Tim Rogers, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Indian Trail, plans to introduce a resolution on child abuse from the floor of the annual meeting of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) Nov. 11-12. Since the resolution was not submitted to the resolutions committee, action by the convention will require a suspension of the rules by two-thirds majority vote.
According to Rogers’ blog, “Southern Baptist in NC,” the resolution he intends to introduce was approved June 10-12 by messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention’s meeting in Houston.
The BSC’s bylaws do not require resolutions to be published in the Biblical Recorder prior to being introduced on the floor of the annual session.
As rationale for his resolution, Rogers suggests four steps churches and ministries should take to minimize the problem of child abuse and inappropriate activities with children. He said, “The church must implement and maintain policies that protect their workers.”
His second suggestion is for churches to build a culture that is “child open.” The point is to insure visibility to children’s activities in church buildings where walls and doors prevent good sight lines.
“Third, there should be clear reporting policies and a process in place and voted on by the church,” according to Rogers. He acknowledges the difficulties associated with implementing new procedures in churches that don’t understand the need for policies or the dangers engendered by the absence of clear policies.
The fourth suggestion is for churches to develop policies that eliminate the potential of using workers who have “unresolved sexual abuse allegations.”
The full text of the resolution is posted on his blog.