Matthew Daniel

While I can’t to respond to every comment, I did want to respond to this in hopes of correcting your misperceptions of my opinions and knowing that as a pastor you would not want to bear false witness. I have never said that sexual abuse, or concerns about abuse, were a hoax. In fact, I have said the very opposite. I was an enthusiastic and early supporter of abuse reform movements in the SBC. I did begin to speak out about ways in which I believe that movement was weaponized and politicized. I believe there were some unwise decisions made that were counterproductive to the goals we all should share. I grieved at ways we became divided over something that should unite us all, stopping predators and protecting the vulnerable. Southern Baptists have taken extraordinary steps to do just that, and the overwhelming number of our churches are doing far more in that regard that had been done in previous generations. Yet, as long as sinful human beings walk the earth and until our King comes and vanquishes all such evils, there will be wolves who need stopping and people who need protecting. When those wolves come dressed not just as sheep, but shepherds, it is particularly egregious. I’m sure you join me in wanting none who are guilty of such vile conduct to be protected and all to be exposed and held to account. I call upon all our churches to practice ongoing training, install proper protocols, and when faced with an accusation of abuse in their ministries, to take those seriously, to report to law enforcement immediately, and cooperate with all investigations fully. I pray the day is soon hastening when we can stop this incessant attacking of one another and questioning the motives of good and godly people so we can unite to make our churches safer than ever before. The tragic reality of sexual abuse was, is, and remains, a serious threat. We need churches to be prepared and equipped to fight it, and we would be so much more effective if we fought it together instead of fighting each other.