Baptist leaders turn down database of abusive clergy

Southern Baptist leaders have recommended against creating a database of Baptist sex offenders, in part because of their belief in local church autonomy. “The convention’s role is to encourage, empower and educate local churches as to how to best do their local work to protect our precious children,” said Morris Chapman, who heads the Executive […]

Southern Baptist leaders have recommended against creating a database of Baptist sex offenders, in part because of their belief in local church autonomy. “The convention’s role is to encourage, empower and educate local churches as to how to best do their local work to protect our precious children,” said Morris Chapman, who heads the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, at the start of the Baptists’ meeting in Indianapolis. The committee was asked last year to study the feasibility of a denominational database, and instead has offered new resources to local churches and urged them to contact authorities about any sex abuse accusations.

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