Frank Page Addresses Sexual Abuse

Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, was recently interviewed by ABC’s 20/20 for an upcoming special on sexual abuse in the church. Because of all the attention that this issue has received in the media, he decided to address it in an article entitled, “Guarding Against Sexual Abuse.” Being convinced that each local church is an autonomous body, Page says that the responsibility to deal with this issue ultimately rests upon each individual church. Here are his words of admonition:

I call upon every local church to develop written policy guidelines for the care of children and youth. I call upon every church to have a system or policy in place to deal with any accusations made. We must protect children and youth, and the integrity of staff members.

I ask that all of our churches require background checks (on national and state levels) as well as thorough reference checks for all staff. The local church is where accountability must be enforced. As I said to one person, for years the press has complained that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has enabled the hiding of sexual predators. Now, they are stating that the lack of our hierarchy is helping hide sexual predators. The truth is that people can abuse any system. There are people who seek out positions in the church where the trust level can be so high that they can then be involved in horrible actions.

I also call upon all local churches to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who would take advantage of the trust and love of precious children and students. Simply put, there is no place in the church for persons who would take advantage of these relationships.

I urge local churches to take advantage of the multiple numbers of resources that are available on the SBC website, as well as through LifeWay Christian Resources, to help safeguard our children and youth through appropriate policies and educational resources. There are many items available to help. Please use them.

Read the whole article at BPNews.

Like this post? Subscribe to our feed .

Clergy, Come Clean

Dr. Harry W. Schaumburg, founder and Executive Director of Stone Gate Resources, a ministry that helps people overcome struggles with sexual sin, is calling on clergy to come clean.

Following last year’s sex scandal of prominent evangelical Ted Haggard, Schaumburg’s latest effort is a one-day forum called Clergy Link.

With the support of Promise Keepers, the nation’s largest men’s ministry, and Focus on the Family, one of the most influential Christian organizations promoting traditional families, Clergy Link addresses the widespread struggle of pornography and related behaviors.

“We’re in a real crisis,” Schaumburg told an audience of 170 pastors at Crossroads Church in Thornton, Colo., on Monday, according to Rocky Mountain News. “Sexual sin is something that’s done in secret, but when God exposes, it’s in the broad daylight.”

The therapist warned clergy, who came from evangelical, mainline and Catholic churches, that those hiding sexual sin would be discovered, guaranteed.

“So I am begging you—come forward now.”

. . .

As much as 50 percent of lay men and clergy said they viewed porn within the past year, as of May 2006.

Read the whole article at The Christian Post.

See our related posts:

• How to Fight Lust
  
• Tip for Safer Surfing

Like this post? Subscribe to our feed .