Was Andrew Argent Listed in the SBC Investigation Report of Abusers?
Former minister of Praise and Worship First Baptist Church in Cleveland Texas, and at Willow Creek Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, was sentenced to two, 20-year sentences for indecency with a child and sexual assault of a child. The abuse involved three boys between 11-14 years old. Argent pleaded guilty in 2006.
SBC Executive Committee Response To Report
According to the Washington Post, a 300-page report was released on Sunday, May 22, 2022. The file includes scary brand-new details regarding certain abuse instances and clarify how denominational authorities actively opposed abuse prevention and change for decades.
Southern Baptist Convention leaders have actually revealed an extensive and independent third-party investigation that found that abusers were frequently ignored, forgotten, or perhaps denounced by upper-level congregation leaders from within this religious denomination of more than 16 million individuals. Additionally, it exposed these leaders typically lied to their very own members to avoid them from being aware of the prevalent sexual wrongdoing.
Continue reading about the SBC Investigation Report.
A Past of Ignored Misconduct In Report
Nearly all of these reported events fell outside of the statutes of limitations, making it unclear how many predators were actually charged. According to the report, an internal list of abusers was kept.
The report asserts that a principal “SBC” leader was credibly implicated of sexual assault only 1 month after completing his two-year term as the convention’s president. Additionally, Johnny Hunt, a widely known Georgia Southern Baptist preacher and senior vice president of the SBC’s objectives arm, was credibly accused of abusing a lady at a 2010 vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. The North American Mission Board president declared he was unaware of the accusations prior to Hunt resigning on May 13. The report likewise names 3 prior presidents of the convention, a former vice president, and the previous head of the SBC’s administrative arm as prominent SBC leaders who aided in covering up for and even motivated alleged abusers.
One victim talked about being treated with animosity as she alleged she was sexually assaulted by a youth pastor. The accused pastor served in multiple Southern Baptist churches in a number of states. At a meeting with the SBC leaders in 2007, a member of the Exec Board “turned his back to her during her speech and another chortled.”
Responsibility in the SBC
Russell Moore, the previous head of the SBC’s policy branch, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, stated ‘this is not all Southern Baptists, take a look at all the good we do.’ The sensational report shows a pattern of stonewalling, coverup, retaliation, and intimidation.” He hopes this report will deliver much-needed change and hold those accountable for their misconduct.
The report states that a major Southern Baptist leader was credibly accused of sexual assault merely 1 month after finishing his two-year stretch as the convention’s president. The report also names three previous presidents of the convention, a former vice president, and the previous head of the SBC’s administrative council as notable SBC leaders who helped in protecting and even encouraged thought sexual abusers.
He anticipates this report will instigate much-needed change and hold those accountable for their misconduct.
To learn more about information and resources available to survivors of sexual abuse in Texas, read our page: https://abuseguardian.com/sexual-assault-lawyer/texas/sex-trauma-therapist-tx/
Abuse Guardian for Texas
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