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

SEBTS announces mandatory sexual abuse prevention, response course

  • July 11, 2022
  • SEBTS
  • Latest News, North Carolina, Sexual Abuse Investigation Archive
(Photo courtesy of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary)

SEBTS announces mandatory sexual abuse prevention, response course

In an effort to inform and train students on sexual abuse prevention and response, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina is launching a free mandatory course on this issue. Undergraduate, graduate and advanced students will be required to complete the course during their programs at Southeastern.

The course will cover strategies for handling sexual abuse and will clarify biblical and theological foundations for caring well for survivors of abuse, Southeastern reported.

“Sexual abuse in any form should not be tolerated. It is a sinful act against fellow image bearers and an affront to a holy God,” said Southeastern President Danny Akin. “Southeastern is committed to preventing sexual abuse and training students to respond well to survivors with proper care and advocacy.”

He noted, “As an institution, we recognize that fulfilling the Great Commission means teaching the whole counsel of God’s word. It means teaching disciples of Jesus to obey the second great commandment of [loving one’s neighbor].”

In addition to contributions from Akin and from Southeastern provost Keith Whitfield, instructors for the course include Bradley Hambrick, assistant professor of biblical counseling at Southeastern, and Samantha Kilpatrick, attorney in the Kilpatrick Law Group and instructor in the Meredith College Paralegal Program.

Students in the course will receive a biblical and theological foundation for protecting the vulnerable, as well as instruction on how to recognize vulnerabilities in ministry, the seminary reported. The course is designed to inform students about proper responses but also about prevention, creating a culture of awareness and open communication.

‘Churches and ministries are not immune’

Instructors will address implementing protective policies and reporting processes, understanding legal obligations and navigating spiritual and interpersonal challenges relevant to sexual abuse.

“Studies show that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday,” shared Kilpatrick, who also is a member of Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Churches and ministries are not immune, but often can be more at risk due to lack of awareness or inconsistent prevention policy and practice,” Kilpatrick said. “Unless we understand the prevalence and dynamics of sexual abuse, we are not well-equipped to implement prevention policy, nor are we able to respond well in a Christ-honoring and trauma-informed manner.

“This training is relevant and important in higher education,” she noted. “It will train Southeastern students at all levels as they seek to go on mission. The concepts and principles in this training will benefit all students as they seek to serve both in ministry contexts and in secular spaces.”

The need for a training course on sexual abuse prevention and response has become increasingly apparent over the last year as Southern Baptists investigated the mishandling of sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

“The heartbreaking breadth of sexual abuse in the SBC is undeniable,” Akin said. “It is far more widespread than most realized. This training course is intended to address this reality.”

Ready to respond

In his Statement on the SBC Task Force Report on Sexual Abuse, Akin urged students and staff to report sexual abuse, knowing that Southeastern is committed to prevent sexual abuse and to care well for survivors: “Let me encourage you that if you know of someone that has been sexually abused or is the victim of sexual abuse that you immediately report it to law enforcement. After reporting it to law enforcement, you can send an email to reportabuse@sebts.edu. This email address is monitored by our Student Life team. We will follow up and respond quickly and decisively.”

In addition to launching this new mandatory training course, Southeastern continues to comply with Title IX requirements, urging the reporting of misconduct, providing anonymous reporting options and encouraging awareness and further training.

To find more information about Southeastern’s Title IX policies and reporting options, visit Southeastern’s Title IX page.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally written by Chad Burchett and published by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: Ruth’s surrendered life
    First person: Ruth’s surrendered life
    May 18, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’
    Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’
    May 17, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love
    First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love
    May 17, 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

First person: Ruth’s surrendered life

“Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live,

Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU awarded ‘Best of the Hill’

The Baptist Campus Ministry at Western Kentucky University was awarded with the Best of the Hill recognition by the College Heights Herald, the campus newspaper.

First person: Celebrating the people you serve, love

One of the joys of pastoring is celebrating the milestone achievements of the people you serve and love.

Looking for the 2025 SBC Book of Reports? It’s available online.

If you’re looking to brush up on your business and financial reports knowledge ahead of this year’s Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Dallas (June 10–11), the SBC has released its 2025 Book of Reports online.

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