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Abuse Guardians
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Was John Edgar Harris Listed in SBC List of Abusers?

John Edgar Harris, a former employee of Glynwood Baptist Church in Prattville, Alabama, pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and facilitating a child’s travel for an illegal sex act. John Edgar Harris was convicted of second-degree assault, according to court documents. After Harris pleaded guilty, the court dismissed two of the charges and reduced the sex abuse charge  to second-degree assault. He received a 13-month sentence in the Autauga Metro Jail.

Southern Baptist Convention Sexual Abuse Helpline

Southern Baptist Convention Guidepost Report

According to the Washington Post, a 300-page report was launched on Sunday, May 22, 2022. The report includes terrible brand-new details concerning particular abuse instances and clarify how denominational authorities actively fought abuse prevention and reform for decades.

Southern Baptist Convention leaders have announced a comprehensive and independent third-party investigation that uncovered that abusers were typically ignored, forgotten, or even condemned by high-level congregation officials from within this religious denomination of greater than 16 million people. Furthermore, it uncovered these leaders typically deceived their very own members to stop them from knowing the rampant sexual wrongdoing.

Click to read more about the Southern Baptist Convention Guidepost Report

A Story of Ignored Abuse

For almost twenty years, survivors who were sexually assaulted tried to contact the administration of the Southern Baptist Convention in relation to the preachers and church employees. Nearly all of these reported events fell outside of the statutes of limitations, making it uncertain the number of sexual abusers were really incriminated. According to the document, a secret list was kept. Abuse survivors’ cries for accountability went overlooked as leaders from churches and organizations attempted to protect themselves rather than those who have been preyed on by sexual assault.

The report alleges that a major Convention official was credibly implicated of sexual assault only one month after finishing his two-year period as the convention’s president. In Addition, Johnny Hunt, a popular Georgia Southern Baptist preacher and senior vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s missions arm, was credibly accused of abusing a woman during a 2010 holiday in Panama City Beach, FL. The North American Mission Board president declared he was uninformed of the accusations prior to Hunt resigning on May 13. The report also names 3 previous presidents of the convention, a previous vice president, and the former head of the SBC’s administrative arm as prominent SBC officials who assisted in covering for and even encouraged known abusers.

Responsibility in the Baptist Convention

Russell Moore, the former head of the SBC’s policy arm, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, stated ‘this is not all Southern Baptists, take a look at all the good we do.’ The Report shows a pattern of stonewalling, coverup, retaliation, and intimidation.” He desires this report will deliver much-needed change and hold those liable for their sexual abuse.

The report claims that a key Southern Baptist leader was credibly accused of sexual assault merely one month after completing his two-year spell as the convention’s president. The report also names 3 previous presidents of the convention, a previous vice president, and the former head of the SBC’s administrative arm as notable SBC leaders who helped in covering up and even motivated thought abusers.

For more information about resources available to sexual abuse survivors in Alabama, visit this link: https://abuseguardian.com/sexual-assault-lawyer/alabama/sex-trauma-therapist-al/

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