Clergy Sexual Misconduct
In July 2016, Baptist Women in Ministry and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship partnered to form a Clergy Sexual Misconduct Task Force.
The Task Force in 2018 produced an educational video, “Safe Churches and Ministers,” with an accompanying Discussion Guide and Leader’s Guide. The Task Force also assembled a collection of guidelines for congregations: “Clergy Sexual Abuse Prevention Recommendations for Churches.”
In 2017, the Task Force complied a list of books, articles, and web links and created a small group discussion for use in churches, seminaries, and partnering organizations.
Trusted Resources for Those Experiencing Abuse
Clergy Sexual Misconduct Blogs
Update from the Clergy Sexual Misconduct Task Force
By CBF-BWIM Clergy Sexual Misconduct Task ForceIn the summer of 2016, CBF’s Ministries Council in partnership with Baptist Women in Ministry formed the Clergy Sexual Misconduct Task Force to address...
Making Online Programming Safer for Children, Teens, and Vulnerable Adults by Jay Kieve
In this season of coronavirus, church staff members have gone to heroic lengths to offer worship, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship through electronic means. They have used Facebook Live and Zoom,...
Best Practices for Responding to a Victim of Sexual Abuse by Shauw Chin Capps
In the early years of my social work career, I started volunteering at a rape crisis center in Louisville, Kentucky. I would be on call and respond to hospital calls whenever they had a rape victim...
Can Our Fellowship Be Born Anew? by Curtis W. Freeman
Not all that long ago in America the ministry was a respected profession. Now trust in pastors as people of moral character is at an all-time low. High profile scandals involving sexual misconduct...
It is Not an Affair: It is Abuse by David K. Pooler
I’m struck by the frequency that some Christians label any sexual activity between a married pastor and an adult congregant who is not their spouse: an affair. It is no accident that people easily...
My Wish for You by Shelia Graham Smith
To my Sisters in Christ, Do you realize, have any inkling, as to the strength imbedded in the title BWIM? Just the words, “Baptist Women in Ministry,” connotates the long fought for validation women...
Minister Champions of Safe Church Resources by Pam Durso and Stephen Reeves
The stories continue to show up in our newsfeed. The sheer number of stories about sexually abusive ministers seems overwhelming, and every day we are more aware of how pervasive this horrific...
How Can the Church Offer Healing in Response To Sexual Abuse?: A Sermon by Paul Baxley
II Samuel 11:1-6, 12:1-15, Matthew 11:28-30 What happens to Bathsheba in this difficult and agonizing text of Scripture is not just sexual abuse; it is sexual assault in the extreme; rape by any...
Courageous Humility: God’s Call to the Church in Response to the #metoo #churchtoo Movement: A Sermon by Micah Pritchett
Opening Welcome to Worship We are taking on a difficult subject this morning. The #metoo movement has shown a bright, bright light on our culture’s acceptance of demeaning and sometimes violent...