My heart is broken for these (individuals),” he said. 

Top objective 

Blalock said the No. 1 objective of the ARITF was for SBC churches to be “the safest places on earth” for children. He noted the task force “serves at (the churches’) direction” and that “the real genius of the SBC is cooperation.”

The task force report included detailed information about the SBC abuse prevention website that eventually will include a database of offenders. Blalock noted that the task force is in the process of “vetting” the names that ultimately will appear on the list. 

Task force members Kris Buckman and Jon Nelson provided further information about the website. 

“Background checks alone are not enough,” Buckman said. “It needs to be multilayered.”

Buckman detailed the SBC’s “toolbox” of resources that the website currently provides, and said that the toolbox will be expanding in the coming months. 

“Our states have made great strides” in the past year, she said. “Our prayer is that these resources will be helpful.”

Nelson said the database — and the accuracy of it — are paramount in the process of protecting churches.

Blalock says the No. 1 objective of the ARITF is for SBC churches to be “the safest places on earth” for children. He noted the task force “serves at (the churches’) direction” and that “the real genius of the SBC is cooperation.” (Photo by Sam Evans/The Baptist Paper)

“We cannot get this wrong,” he said, “and we will not get this wrong.”

Criteria categories 

Marshall later detailed the four categories that will determine who is included on the database: confession, conviction in a court of law, civil judgment rendered and — perhaps the most controversial — determination by independent third party “according to a preponderance of evidence.” 

Blalock said “there had been considerable discussions about Category 4 … and it is the one that has drawn the most interest and concern. (We) have consulted with many advisers and legal experts while working to develop the website. We are committed to implementing Category 4 as it is developed.”

Later, in a response to a comment made by a messenger from the floor, Blalock noted that only individual names — and not churches — will be included on the database. 

Although there currently are no real names in the database, only “dummy” or fake names, Blalock said real names will begin appearing on the list in the months ahead.

Blalock concluded the report by quoting Galatians 6:9, “Do not grow weary in well doing,” and encouraged messengers to “keep going.” 

“There has been more progress made in our local churches over the past year than there has been, probably, at any point in my lifetime,” he said. “But there is more to do.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by David Dawson and is part of the team coverage of Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting and Executive Committee events by staff members from The Baptist Record, Baptist & Reflector, Baptist Message, Illinois Baptist, The Alabama Baptist and The Baptist Paper.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Baptist DR teams providing ‘a little bit of hope’ as TX flooding death toll rises
    Baptist DR teams providing ‘a little bit of hope’ as TX flooding death toll rises
    July 9, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • IRS: Churches can endorse political candidates
    IRS: Churches can endorse political candidates
    July 9, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: Steps to victory over pornography
    First person: Steps to victory over pornography
    July 9, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Baptist DR teams providing ‘a little bit of hope’ as TX flooding death toll rises

As of Wednesday morning (July 9), the latest death toll from the horrific flash flooding in Central Texas had risen at least 119, with at least 150 people still missing, mostly in Kerr County, according to the latest media reports.

IRS: Churches can endorse political candidates

For years, conservative legal groups have argued that an IRS rule barring churches from endorsing candidates was unconstitutional.

First person: Steps to victory over pornography

Like every year for the past several years, I watched in 2024 as more church leaders fell into the trap of pornography. Here are some steps to defeating it.

Study: Pastors less engaged with counseling resources, more isolated

Compared to a decade ago, pastors have less training in counseling but are more hesitant to refer church members to professionals.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel