Surely you’ve heard by now that a former missionary with the IMB, Mark Aderholt, was arrested on July 3 and charged with sexually assaulting a teenager. The alleged crime took place 21 years ago when Aderholt was a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The IMB learned of the allegations made by Aderholt’s victim in 2007 while he was serving with the board. They conducted an internal investigation which determined that “Aderholt ‘engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship’ with a teen in 1996-1997, that the victim ‘suffered as a result’ and that Aderholt ‘was not truthful’ with the IMB ‘about the full extent of the relationship.’ “ Because his victim was an adult at the time the allegations came to light and because she did not want to make a report to police, the IMB did not report the assault to authorities. They intended to fire Aderholt at the next meeting of the trustees, but Aderholt resigned first.
That’s when things get fuzzy. Two months later, Aderholt was employed as the executive pastor at Central Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Ark. He then went on to become the associate pastor of missions/evangelism at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock. From there he went to the South Carolina Baptist Convention as associate director and chief strategist.
This raises a lot of questions to which we do not yet know the answers. Did any of these employers contact the IMB to ask for a reference on Aderholt before hiring him? If so, what did the IMB tell them? If these employers did not contact IMB, did anyone who knew of Aderholt’s assault recognize a moral obligation to blow the whistle and alert someone to Aderholt’s sexual assault history?
Right now we have people at the IMB, SCBC, and both churches remaining silent aside from statements prepared by lawyers. No one is saying what they knew. No one is saying what information was passed along to whom. It’s been said that silence is golden. In this case, silence is NOT golden.
I understand the need to tread carefully when releasing public statements that involve employment issues surrounding a criminal sexual assault case. I do not envy these leaders’ position one bit. But there comes a time when standing up and doing the right thing is more important that protecting yourself or the organization you lead from a lawsuit.
So what needs to happen now?
- The IMB, SCBC, and the churches involved must fully cooperate with authorities.
- Anyone at the IMB, SCBC, or these churches who knew about Aderholt’s assault and did nothing should be terminated immediately.
- The executive director of the SCBC must be transparent with its member churches about what he and others responsible for hiring Aderholt knew. If they knew nothing, why?
- The churches where Aderholt was employed after leaving IMB must be transparent with their members about what those responsible for hiring Aderholt knew. If they knew nothing, why?
- David Platt needs to address the situation directly rather than relying upon a spokesperson. Why was a former missionary who was credibly accused of sexual assault hired at two churches and a state convention after resigning from IMB in disgrace? Dr. Platt was not the leader at IMB when Aderholt resigned, but he is now. IMB needs him to lead.
This must stop. Abusers cannot be allowed to resign quietly and then move along to another position of ministry without someone standing up and saying something. Blow the whistle. Reveal the abuser. Protect the abused.
I have been preaching through the book of Amos over the last several weeks. Through Amos, God said of the people of Israel’s worship, “I hate,” “I despise,” “I take no delight,” “I will not accept,” “I will not look,” and “I will not listen” (Amos 5:21-23). Why such harsh language? Because God’s people were marked by idolatry, immorality, and injustice, yet they thought all was well with God.
Brothers and sisters, we have a problem. The problem will not be addressed by silence and secrecy. Silence is NOT golden.
Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. -Amos 5:24
Adam, thank you so much for writing about this painful, but important topic. I hope your advice will be taken seriously. This article reminds me of one of my most painful experiences in ministry. A student at a bible college overseas where I was teaching (not affiliated with the SBC or IMB) shared with my wife that a top leader at the school had asked her to sleep with him. This led to an investigation, initially led by my wife and I and then by school leadership, which turned up many accusations against this leader. When the school chose not to fire him, I resigned. It was heart breaking. I share a little of that story and also some relevant biblical lessons in a blog post I wrote last year:
http://parresiazomai.blogspot.com/2017/11/why-is-there-so-much-sexual-abuse.html
There have been many blogs across the spectrum agonizing over the internal investigation and follow-up on sexual assaults within (and without) the SBC. But very few address the very first stumbling stone—the initiation of a criminal investigation with the proper law enforcement agency, I respectfully submit that church leaders are patently inexperienced to investigate criminal matters and, therefore, should not muck around. Law enforcement must be involved if there is even an inkling of crime—and incidentally this takes care of the issues of being unbiased and completely transparent. Moreover, it ensures the victim with Victim Assistance Programs. Then, and only then, can a church organization follow behind the criminal investigation to pursue church discipline and documentation if necessary. Then, and only then, can a church provide spiritual and physical healing to the victim.
Bart Barber has addressed this extensively.
What about the pastor or church leaders that do nothing to help the issue or the victims?
I’ve been reading the various accounts of sexual impropriety as a means of dismissal from ministry positions and am amazed at the content of the conversation. When I graduated from seminary in 1986, my first pastorate was in a small church outside of Fresno, CA. where the previous pastor has “taken up” with a choir member, returned in repentance to be restored, then took off with the woman again and I believe married her. The church that had ordained this man rescinded his ordination, however, within weeks I was contacted by a church some 150 miles away about this man’s employment. I told them he was dismissed for “conduct unbecoming a minister of the gospel.” From what I was told, they hired him anyway.
In 1999 I was called to another SBC church about 70 miles away from Fresno where, within only a few years I had to dismiss the Minster of Music for…You guessed it…”Conduct unbecoming a minister of the gospel.” This man didn’t miss a Sunday and along with his very forgiving wife took on another staff position in a church within the local SBC Association. After all this occurred, I was then told that this wasn’t the first time the minister had been involved in a similar scandal and that he’d received counseling. When I contact the pastor of the church he and his wife transferred their membership to, I would told he was undergoing “counseling.” I explained to the pastor that he was a bit of a risk but the man was hired on anyway as their minister of music. Today, some 15 years later, he’s the pastor of a church in the same local SBC Association despite my ongoing (but not overly loud) protests. I have no desire to hurt the man or ruin his career, but compared to the people being lambasted by the #metoo movement, I can’t seem to come to terms with what I did wrong to have this man at least censured in some way or another. He ruined at least one marriage that I’m aware of and never had to apologize to anyone. Anyway, I thought I’d add to the conversation.
There’s a difference between illegal and unethical conduct. I’m with you. The answer is that no one tells any local church what do to, who to hire, who to fire, who to discipline, who to restore, who to cast out…sometimes not even Jesus.
“Sometimes not even Jesus.”
Ouch. And True.
For me personally, there is no difference between the illegal and unethical for the Christian. Both are equally huge in importance.
Deliberately naive, eager-to-hire churches never acknowledge or admit their role. Never.
I second every word of this. Thank you.
Churches must always be a safe haven from predators. I applaud the convention for taking a strong stand to support women who have been violated and then bullied into silence. Some of the most beautiful words that a pastor can hear from the women in their church is: “Pastor I feel safe and protected in my church.” We must continue to send a clear message with strong actions and words that we will not tolerate abusive behavior, and the good old boy attitude toward the damaged emotions and scarred minds of vulnerable women that have been violated must end forever.
Adam, I don’t want to focus too much on a church, but could you clarify whether the first church Aderholt went to in Arkansas was Central Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, or Central Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas? The former is independent Baptist and the latter SBC. Thanks.
This article has a link to the church in question. The reporter has sent the church some questions, which they have yet to answer.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article214965680.html
The article had the link right but had the church as Central Baptist Little Rock. Part of the problem of using repetitive names in the Metro Area!
I’ve been told that it is North Little Rock. I’ll update the post.
Thanks, Hunter and Adam. I think it is fair that the wrong church not be implicated in the issue.
CBC North Little Rock.
And, of course, given the way things go: neither CBC North Little Rock nor Immanuel, Little Rock, have the same pastor they had when Aderholt was there, which means that many of the support/administrative people are different, too.
So, you send a question to CBC NLR, and Wyman gets it (current pastor) but he doesn’t know and neither do any of his staff folks, so he doesn’t answer, so now CBC looks like they aren’t helping, but really they actually don’t know.
Potentially the same for Dr. Smith at IBC.
Absolutely, facts are important in cases like this. But if the question went to the wrong church and/or the correct church has turned over in staff and leadership, those are pretty easy questions to answer. Circling the wagons and refusing to even answer simple questions isn’t a good practice either (I’m not saying either church is doing that in this instance, but the newspaper noted they haven’t gotten any response as of yet). So much of what we have seen is because people in the ministry and various institutions simply refuse to respond to basic requests for information. “Autonomy” is being turned into an excuse to be accountable to no one.
There are not going to be answers given when staff has changed.
Then in that case the answer is “Our staff has changed and we have no information on this person’s employment because our church doesnt keep personnel records.” This isnt hard. Just stop circling the wagons and tell the truth.
This is sad, but good news.
It’s good that we are continuing to see the culture in the SBC slowly start to change on this issue. I know that I have been reading and writing about it for almost 10 years. There have been significant barriers to this being addressed before, but I think that the #metoo movement, and the recent allegations relating to Dr. Patterson combined to overcome previous thinking and the reticence to open matters that would reflect poorly on other high profile leaders who had achieved celebrity status.
As to the specifics of this IMB situation, the facts are unusual. There was not wrongdoing while the person worked for the IMB (at least if I am understanding things correctly), but something that happened 10 years earlier. And the question is what the IMB’s obligations are to go back and report that. And then there are questions about what the IMB is allowed to tell future employers.
I don’t know the answers to any of this, but it is not good that the IMB had this for years and did nothing, and it’s bad that the guy went on to minister in other places.
What roles should/can local associations and state conventions play in situations where a church responds poorly to an obvious case of serious misconduct by it’s leadership? This assumes that they somehow learn about it, which in some cases they might not. Does association leadership usually check in with a church when there is a turnover in leadership other than due to a planned retirement? What ways can they help while honoring the autonomy of the local church?
That is a great question.
A seemingly quick and easy solution – one that I hope the IMB and other entities have/will implement is something like this:
Every employee, when hired, signs a legal dicument allowing that entity to release to any potential employer who inquired information regarding any and all work history including circumstances surrounding resignation/termination that involves verified incidents of moral turpitude. In fact, Might even add language stating we WILL notify future employers….
DONT SIGN? No Hire.
It’d be nice if all our churches would do the same….but …. autonomy. They’d have to do that on thier own as they see fit….but we as messengers can and should demand this of our entities.
Love to hear some legal counsel on this as an idea, but it seems like a good one to me.
Dave: I’m not now and never have been an employment lawyer, but I’ve been lawyering for 30 years, so I’ll offer this take. You would want to check with legal counsel before requiring such a document. First, it probably depends on your state laws. It wouldn’t surprise me if states like California don’t permit such documents. Second, you’d have to be very careful to make sure the kinds of information given to the asking entity were very specifically laid out in the document (you wouldn’t want general statements about moral failures) – you wouldn’t want such a document to be used as a means of revenge (and, therefore, a potential means of a lawsuit if a former staff member were inclined to violate 1 Cor. 6). Third, what about (perhaps rare) cases where the staff member resigns because of allegations which later prove false and the church is repeatedly giving potential church employers bad information? Does such a document protect you from the consequences of possibly defaming someone? It might, but you’d have to mention that in the document, which then starts to get a little weird.
I’m not arguing against you – it sounds like a good idea – I’m just doing what lawyers do – thinking about all the problems it could raise.
Yeah, I feel ya. Thanks.
These issues are sticky for sure.
I’m only considering a “hold harmless” (or whatever you lawyers would call it) document for passing on information relating to sexually predatory and abusive behavior.
We’re in the SCBC and it was front page news here. Aderholt was also volunteering at a large church in Columbia working with 9th-10th graders. In their defense they say they knew nothing of these allegations, but they already have a case against them working it’s way through the courts from issues a decade ago involving a youth volunteer. Optics are horrendous. We need to know if IMB was ever contacted by any of the employers after he resigned. They were by far his longest tenure of employment, so heaven help us, I’d hope someone in one of these churches contacted them. He came to SC with Hollingsworth our new SCBC Director as he was on staff at his church in Arkansas. It’s a major mess here, and as you stated, the lawyers are the ones talking. We need some folks to man up from all parties involved, which would be everyone from IMB forward. Hopefully we’ve learned by now, we must report these type things. There is no other option
I realize he is on his way out, but David Platt really needs to address this personally.
Putting this verse into practice is difficult, but it would help:
NIV 1 Timothy 5:20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.
“2. Anyone at the IMB, SCBC, or these churches who knew about Aderholt’s assault and did nothing should be terminated immediately.”
The possibility that this might actually happen is the real reason no one is talking. Everything else is a convenient fig leaf.
I realize this word is fraught with issues, but we also need better spiritual discernment in our churches. The “just trust us” model is not good enough. Some questions and thoughts:
1. Who on your pastor search committee has good spiritual discernment? Do you know?
2. Who in your congregation seems to unerringly spot wolves & true troublemakers, even as the majority continue to fawn over them?
3. Does your church culture allow gracious truth-telling and facing real issues & problems? Or are sin issues deemed personal and private, so everyone goes about like free electrons minding their own business rather than as integral, interdependent parts of a living body? Does your church turn a polite blind eye to sin issues unless & until they are widely publicized?Do your members know they should not abandon/supress promptings from the Holy Spirit that may go against the church tide?
4. When is the last time your church, or anyone in it, confessed anything, large or small?
5. How would you know if a staff member was involved in the serious practice of sin? If you yourself began to suspect/discern that, what is the first thing you would do?
6. Where’s the power???
All the safeguards and policies in the world can’t totally replace discernment. Just because some people may misuse it doesn’t mean we can ignore it.
According to Anne Marie (the victim in the Aderholt case) the Baptist Press didnt even bother to contact her before publishing their article with the IMB statement. She is pretty easy to get in touch with via her social media account, so really not sure why Baptist Press couldnt get her side of the story. She posted this just last night: I really had hoped that the Southern Baptist Convention would do the right thing here. By the right thing, I simply mean that they would have protected potential victims and supported current ones. I have still received zero response from anybody in the SBC.
I’ll admit, I first read about this story on this site yesterday. I have not dug into the details, but I don’t understand the mindset that she needs to hear from “the SBC”; whoever they are. No entity head would contact her; the entities lawyers would have a fit even if no SBC entity has done anything wrong. The IMB may or may not have acted inappropriately; but that will only be determined down the road. And if they did hide this, then the IMB should be unloaded on w/both barrels. But what “the SBC” should she be wishing to hear from? This tendency to label an entire organization as problematic b/c of the actions of a few people has got to stop.
She feels that the IMB and its lawyers have misrepresented her, as well as Baptist Press. Both are SBC organizations. No one is labeling the entire organization as problematic, but this idea that there is no leadership and it is just a bunch of loose churches with no connection to each other is simply not true. The IMB has a President and Trustees. They have not reached out to her. The SBC has leaders who tweet storms about all the things going on in the world we disagree with. Look at Russell Moore’s twitter. Al Mohler’s twitter. Constant finger pointing at the world and its ills (much of it I agree with). But when we have a serious issue within in our denomination – silence.
I am not surprised the IMB has not reached out; that is probably the 1st thing the IMB legal staff told them to do. I agree the SBC has connection, but until we know what the IMB did or did not do I fail to see what they should say to her; because any interaction on their part would be seen as an admission or denial of something depending on which side of the fence you are on. I have no idea what Moore or Mohler regularly tweet, and don’t know why their Twitter accounts should be used to address this woman.
Do we have a serious issue within our denomination? We might. It might also be true that no one called the IMB for a reference. I’ve known churches to hire former missionaries with much less vetting than a non-missionary applicant b/c they are former missionaries and they trust the IMB or NAMB to have sufficiently “checked them out”. It is possible the IMB did nothing wrong (possible mind you) and no one checked his history. It is possible the IMB swept this under the rug. To expect entity heads to rush to speak to this woman is to expect entity suicide and potentially enter the SBC into a legal process that could be avoided.
As a denomination, if the IMB was complicit, we should demand for them to apologize and talk to this woman; and anyone who hid/covered for this should be fired. But as this point in this story, I don’t understand what anyone from any of our entities either could or should say; and I don’t think the silence of entity heads says anything one way or the other.
I guess my point is simply that there was a lot of talk at the SBC concerning valuing abuse victims, listening to them, and providing them a safe place to tell their story. I believe in this case we failed. My point on the twitter is not that they should address her there – but the larger issue (as both did during the Patterson case when so much attention was on us). Now that the attention has gone away, it simply seems we are back to business as usual. I also think there is a tendency in the church to rapidly condemn the world and not look at our own sins. I do not believe this is a “rush”, this has been going on for some time now. And, just to clarify, the IMB lawyers did already talk to her years ago, and one urged her to “let it go”. They asked her a bunch of questions which most victims advocates would say are not appropriate. She feels they were part of the problem and is now asking for someone to take responsibility. I guess since I have seen the emails (they are on her blog and also on the Baptist Press Facebook now), I am at the point of wanting action.
I can understand the frustration, but that is why time is needed. I just read the correspondences she posted. I think her portrayal of a cover-up is disingenuous at best. The “let it go” is at the end of what appears to be a back and forth (mentioned again in 2018 as “advice”). They asked questions b/c they were conducting an investigation. They followed her in not reporting. This almost smells of a setup (almost mind you).
Again, if the IMB hid this; then take all those responsible down in broad daylight. I just don’t see it right now though. Aderholt’s sin has been discussed. The IMB may or may not have done something wrong.
We will just have to agree to see it differently. I definitely don’t think there is any reason to dismiss it as a set up. Having said that, I am more than willing to listen to the IMB’s side if they choose to articulate their role in all this.
Walk in my shoes first, experience the victim shaming and Jesus-tinted “let it gos” (multiple times), the reminders from the IMB to essentially keep my eye on my own sinful nature, and then call it disingenuous.
Anne, I will admit being one a little confused about some of the intricacies of this situation, but I hope you understand that the vast majority of us now are a) ashamed of the victim shaming that you mention b) committed to reporting and cooperating with authorities and not trying to play amateur detectives c) horrified by what you went through even in the most IMB-sympathetic interpretation and d) committed to serving and helping women who have suffered as you have.
I hope a corner is being turned and I am grateful to women such as you who have allowed your name into the public domain, as painful as that is, to force the process along.
I would love to speak with you sometime because I have a lot of question – not gotcha questions but questions about how a pastor like me should handle a situation like yours or the myriad variations of it.
Dave Miller, I wholeheartedly agree. I also don’t understand everything that happened and am just looking for answer. My call for SBC leadership to address this is not because I am looking to cast blame – I just want to believe our leadership would be as gracious as you just were in that response. Kind words can bring healing.
Hi, Dave. I’m happy to help explain anything I can. I realize some of things can be confusing simply due to the fact I have chosen to keep pieces of the investigation private or need to because of the criminal investigation. However I am willing to be as open as I can be and definitely want to help others if I can in any way. I do want to note that any negativity I express toward the IMB is mostly due to the fact they have not been supportive with my reporting, other than saying the words “we support her.” It is an isolating feeling on top of an isolating situation. I do not do well with beating around the bush. I apologize if that comes off in an unChristlike manner. That is not my intent. My email address is found on my website (AnnemarieMiller.com). I’m grateful for your comments and your reaching out.
The IMB did nothing to stop Aderholt from repeating his actions, and allowed him to continue working in ministry in the SBC without informing other churches/organizations. They gave him easy access to more potential victims.
IMO, they protected the “brand”.
Michael,
In issues like this particular issue, we need the wisdom of Solomon, but we should protect possible victims (I say possible, before investigators review), and possible future victims. We need to support Anne Marie.
But what is disturbing, secondarily to Anne Marie’s well being, is hasn’t the SBC learned anything from the dumpster fire that is Willow Creek?
Willow Creek and Highpoint Memphis are textibook cases of how not to handle these issues. Denial, silence, victim shaming, followed by an outcry at the churches’ behavior, which leads to a bunch of half hearted apologies and people being fired. The SBC has the opportunity to not go down this road.
The IMB, SBC, and the South Carolina Baptist Convention have had that opportunity time and again. The fall out should cause the whole convention to fall to it’s knees and beg God for fresh eyes, tender humble hearts, and a determination to protect the most vulnerable instead of protecting their salaries.
The SBC has already been down this road.
I am not against protecting the victim. And I think Anne Marie is a victim; she was victimized by Aderholt. I do not think as of yet she was victimized by the IMB.
We are dealing with events from over a decade ago. It is unfair to ask if we learned anything from an event this year and if so, why didn’t we do anything with that info 11 years ago. Should the IMB have reported against her wishes (as expressed from the IMB’s side in the email) yes. They didn’t, I hope they are cooperating now.
I’m commenting on the rush to blame people for not acting better then, based on what we know now. I think her portrayal of IMB staffs’ motives is unfair; that does not make her evil or imply I want her to sit down and shut up. It means that I think, based on my limited knowledge, that her portrayal is unfair. The abuse she suffered does not make the truth flexible.
If the IMB covered for Aderholt then string them up and give them no quarter. At this time I don’t think there is a cover-up; if there is shown to be one, then I will gladly grab my pitchfork and torch and join the mob.
Michael
Fair enough
Thank you for respectfully expressing your opinions. One of the basis for my strong opinion is I asked how can Mark continue to serve in the SBC as I was led to believe he was terminated and only found out he resigned when I directly asked this year. I was never given any explanation for my questions which I asked because I wanted to ensure there were no other victims. That, in addition to the commentary that was not ever encouraging me to report it criminally (by alluding to the fact I had to prove it in a more rigorous system and that it happened so long ago, etc., all public emails now) as well as other people who have shared similar stories of them not reporting criminal acts led me to be more vocal about my experience. There are also things having to do with the criminal case and investigation that I cannot share publicly that lend to my belief of this. If I need to clarify anything or seem unfair, I am open to rebuke and to further clarifying. But yes, I do believe there was a cover up in every sense of the term. If that was not their motivation, it was at minimum the result of their choices. This needs to be known to their supporters.
Anne, has anyone since answered your question as to why/how Aderholt was still employed within the SBC? In case not, I hope to offer a partial explanation of how (not why) he could still have been employed.
This seems to me to be one of the ways the Baptist denomination is different from many others and lots of people don’t understand this about Baptists general or Southern Baptists particularly.
Think of it in terms of an industry- cell phone service perhaps. An employee at AT&T is let go for at fault issues. He applies at Verizon and they hire him. AT&T can pass along the at fault info that led to his dismissal. If Verizon asks, or if they decide to, or if their lawyers say that can, or if, or if… (And all of these “ifs” – how much should be shared, when, to whom, is what’s being debated so much now.)
EIther way, AT&T has no say ultimately in who Verizon hires. And the fired employee can stay in the cell phone industry. The SBC is like this. National entities supported by the Cooperative Program have no authority over the local churches. Aderholt’s resignation with the IMB didn’t prevent his hire somewhere else, because while local churches cooperate to fund the IMB, NAMB, the ERLC, and a portion of Southern Baptist seminaries’ budgets, they aren’t directed by the national level.
I’m not arguing one way or another the merits or deficiencies of such a system, just providing info that I hope is helpful.
Thank you. It is helpful. The Star Telegram learned that Aderholt personally listed two employees of the IMB as *personal* references on his resume post-resignation. They did not comment on his abuse. This is concerning to me.
Texas and other states have implemented laws to prevent schools from “passing the trash” (their terms; I do not see any human as “trash”) so that this stops happening. I am glad they see the moral responsibility. I wish the SBC entities do too. https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-news/abbott-signs-passing-the-trash-bill-cracking-down-on-predator-teachers/443034840
I asked Baptist Press if they reached out to Anne Marie before publishing. They just responded by email from Art Toalston that they did receive a statement from Anne, but would hold it “for awareness” in case future developments in the case came to light. So to be clear, a statement from the IMB warranted an update, but not a statement from the victim.
Email response from Baptist Press, posted with Anne’s permission:
Hello Anne Marie – Thank you for reaching out to Baptist Press with your comments and clarification. We received them by email and see they were also posted to Baptist Press’ Facebook page shortly thereafter. Currently, then, there is the Baptist Press July 16 update occasioned by the Star-Telegram story and your posted response on Facebook. As new developments may unfold relative to Mr. Aderholt’s arrest, we will hold your comments for awareness and possible use at the appropriate time. If your comments become part of a new BP story, we will send word.
Art Toalston, Senior Editor
We have now seen many of these situations, not just with SBC entities but in the US at large. What can be done so that the victim goes to the police at the time of the incident? Instead, time after time, the victim, especially with minors, seeks to avoid controversy and shame, so they do not go to the police. For example, where I live in KS a local high school had a situation where boys were posting nude photos of girls that the girls had sent out. In the end, people were mad but no one wanted to talk to the police! If the victim does not go to the police at the time, the problem just festers. Then, years later, the victim goes to the police, and everyone looks bad like there was a cover up. Maybe their was, but the best time to handle these things is when they occur. The fact is, in this case, until the victim was willing to go to the police, not much could be done. I say that except it seems the IMB should have fired the accused rather than let him resign. That was a way to tip future employers off to a problem.
There are many reasons victims don’t go to the police some of which involve the dynamics of abuse particularly on minors. Others are better informed than I on this and can explain why this is.
Agreed that the best time to handle it is when they occur. But abuse can take years to manifest. I would also draw a distinction between reporting and prosecuting. It is up to the victim to decide whether to press charges, but that doesnt mean the church can’t or shouldn’t report to the police. They are the experts in this, not us. Let law enforcement know, regardless of how long ago it happened.
One reason victims don’t go the police is that later on people in positions of power accuse them of setting other people up falsely in order to damage reputations. Not that anyone on this blog would ever do that, but it happens.
In a perfect world, reporting a potential crime to the police is enough… but it isn’t. Have you heard of Chuck Phelps? He was an independent Baptist church pastor in NH where a teen was raped in 1997 by church member. The crime was at home. The pastor reported the crime but the police bungled the investigation because the family was uncooperative. Years later, the victim sued everyone. Phelps was able to clear himself by showing he called the police, but not before an ABC 20/20 episode featured him. If you want a place to start if you’ve never heard of this case, start here, though the wiki story is pretty biased against Phelps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Baptist_Church_sex_scandal
I was under the impression that I could not go to the authorities because of the state I was in and was not encouraged by the international mission board to do so. They were required by law to do it. They should have walked me, I traumatized and emotionally raw young woman, through this process because that was the right thing to do.
Anne, assuming you are the victim in this story I will not address you directly. That would be unkind and unwise for many reasons. I was speaking generically to make this a larger point about crimes of this nature. May you get justice for any crimes, and may you find peace in Jesus Christ.
Thank you Mark. At the time of the investigation, the IMB could have supported me by informing me how to go to the police and also emotionally supported me through that. My comment was not meant as an attack; just clarification. Please forgive me if it came across as such.
There are legal obligations to report when minors are involved. If the victims don’t talk to the police that is up to them. But it is not up to organization or churches to choose whether or not to report.
Adam, I am not sure your claim about the mandate for organizations to report will hold. In my state the only required reporters are educators and medical and police. Churches and clergy are not included. If a person is now an adult and does not want to report, it is not clear that we are morally or legally required to go behind their back and report.
A couple of months ago, Mr. Mohler wrote an article in which he seemed to compare the sexual abuse problem in the SBC to that which has been occurring in the Catholic Church. Does that mean pedophilia is rampant in the SBC? I am not a Southern Baptist but you seem to have a problem. If there has been wide spread abuse in your denomination, then why hasn’t it been reported. As a former law enforcement officer I can assure you a significant number of people knew, including some of those voicing concern about it. If people knew and did not report it, they are culpable. It’s time to stop talking and writing about it and instead deal with it. Remember sir, a victim of sexual abuse carries this scar for life. Grace to you.
Baptist Press has released what I believe is a new article detailing the response of the IMB and of Anne Miller.
http://www.bpnews.net/51282/imb-exmissionarys-accuser-differ-over-abuse-response
Why are Paige and Dorothy Patterson still living on the campus of SWBTS in Pecan Manor? His firing was on May 30 and it was said they were to be moved out by July 7? Their presence on campus can only be causing division and cannot be permitted to continue. Patterson’s well-publicized “break her down” comments regarding a rape victim, among other serious failures in moral leadership (lying, etc.) mean he is a lightning rod for more conflict. Why are they still there in public sight-a shame to SWBTS and Christ’s name?
Anne, you are brave. You have done a hard thing coming forward – again – with your abuse. Thank you for joining this thread and voicing your concerns and thoughts. Even if no one is trying to be deliberately unkind to you here, your joining the conversation triggers many horrible things from the past -for you personally. I’m truly sorry for this. Yet, your courage informs the uninformed, softens the doubters, and emboldens us all. I’m praying for healing for you and those near you, and for even more courage to face all of your tomorrows.
Thank you, Suzanne.
The Southern Baptist Convention of South Carolina has issued a statement. In part, it says that extensive background checks, including references, were done in 2016. They state the references were all “impeccable”. The reporter covering the story for the Star-Telegram has now released Mark Aderholt’s resume which include two IMB personnel: The Regional Strategist for Eastern Europe and the Associate VP for Finance. Note that these “impeccable” references from the IMB would have come after their investigation into Mark Aderholt’s sexual misconduct and his resignation.
Everything you have stated is true. It’s also worth noting, however, that we do not yet know if the IMB references included on the resume knew about the sexual assault investigation.
Agreed, we don’t know. Which is why the IMB needs to be more public with answers. One of the references was the regional director for Eastern Europe, so I would have a hard time believing he was unaware of the investigation, since that is the area Aderholt served in. And if he did not know, then that is itself a problem – and goes back to the larger issue of whether the IMB has communicated to churches in Europe where Aderholt served to let them know this was an issue. The local Richmond affiliate of ABC just a ran a good story on it, and the IMB refused to comment on camera. They released a statement saying that no organization actively follows people who leave to report on them. That would seem a disingenuous answer if in fact the SBC of South Carolina did reach out to the IMB and got a sterling endorsement. Also, it appears Aderholt’s wife was featured as a speaker at an IMB event even after Aderholt resigned. It is sad that the secular media has to dig all of this up bit by bit instead of someone at the IMB just admitting that something went wrong and they want to fix it. God help us all if it is ever illegal to preach the Gospel in America now that we know how important it is for ministers to avoid lawsuits and hide behind lawyers.
Hunter, no disagreement here. IMB may think they’ve said enough. They most certainly have not.
which they wouldn’t have to hide behind lawyers if they would just be honest. All we voted for in Texas means nothing if this is the type of behavior we can still expect from agencies and churches. It was a token vote and that is all it was if not put into practice.
I wonder if the reluctance to report is due to a lack of education on what the next steps are that the law enforcement agencies take. It’s easy for us on this side of such an instance to say it should have been reported, because now we know that the accusation was credible. And something like 80% (or more?) are. But when these things are first brought to light, I have to think that the initial gut reaction by the accused’s employers includes some kind of reticence to expose the accused to public shame if he (or she) turns out to be innocent of the charge. Because, even though the legal system is built on “innocent until proven guilty”, the court of social opinion isn’t. Maybe if we were all better educated on how such investigations would be handled and whether or not they are Freedom of Information Act accessible before charges are filed (if filed), our leaders responsible for reporting would be quicker to do so?
Generally, we need to push for our leaders at all levels to make their own education on their legal responsibilities in these matters a higher priority. Is this something our state conventions could aid our local pastors and other leaders in learning?
Stephanie: It doesn’t matter what the next steps that law enforcement take are. It needs to be reported. Period. No one outside of the police are capable of investigating any crime. That is why we have trained police.
Hi Stephanie, I agree that every church can and should have someone educated in the underlying issue (sexual abuse, domestic abuse, etc.) including the legal aspects and local resources available. I found a curious naïveté and … pride? fear? denial? in several staff-misbehavior situations, in which the church actively refused offers of information & resources – despite a public arrest. That was hard to understand.