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
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

ARITF prepares for Ministry Check release, continues work on ‘credibly accused’ standard

  • May 26, 2023
  • Meredith Flynn
  • Latest News, Sexual Abuse Investigation Archive

ARITF prepares for Ministry Check release, continues work on ‘credibly accused’ standard

Ahead of its report to messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting next month, the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) released an update May 25 to “bring truth and clarity” to the SBC about its work.

The update addressed questions about the standard of “credibly accused” as it relates to the upcoming Ministry Check website, and also explained the ARITF’s decision to move away from Faith-Based Solutions as the provider and manager of the website.

“Our goal remains to help every church be the safest place on earth for children and vulnerable adults,” tweeted Marshall Blalock, ARITF chairman, after the update was released. “We aren’t there yet, but we haven’t lost sight of the goal.”

Defining ‘credibly accused’

Messengers to the 2022 annual meeting approved the creation of the ARITF and the Ministry Check website that will maintain “a record of pastors, denominational workers, ministry employees and volunteers who have at any time been credibly accused of sexual abuse.” The recommendation approved by messengers noted that “credibly accused” could be defined in four ways:

1. Confession in a non-privileged setting.

2. Conviction in a court of law.

3. Civil judgment rendered.

4. Independent third party determines by preponderance of evidence following inquiry that individual is credibly accused.

After consulting with advisers and legal experts, the ARITF said, the Ministry Check website launching soon will include individuals who meet the standard of credibly accused according to the first three categories.

Category four is “crucially important” in preventing future abuse, the group said, noting that the first three categories won’t detect sexual abuse in the vast majority of cases. Category four also requires further study and consideration, they said.

“The ARITF is not abandoning category four,” they noted. “We are, however, committed to implementing each category once it is fully developed. We will continue to work closely with churches, leaders, survivors, and experts to thoroughly address concerns and ensure that the development of this category is as effective as possible in protecting all parties.”

‘Widest possible participation’

The ARITF’s update also noted it has moved away from Faith-Based Solutions (the Christian-led division of Guidepost Solutions) as Ministry Check’s provider and manager. Guidepost raised concerns last year over a tweet posted during gay pride month.

The group challenged the assertion that the decision was due to some churches or state conventions considering whether to withhold Cooperative Program giving. “The ARITF agreed to pursue these changes for one reason: to have the widest possible participation by our churches to stop sexual abuse,” they said.

The task force also pushed back against characterizing the conversations they’ve had with pastors and leaders as threats.

“We have met with and had conversations with pastors and leaders from nearly every state convention,” they said. “We never took any of those conversations to be threats. We would never mischaracterize the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ in that way. We are of one mind to serve Christ, and in the work of this Task Force, we aim to help every single church become the safest place possible for every person to come to know our great Savior.”

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Supreme Court’s 4-4 split on Catholic charter school leaves unanswered questions
    Supreme Court’s 4-4 split on Catholic charter school leaves unanswered questions
    May 22, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • 10 former SBC presidents urge avoiding ‘ultimatum’ with ERLC
    10 former SBC presidents urge avoiding ‘ultimatum’ with ERLC
    May 22, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • It’s a ‘lifestyle’: John McClendon encourages leaders to make disciples
    It’s a ‘lifestyle’: John McClendon encourages leaders to make disciples
    May 22, 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

Supreme Court’s 4-4 split on Catholic charter school leaves unanswered questions

The Court’s one-sentence ruling noted, “The judgment is affirmed by an equally divided Court.”

10 former SBC presidents urge avoiding ‘ultimatum’ with ERLC

“Every entity — including the ERLC — should be open to critique and committed to improvement. But there is a difference between refinement and eradication. A sledgehammer is not the tool for adjusting a mirror.”

It’s a ‘lifestyle’: John McClendon encourages leaders to make disciples

John McClendon has spent his adult life helping leaders make disciples. He is executive director of the Disciple Leader’s Network, based in Tennessee, though he plans to retire at the end of the year.

DR volunteers helping residents amid deadly tornado destruction

A path of downed trees in rural Laurel County signaled where a deadly tornado likely began a path of destruction last Friday night. 

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