If Southern Baptists believed in the “Hail Mary” pass — that long bomb to the endzone that, if caught, just might save the game — this would be their moment.
“The point (behind the recently announced new Abuse Response Commission) is to serve the churches of our convention while not creating liability for the SBC.” —Marshall Blalock, previous chair of SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force
Clarifying statement and letter from Send Relief leaders was released today following ARITF’s earlier announcement of a new independent nonprofit organization being formed to assist with abuse reform efforts in the SBC.
“Given the current legal and financial challenges facing the SBC and [EC], the formation of a new independent organization is the only viable path that allows progress toward abuse reform to continue unencumbered.” —Josh Wester, ARITF chair
Proposed $190 million CP allocation budget for the upcoming 2024–25 fiscal year is down $5 million from the current 2023–24 budget year. EC trustees also approve Credentials Committee’s recommendation to disaffiliate 4 churches.
Several Arkansas Baptists recently gathered at the Northwest Arkansas Ministry Center in Rogers for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention’s regional Prepare and Protect Training.
Filling this role is obviously a God-sized task and as Southern Baptists, we need to pray God’s wisdom for leaders within the EC as they seek God’s man for “a time such as this.” There’s really nothing “people” can do.