就他們通過針對在合作教會中的牧師犯下性虐待的事件，以及美南浸信會聯會執行委員會高級領導層有近二十年沒有適當回應性虐待的指控所作出的決議，我們稱許出席美南浸信會2022年的會差。
在 2022 年年會中的會差以最強烈的措辭譴責每起性虐待事件，那些長期性虐待的人，以及那些試圖保護這些肇事者並為他們辯護的人; 會差們肯定聖經的教導，為受傷害的人伸張正義，保護弱勢群體，尊重性虐待倖存者的尊嚴和價值；公開的為自己的作為和不作為而對性虐待倖存者造成的傷害哀嘆，又為著他們未能很好地照顧倖存者，公開向他們道歉並請求原諒；認可及欣賞性虐待倖存者的工作和倡導，信差為著他們的抗拒和忽視這些努力而悔改，並毫無保留地向報告中提到的倖存者道歉，並點名他們中的一些人（那些同意的人）沒有理會他們的集體警告並採取迅速行動來盡早處理教牧人員的性虐待問題。
我們讚揚會差在通過決議時所表現出的謙卑精神，這很好地證明了聯會在做正確的事和正確地做事，讓受性虐待的人得以開始痊愈，儘管晚了二十年。
我們期待為落實性虐待倡議而成立的落實性虐待改革特別工作組的工作：“制定預防和應對美南浸信會教會性虐待的政策和做法”，並創建一個“事工檢查”網站，這網站將列出曾在與美南浸信會相關的教會服務的可信指控的被告，以防止他們在未為人知的情況下轉到其他教會。但我們知道，在浸信會的體制中，聯會能做的事情有限。我們希望州聯會和區聯會能與教會一起，來鼓勵教會藉促進防止性虐待的文化，來制定防止性虐待發生的政策，以及設計一個為受性虐待的倖存者提供幫助並照顧他們的系統，使教會成為永遠不會容忍性虐待的安全場所。
這也是給所有華人浸信會的提醒：
- 謙卑地承認我們這些作傳道的及教會領袖身居當權者的人容易犯罪，並採取措施來保護自己不犯罪，並且我們永遠不應該利用上帝賦予我們的權力和信任作為犯罪的機會。
- 藉促進防止性虐待的文化，來制定防止性虐待發生的政策，並設計一個為受性虐待的倖存者提供幫助並照顧他們的系統，使教會成為永遠不會容忍性虐待的安全場所。
主曆2022年6月29日
Response of the Chinese Baptist Fellowship of the US and Canada
to the Sex Abuse Resolutions passed at the Southern Baptist Convention 2022 Conference
We commend the messengers to the SBC 2022 Conference in approving the resolutions to address incidents of sex abuse committed by ministers in cooperating churches and how senior leadership in the SBC Executive Committee failed to respond appropriately to allegations of sexual abuse for nearly 20 years.
Messengers at the 2022 meeting, denounced in the strongest possible terms every instance of sexual abuse, those who perpetuate abuse and those who seek to defend and protect these perpetrators; affirmed the Bible’s teaching to seek justice for those who have been harmed, protect the vulnerable, and honor the dignity and worth of the survivors of sexual abuse; publicly lamented the harm their actions and inactions have caused the survivors of sexual abuse; publicly apologized to and asked forgiveness from survivors of sexual abuse for their failure to care well for survivors; recognized and appreciated the work and advocacy of sexual abuse survivors, repented of their resistance and neglect of their efforts, and unreservedly apologized to survivors mentioned in the report, naming some of the them by name (those who gave consent) for not heeding their collective warnings and taking swift action to address clergy sexual abuse sooner.
We laud the spirit of humility exhibited by the messengers in approving the resolutions, which bears well to the witness of the denomination in doing the right thing and doing it right, and in allowing the healing of those abused to start, even though nearly 20 years late.
We look forward to the work of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force which was formed to implement the sexual abuse initiatives that will “create policies and practices for preventing and responding to abuse in Southern Baptist churches” and the creation of a “Ministry Check” website that would list credibly accused offenders who had served in churches associated with the SBC to prevent them from moving to other churches without being noticed. But we know that in Baptist polity, there is so much a Convention could do. We hope that State Conventions and local Associations would come alongside churches to encourage them to be safe places where sexual abuse is never tolerated, by promoting a culture that enables people to prevent sex abuse, putting policies in place that prevent the incidence of abuse, and devising a system that provides help for abused survivors and cares well for them.
This is also a wake-up call for all Chinese Baptist churches:
- To humbly acknowledge that those of us who are ministers and leaders serving in positions of authority in churches have a propensity to sin and to take steps to protect ourselves from sin and that we should never use our God given authority and trust as an opportunity to sin.
- To be safe places where sexual abuse is never tolerated by promoting a culture that enables people to prevent sex abuse, having policies in place that prevent the incidence of abuse, and devising a system that provides help for abused survivors and cares well for them.
June 29, 2022
