Since the Sexual Abuse Task Force released a report Sunday (May 25) spotlighting accusations against the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse reports, more claims of abuse have continued to come in, the SBC Executive Committee announced.
On Wednesday (May 25), the EC released a joint statement with Guidepost Solutions, who conducted the independent investigation, announcing that an SBC Sexual Abuse Hotline is now available to continue taking calls regarding reports of sexual abuse within the Convention.
Those needing to make a report can contact the hotline at 202-864-5578 or email SBChotline@guidepostsolutions.com.
Options for care
All reports will remain confidential, the statement said. Those needing to contact the hotline “will be notified of the available options for care and will be put in touch with an advocate.”
According the SBC Executive Committee, the hotline “will be an important stopgap measure” for survivors between now and the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, June 14–15, “when the messengers can pass even more meaningful reforms.”
“The Sexual Abuse Task Force will be assisting the SBC Executive Committee and the Convention in establishing processes for proper inquiries,” the statement said, “and this hotline will serve as a resource to survivors and entities in responding properly while we work to put more permanent procedures in place.”
See full statement below:
Since the release of the Guidepost report on Sunday, the SBC Executive Committee, Guidepost Solutions, and members of the Sexual Abuse Task Force have been fielding calls from survivors regarding allegations of sexual abuse. Today, the SBC Executive Committee entered into an agreement for Guidepost to maintain a hotline for survivors or their proxies to submit allegations of abuse within the SBC. All submitters will remain confidential. Survivors will be notified of the available options for care and will be put in touch with an advocate.
While Guidepost will not be inquiring into the allegations at this time, they will hold the information confidentially. The Sexual Abuse Task Force will be assisting the SBC Executive Committee and the Convention in establishing processes for proper inquiries, and this hotline will serve as a resource to survivors and entities in responding properly while we work to put more permanent procedures in place. This hotline will be an important stopgap measure for survivors between now and the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, when the messengers can pass even more meaningful reforms.
The hotline can be reached at 202-864-5578 or SBChotline@guidepostsolutions.com.
Willie McLaurin, interim president, SBC Executive Committee
Julie Myers Wood, Guidepost Solutions
SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force
Bruce Frank, lead pastor, Biltmore Baptist Church, Arden, N.C.
Marshall Blalock, pastor, First Baptist Church, Charleston, S.C.
John Damon, chief executive officer, Canopy Children’s Solutions, Jackson, Miss.
Liz Evan, judicial law clerk, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Nashville, Tenn.
Heather Evans, director, Evans Counseling Services, Coopersburg, Pa.
Andrew Hébert, lead pastor, Paramount Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas.
Bucas Sterling III, senior pastor, Kettering Baptist Church, Upper Marlboro, Md.
Rachael Denhollander, task force advisor
Chris Moles, task force advisor
