July 10, 2008 |
Reader Views Should the Southern Baptist Convention do more to let members know about sexual predators? Should the Southern Baptist Convention do more to let members know about sexual predators? Absolutely! Their unwillingness to do so is an element of both their hypocrisy and their refusal to deal with human sexual behavior. Their stance is hypocritical because they are quite willing to violate claims of congregational autonomy in denying women the opportunity to pastor local churches. The denomination is also adamant that gay men cannot be pastors. If those policies cannot be trusted to local congregations, there is certainly precedence for the denomination to do more in removing predators from their pulpits. It appears that Southern Baptists would rather have sexual predators pastoring congregations than hold their clergy accountable for such behavior. As they look for reasons that their church is shrinking in membership, they might look within. People don't want to join unhealthy churches. Carolyn Oehler Brentwood 37027 Everyone should do more to combat the plague of sexual predators. Baptists have had fewer problems in this area than other groups. Thus, why is this paper so concerned with the Baptists? There have been more sexual predators that were teachers than Baptists and Catholics combined. This shameful fact is true for both Tennessee and the nation. So, why not do a front-page story on the epidemic of teachers who abuse our children? Quit exaggerating the sins of Baptists, and focus on some real news. Greg Lackey Goodlettsville 37072 The Southern Baptist Convention's reluctance to create a database for sexual predators in churches is more problematic than portrayed in the article ("Church Web site hasn't purged alleged predators," June 24). The size of the average SBC church is 300 members, which means the majority of churches are quite small. It is very likely many of these churches do not have the money to do "intensive background checks" that an SBC official suggested. The discounted background checks offered by LifeWay can help, but even this may be beyond the means of these churches. The SBC is correct that they cannot require churches to report predators. But when they maintain a list of preachers that does not identify those convicted of sex crimes, they do nothing to help these churches. They are saying that helping preachers find jobs is more important than putting children at risk of sexual predators. My church recently called a new pastor. We had the resources to pay for the background checks, so we did not have to depend on the SBC. But these small churches need help and the SBC won't give it even as they continue to take money from them. Tim Reynolds Nashville 37221 The Southern Baptist Convention should let members know about sexual predators, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it should become directly involved in establishing or maintaining its own database. Many jurisdictions maintain various registries of criminal activity. One potential partial solution for SBC would be to better publicize these resources to their members so interested members can take whatever actions they deem appropriate for their particular situations. Many jurisdictions have nongovernmental organizations that compile a variety of information. The SBC could also better publicize these resources. Various component parts of the SBC may have resources available that would be useful. The SBC could also better publicize these resources. There are potentially many steps the SBC can undertake that would potentially alleviate sexual predation without establishing and maintaining its own database. Todd M. Liebergen Madison 37115 I believe the Southern Baptist convention should do more to let their members know about sexual predators, because sticking their heads in the sand on sexual matters won't help anything. We should have learned by now from the predators within the churches such as the Catholic priests and the fiasco with the Mormon cults in Nevada and Texas, which has been saturating the news the last few weeks. Predators are everywhere and we should teach our children and adults, they do exist among us. They come in all forms, as teachers, policemen, preachers and all walks of life. Sexual predators do not always look like the monsters they are. They can even be the pretty 22-year-old female teacher who is molesting your 14-year-old-son. Churches should be the second place after the home where we teach about the facts of life, and this includes the sexual predators who lurk among us. Hershel Butts Mt. Juliet 37122 http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/OPINION01/807100379
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