- Tough issues within the church
are set to take centerstage these next two days
during the Southern BaptistConvention's annual meeting.
Among topics expected to be discussed,
sexual abuse by church leaders,
racism and lack of diversity
in the Southern Baptist churches,
and the role women shouldplay in church leadership.
Thousands are expected toattend the meeting in Alabama.
- Heather Sells joining us now
from our Virginia Beachheadquarters for more,
and Heather, sexual abusecame into the forefront
for the SBC earlier this year
when the Houston Chronicleand San Antonio Express News
published a stunning series of articles
called Abuse of Faith.
Remind our viewers whatthe reporting found.
- All right, Eric, well, they really found
a wide range, you know,
that the abuse problem goes deep
in Southern Baptist churches.
They found hundreds of clergyand volunteers in churches
accused of sexual misconduct,
and 700 victims, so, pretty wide-ranging.
I spoke with pastor andSouthern Baptist president,
J.D. Grier about thisa couple of weeks ago
and interestingly, he saidhis first gut reaction
to that Houston Chronicle report was,
lord, please protect our reputation.
And then he said he feltthe lord speaking to him
and saying, you know,don't worry about that.
You take care of the victims.
- Heather, how has the SBC been working
to confront the sexual abusecrisis among its churches?
- Well, even before thisHouston Chronicle report
came out last summer, president J.D. Grier
convened a taskforce, they've come out
with recommendations nowand they're wanting churches
to really embrace a curriculumthat will train all staff
in how to make churches really safe,
both for victims comingforward and to prevent abuse.
And they are also lookingat an amendment tonight
that would basically allow them
to expel Southern Baptistchurches that handle abuse poorly.
- And shifting gears justa little bit, Heather,
in recent years, the SBC has had to answer
for a history of racism.
What's expected to come on that front
during this year's meeting?
- Yes, well, it's been a long history,
the Southern BaptistConvention was founded
over the issue of slaveryand it has apologized,
but again, tonight, they are considering
an amendment that wouldallow the denomination
to expel a church for racist behavior.
And so it's somethingthey are trying to take on
even more seriously once again.
What's interesting isthat they have also seen
their growth come fromdiverse circles of the US.
Last year, six in 10Southern Baptist churches
that were planted were ethnically diverse,
and so I think there'sjust a growing recognition
that more than ever, they need to take on
the issue of racism.
- Should women preach?
It's, Heather, as youknow, been hotly debated
in the Southern Baptist churches.
Right now, officialSBC guidelines, though,
limit pastoral roles to men.
Do you anticipate any movement on that?
- Right, well, there is noshortage of hot button topics
this year, and that is oneof them, women in the church.
And it started in part becausepopular bible study author
and Southern Baptist leader Beth Moore
tweeted that she waspreaching on Mother's Day,
and she was just roundly pounded
by some Southern Baptists,particularly a few
professors and pastors who said,
absolutely no women shouldever be in the pulpit.
And then Al Mueller, who is the head
of the Southern Baptist seminaryin Louisville, Kentucky,
just recently said, this is not an issue,
there will not be women in the pulpit.
But I think what isinteresting is that there is,
it has sparked a larger conversation
about what is the roleof women in the church.
And Southern Baptists, I think,
are trying to come to a place
where they look morecarefully at how women
and their gifts can be used.
So they're saying, hey,not in the pulpit, per se,
but what do we need todo to really make sure
that we are tapping into women's gifts?
And so, it's gonna be interesting to watch
that conversation play out, nothing formal
at this convention, but definitelyan informal conversation.
- Yeah, a conversation thatI'm sure will continue.
Heather Sells in ourVigirnia Beach headquarters,
thank you very much.- You're welcome.
