Southern Baptist Executive Committee again fails to agree on guidelines for an investigation into sex abuse allegations, SNAP urges them to vote to protect children
After a long meeting on Tuesday (September 28), the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) again failed to agree on the ground rules for a third-party investigation of the denomination’s handling of child sex abuse accusations. We call on the Executive Committee to stop dragging their feet on procedural steps and to stand up for protecting the boys and girls who attend their churches.
We applaud the SBC members' decision in June of 2021 to stop handling investigations internally, and we are dumbfounded that the Executive Committee will not waive attorney-client privilege as the denomination wants. These confidential exchanges are crucial to third-party investigators if the SBC wants a full and transparent look at how sexual abuse allegations have been handled in the past and, more importantly, to determine if there are predatory ministers or youth counselors still active today. The protection of young lives should be the priority, not the protection of the assets of the organization or the members of the Executive Committee.
The number of those on the Executive Committed who support waiving attorney-client privilege appears to be growing, and we are heartened by this development. Rather than use the privilege to continue to keep abusers and enablers hidden, the Committee should side with those who want a fully independent investigation that has full access to records and testimonies. This is the best way to better protect children within their denomination. Now it is time for the rest of the Executive Committee to see the light and to agree to move forward in a way that is transparent.
CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP President, [email protected], 814-341-8386, Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected]),
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director