From the Baptist Press:
A minister at the center of a church-wide controversy at Bellevue Baptist Church has been terminated for sexually abusing his adolescent son 17 years ago.
In addition to recommending Williams’ termination, the investigative committee also concluded that “Bellevue was ill-prepared on several fronts for handling the Paul Williams matter.” The church’s procedures and protocols “were and are inadequate.”
The key sentence is The church’s procedures and protocols “were and are inadequate.” I am fairly confident this statement could be uttered by far too many churches. I’ve already expressed that thought here and here.
One good resource is the Georgia Baptist Convention’s resource page for churches and child abuse prevention. In particular, check out the pdf: suggested steps in preventing child abuse in the church. There is really no need for another church to have to say to the world, our policies and protocols “were and are inadequate.”
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Since when do we as The Church have to have man-made policies in place pertaining to “pastors” that rape their children? Isn’t God’s Word enough? Or are we so deep into the last days lukewarm and compromising Laodecean Church Age (that The LORD Jesus spoke of in the Book of Revelation) that we don’t respect or even use His Word anymore? God has set forth in His inerrant and infallible Word HIS policies and HIS guidelines!!!
Sincerely in The LORD and ONLY Savior Jesus Christ,
Stephen and Bonita Ann Richie
Living Hope In Jesus
http://www.livinghopeinjesus.com
Bonita,
Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate visitors and new commenters.
It would appear whatever we are doing (no policies, blind trust, etc.) isn’t enough. I don’t know if we are in the “last days (of the) lukewarm and compromising Laodecean Church Age” or not. I do know we need to protect our children.