`Calls to action'

Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear outlined 10 “calls to action” for Southern Baptists. He recommended that they:

1. Enter a season of sorrow and repentance.

2. Embrace a new free video-based curriculum, “Becoming a Church that Cares Well on Abuse,” for holistic care in the early stages of learning of abuse.

3. Affirm three separate “Statement of Principles” documents signaling a collective commitment to address abuse at every organizational level of the Southern Baptist Convention.

4. Take immediate action on abuse prevention and care, strengthening policies and practices on abuse.

5. Consider requiring background checks, at a minimum, for all Southern Baptist Convention standing committees and trustee appointments.

6. Re-examine the ordination process, specifically evaluate how to strengthen screening and background efforts in the ordination process.

7. Update the Annual Church Profile so that Southern Baptist Convention churches are asked questions related to updated abuse policies and occurrences of abuse so that this information is included in the profile report.

8. Prepare to address abuse at the denomination's 2019 annual meeting in June in Birmingham, Alabama.

9. Explore possibilities related to a database or registry for offenders.

10. Request that the Executive Committee enhances governing documents on “disfellowshipping” churches and evaluates several churches specified in media reports on abuse to evaluate if their standing aligns with the convention's faith and practice. SOURCE: Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission