{"id":14867,"date":"2024-03-20T07:51:52","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T02:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cccfornews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/20\/doj-ends-investigation-into-sbc-leaders-no-charges-filed\/"},"modified":"2024-03-20T07:51:52","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T02:21:52","slug":"doj-ends-investigation-into-sbc-leaders-no-charges-filed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccfornews.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/20\/doj-ends-investigation-into-sbc-leaders-no-charges-filed\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ ends investigation into SBC leaders; no charges filed"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Michael Gryboski<\/a>, Mainline Church Editor \"Twitter\"<\/a><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
\"Marshall<\/source><\/picture>
Marshall Blalock, chairman of the SBC Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, speaks during the SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 14, 2023. <\/span> | Sonya Singh\/Baptist Press<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The United States Department of Justice has completed its investigation into alleged abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention and has decided not to file any charges against the nation\u2019s largest Protestant denomination.<\/p>\n

The DOJ concluded its investigation into the SBC leadership last week, The Tennessean<\/a> reported Wednesday, with federal officials opting not to charge any of the convention leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn February 29, 2024, counsel for the SBC Executive Committee was informed that the US Attorney\u2019s Office for the Southern District of New York concluded its investigation into the EC (executive committee) with no further action to be taken,\u201d stated Jonathan Howe, vice president of communications for the SBC.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The end of the investigation suggests that federal authorities did not find evidence to charge SBC leaders with an abuse cover-up, The Tennessean added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In August 2022, the SBC confirmed that the DOJ was investigating the denomination and its entities following the release of a report<\/a> by Guidepost Solutions that was commissioned by the SBC’s Executive Committee that detailed how some leaders allegedly mistreated victims of abuse and had mishandled allegations of abuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor almost two decades, survivors of abuse and other concerned Southern Baptists have been contacting the [SBC Executive Committee] to report child molesters and other abusers who were in the pulpit or employed as church staff,\u201d read the Guidepost report\u2019s executive summary, in part.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey made phone calls, mailed letters, sent emails, appeared at SBC and EC meetings, held rallies, and contacted the press\u2026only to be met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility from some within the EC.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement emailed to The Christian Post<\/a> in August 2022, the SBC Executive Committee said they were \u201cresolved to fully and completely cooperate with the investigation\u201d by the DOJ.<\/p>\n

The SBC leadership went on to note that \u201cour reform efforts are not finished\u201d and said their \u201ccommitment to cooperate with the Department of Justice is born from our demonstrated commitment to transparently address the scourge of sexual abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile so many things in the world are uncertain, we can be certain that we serve a mighty God. Nothing, including this investigation, takes Him by surprise,\u201d the SBC leaders continued. \u201cWe take comfort in that and humbly ask you to be in prayer in the days and weeks ahead. Specifically, we ask God to grant wisdom and discernment to each person dealing with the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last month, the SBC\u2019s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force presented<\/a> a new curriculum to the SBC Executive Committee centered on helping member congregations prevent and respond to accusations of sexual abuse. The new curriculum is slated to be unveiled at the SBC’s Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, in June.<\/p>\n

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