The SBC's Abuse Scandal and the IMB

[Sandy]

https://baptist-blogger.com/

The Houston Chronicle created major awareness of sexual predators and abuse going on in the Southern Baptist convention for years that finally got a reaction from the denominational bureaucracy. I know the IMB has had a few issues as well, connected to some of the information reported by the Chronicle, but didn't realize that there was a long period of time when reports were ignored and nothing was done.

I would expect there might be quite a bit of discussion about this in Birmingham. For the IMB, there's not a problem with autonomy interfering with how to handle abusers, though it appears that there were other factors involved in producing a lack of response, including the way Baptist view women. It's almost like they still accept the cultural position of the time and place in which much of the New Testament was written because they act like women are property and interpret "submission" as subservience and inferiority, at least, you can read that into the reactions and ways of handling these issues by one seminary president at two different schools and at the IMB.

Several of its new executives are stepping right into the middle of hornets nests right up front. For all the shoulder-rubbing, hand-shaking, letter writing and phone calling it takes to move favors around to get one of these jobs, it might not be what they expected.

[William Thornton]

Is think Sandy is somewhat overly broad on the patriarchy/submission stuff but the scandal is in covering up overseas abuse and not addressing it publicly and decisively. I expect more bad news even though new leadership (starting with Platt) promises to change things.