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Was Phillip Rutledge Listed in SBC Abuse Investigation Report?

Phillip Rutledge was preaching at Ranchland Heights Baptist Church in Midland, Texas as of 2016.  He is a registered sex offender because of two aggravated sexual assault charges against children in Texas in 2003. Some members of his congregation had no idea about his previous charges. According to the church, children are never left alone in the sanctuary or in any activities with Rutledge. The church was disfellowshiped in 2020 due to his sex offender status.

Southern Baptist Convention Sexual Abuse Helpline

Southern Baptist Convention Guidepost Report

According to the Washington Post, a 300-page report was released on Sunday, May 22, 2022. The report contains horrible brand-new information concerning particular abuse instances and clarify how denominational authorities actively disapproved abuse prevention and reform for many years.

Southern Baptist Convention leaders have actually revealed an extensive and independent 3rd party investigation that uncovered that abusers were typically ignored, forgotten, or perhaps admonished by high-level church authorities from within this religious denomination of more than 16 million people. Moreover, it exposed these leaders frequently lied to their own members to keep them from being aware of the prevalent sexual wrongdoing.

Continue reading more about the Southern Baptist Convention Guidepost Report

A History of Ignored Misconduct

For nearly two decades, victims who were sexually abused sought to contact the administration of the “SBC” in relation to the ministers and congregation employees. Almost all of these revealed occurrences fell beyond the statutes of limitations, making it uncertain the number of predators were in fact indicted. According to the report, an in-house list was kept. Nevertheless, survivors’ shouts for fair treatment went unheeded as leaders from churches and organizations tried to secure themselves rather than those who have been taken advantage of by sexual abuse.

The report alleges that a key Southern Baptist Convention official was credibly accused of sexual assault only 1 month after completing his two-year period as the convention’s president. In Addition, Johnny Hunt, a widely known Georgia Southern Baptist preacher and senior vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s objectives arm, was credibly implicated of abusing a fellow congregant at a 2010 holiday in Panama City Beach, Florida. The North American Mission Board president declared he was unaware of the allegations prior to Hunt resigning on May thirteenth. The report additionally identifies three previous presidents of the convention, a former vice president, and the former head of the SBC’s administrative arm as prominent SBC leaders who aided in covering for and even encouraged alleged abusers.

One victim recounted being treated with animosity as she claimed she was sexually abused by a youth pastor. The implicated pastor served in numerous Southern Baptist churches in several states. At a meeting with the SBC leaders in 2007, a member of the Executive Board “turned his back to her during her speech and another chortled.”

Responsibility in the Baptist Convention

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

The document asserts that a key Southern Baptist leader was credibly implicated of sexual assault no more than one month after finishing his two-year term as the convention’s president. The report likewise names 3 previous presidents of the convention, a previous vice president, and the previous head of the SBC’s administrative division as notable SBC leaders who aided in covering up and even motivated believed sexual predators.

He desires this report will bring about much-needed reform and hold those accountable for their misconduct.

To learn more about resources available for survivors in Texas, visit this page: https://abuseguardian.com/sexual-assault-lawyer/texas/sex-trauma-therapist-tx/

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