WHEREAS, sexual abuse is an abomination before God and an affront to the teachings of Scripture (Psalm 11:5; Proverbs 6:16-20; Mark 7:20-23; 1 Cor. 5:1-2; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 1:15-17), and
WHEREAS, sexual abuse grieves Christ and contradicts the heart of the gospel (Mark 12:31; 1 Cor.6:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eph. 4:1; Philippians 1:27), and
WHEREAS, sexual abuse abandons the demands of Scripture for the holy living of God’s people (1 Cor. 6:18-19;Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-11), and
WHEREAS, sexual abuse is a violation of the image of God, dishonoring and degrading human dignity, especially in those most vulnerable among us (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 9:6; Psalms 8:3-5), and
WHEREAS, sexual abuse causes harm to those who are entrusted to the church’s care and protection (Proverbs 31:8-9;Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3-5; Micah 6:8; 1 John 3:16-18), and
WHEREAS, sexual abuse has occurred in and among our churches, sometimes at the hands of church members and sometimes at the hands of pastoral leaders, and
WHEREAS, sexual abuse in the church is a failure of personal and public witness (1 Cor. 5:1-13; 1 Cor.10:8; Eph. 5:1-15; Eph. 5:25-27), and
WHEREAS, The messengers of the Kentucky Baptist Convention meeting in Elizabethtown, Ky, November 16, 2021, expressed their desire for a Sexual Abuse Task Force to be formed in order to review the policies of the Kentucky Baptist Convention in responding to sexual abuse and to explore how the churches of the Kentucky Baptist Convention may best address and prevent any instances of sexual abuse.
Therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the messengers of the Kentucky Baptist Convention meeting in Bowling Green, November 15th, 2022, denounce in the strongest possible terms every instance of sexual abuse, those who perpetrate abuse, and those who seek to defend or protect these perpetrators, and be it
RESOLVED, that we affirm the Bible’s teaching to seek justice for those who have been harmed, protect the vulnerable, and honor the dignity and worth of survivors of sexual abuse (Genesis 1:26; Psalms 82:2-4; Isaiah 1:17; Micah 6:8), and be it
RESOLVED, that we publicly lament the harm that any actions and inactions of Kentucky Baptists have caused to survivors of sexual abuse, and be it
RESOLVED, that we desire to establish policies and procedures within our churches that best protect our members from any instances of abuse, and be it
RESOLVED, that we will prayerfully endeavor to respond to any reports of abuse in a way that seeks justice, holiness, care, and grace, recognizing our roles as citizens within a commonwealth governed by laws and as citizens of a heavenly kingdom accountable to God’s standards, and be it
RESOLVED, that we will seek wisdom to care for the victims of sexual abuse and for all affected by the harmful effects that each occurrence of abuse creates, and be it
RESOLVED, that we call on each cooperating Kentucky Baptist Convention church to avail itself to training, preparation, and practices that best care for the members of their church, and be it finally
RESOLVED, that we encourage churches to teach the importance of loving neighbor and living righteously regarding sexuality so that churches are safe places that protect and help the vulnerable and hurt.