By Amy Violette Dear Friends, In September 2012, we drove to Mississippi for the trial. We arrived the day before it started and met the district attorney at the courthouse around 4:00 in the afternoon. Courtrooms are built to be intimidating, and I didn’t want my first day in court to be the day I … Continue reading
By Amy Violette Dear Friends, Nothing prepares you for the moment when your life changes forever. There are no flashing signs saying, “This is it!” It just happens. In a split second the veil is lifted, reality shifts, and you can no longer deny the truth. It is the moment when every benefit of the … Continue reading
We read yesterday with deep sadness the article in the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News reporting on their investigation of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches. Our hearts break for the victims and survivors of this abuse and for the trauma that has been inflicted. We are grateful for the bravery of survivors coming … Continue reading
El día de ayer leímos con profunda tristeza el artículo en Houston Chronicle y San Antonio Express-News que informa sobre la investigación de abuso sexual en las Iglesias Bautistas del Sur. Nuestros corazones se quiebran por las víctimas y sobrevivientes de este abuso y por el trauma que se ha infligido. Estamos agradecidos por … Continue reading
By Amy Violette Dear Friends, It’s been 2,648 days since I found out I was a victim of clergy sexual misconduct. Specifically video voyeurism. I say “found out” because the actual videotaping took place in November 2008, but I was unaware that I was a victim until my abuser was arrested in October 2011. In … Continue reading
By Tarris Rosell “Sally” was a young newlywed who went to her Baptist pastor for marital counseling. As she got up to leave his church office that evening, he wrapped his big arms around Sally and kissed her on the lips. She was shocked, pushed her pastor away, and quickly left. As Sally drove home, … Continue reading
By Stephen Reeves and Pam Durso In June 2016, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Baptist Women in Ministry formally launched a joint Clergy Sexual Misconduct Task Force. Members of the task force could not have imagined two years ago the degree to which conversations about sexual abuse would dominate our popular, political and even religious culture. The #MeToo Movement caught on like wildfire on social media and, sadly, … Continue reading
June 14, 2018 By Carrie McGuffin DALLAS — #MeToo, #ChurchToo and clergy sexual abuse and misconduct were the focus CBF Executive Coordinator Suzii Paynter’s report during the Thursday morning business session of the 2018 General Assembly in Dallas. “Look around. This is not an isolated incident,” said Paynter, as nearly half of attendees stood in … Continue reading
June 11, 2018 By Jeff Huett DALLAS. — A task force launched two years ago by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Baptist Women in Ministry to educate and resource churches about clergy sexual misconduct will preview an educational video and a church policy guideline resource at the General Assembly this week in Dallas. The video … Continue reading
By Anonymous To draw attention to the ever-present and devastating reality of clergy sexual abuse and to provide resources for churches, lay members, and ministers, the Clergy Sexual Misconduct Task Force formed jointly by Baptist Women in Ministry and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will sponsor an ongoing blog series featuring informational articles, helpful sermons, and … Continue reading
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