Safeguards for Churches

By

Jeff Dalrymple is currently the Director Abuse Prevention & Response at the SBC Executive Committee. Jeff formerly served as executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention, a national association of Christian ministries committed to child and youth protection. In his role with the SBC Executive Committee, Jeff serves as a catalyst to educate and equip Southern Baptists with abuse prevention and response. Jeff is based in Jacksonville, Florida and is married to his wife Kristil and together they have four children.

Editor’s note: Join the conversation in Dallas for “Safeguarding the Next Generation,” a panel conversation about child and youth protection in both ministry contexts as well as in homes and culture – Monday, June 9, 2 p.m. at the Dallas Omni Hotel’s Trinity Ballroom. Get more information here.

Southern Baptists are a force for good – I have been inspired by Dr. Jeff Iorg’s common refrain as I have traveled with him and met Southern Baptist leaders. For more than 100 years, Southern Baptists have been a force for good throughout the U.S. and around the globe. We could spotlight the work of the North American Mission Board and Send Relief in responding to disasters and the work of International Mission Board missionaries involved in all sorts of mercy ministry in faraway places.

Note this IMB interview with Dr. Tom Hicks: https://www.imb.org/2023/11/21/supporting-baptist-hospitals/

In 1947 the SBC Executive Committee responded to a telegram from community leaders in Jacksonville, Florida, stating the urgent need caused by hospital bed shortages. The Executive Committee announced the creation of a faith-based hospital with a public-private partnership that created Baptist Memorial Hospital which opened in 1955. The legacy of this good work continues today as Baptist Health (Jacksonville), totaling six hospitals and 1,168 beds. Baptist chaplains and local pastors are often on the frontlines in caring for the sick and injured and their families with the hope of the Gospel.

A new opportunity has presented itself to us, Southern Baptists. This is the urgent need brought on by sexual abuse, which, I believe, is the rotten fruit of the Sexual Revolution. There is a broad cultural epidemic that is infiltrating our churches with the prevalence of pornography and promiscuity. There is much to be done about this, and Southern Baptists must step up to address the problem with the clear hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the redemption and fulfillment that is only found in following Him.

Responding to sexual sin and brokenness is a matter of biblical stewardship and Great Commission importance. Where do we start or how can we continue this work?

First, our churches and ministries must be the safest place for kids and the vulnerable to hear the Gospel and grow in discipleship. This means we must safeguard our churches by implementing and sustaining screening, training and response measures. Each and every employee and volunteer that serves with children and youth should be background checked using the current system of criminal and civil databases that we have available to us. Performing reference checks, verifying government-issued photo ID and using a waiting period are all important measures to screen workers.

Training is another key safety measure. This training should include definitions and indicators of abuse, common grooming behaviors, mandatory and permissive reporting laws and policies, as well as any ministry-specific training such as response plans.

Second, our churches should consider sharing these measures with parents and caregivers and raising awareness about abuse, online exploitation and other common dangers facing kids today. Our churches are well positioned to provide this training and discipleship based on our biblical worldview.

Third, our churches should be equipped to provide hope, care and healing for those who have experienced sexual abuse and domestic violence. This includes access to properly trained Christian counselors who are able to bring the Gospel and a Christ-centered perspective to hurting and broken people. I cannot think of a better place for people to heal than in the community of believers who are growing in Christ together.

Our pastors and ministry leaders already have access to such incredible training, certification and resources in this area through our Baptist seminaries and universities. We can work together to connect the dots and to bring these resources to the frontlines where ministry is taking place. Caring Well is once such good resource: www.caringwell.com

Southern Baptists are a force for good. The urgent needs of our culture are different than 1947 but no less pressing. The effects of sexual sin are often hidden and more difficult to recognize, but they are there. With thoughtful and intentional care, we can provide Gospel hope for a desperate world. Let’s move forward as we build on the foundation of abuse prevention and response as a Great Commission people. May we be found faithful in protecting the vulnerable and proclaiming the Good News of redemption to a desperate world.

This article originally appeared on baptistpress.com as part of the First-Person series.

  • Shepherding with Open Eyes: A Pastor’s Role in Abuse Prevention
    After more than five decades in pastoral ministry, one sobering truth stands out: protecting the flock from sexual abuse is not a task that can be delegated. It is a core pastoral responsibility rooted in our calling as shepherds of God’s people (1 Peter 5:2-3). Oversight of souls includes vigilance over safety, especially for the most vulnerable among us. For many years, sexual abuse was rarely discussed openly in the church.
  • A Force for Good: Richard Hammar
    Around 1992, attorney Richard Hammar, who founded Church Law & Tax, published one of the first child and youth protection resources for churches: Reducing the Risk. This abuse prevention material was based on research that Hammar had conducted starting in the 1980s determining that sexual abuse was one of the top legal issues for churches and ministries. Hammar started reading thousands of cases involving churches, religious organizations and educational institutions for the purpose of providing analysis, education and solutions to serve Christian ministries.
  • Cultivating Cultures of Goodness in Churches
    A good gardener knows that fruit appears only when the right conditions for growth have been nurtured. Jesus often used agricultural metaphors, including the parable of the soils (Mark 4, Matthew 13, and Luke 8). While the parable focuses on individuals’ responses to the message of God’s kingdom, we can also apply it to churches by asking: What fruit is my congregation bearing and what does that reveal about the soil being cultivated? Are we cultivating good soil that contributes to an abundant harvest?
  • Essential Insurance Insights: Critical Topics for Youth & Community Service
    In a time when organizations dedicated to serving youth and vulnerable community members are more vital than ever, ensuring the organization’s own long-term stability and protection is paramount. A crucial, often challenging, aspect of this stability is securing adequate Sexual Abuse or Molestation Liability (SML) coverage. The insurance market for SML has been “hardening”— coverage is becoming more limited, more expensive, and harder to obtain. This trend directly impacts the ability of nonprofits, schools, religious organizations, youth sports leagues, camps, and other community-serving entities to operate with confidence and financial security.
  • “Let the Children Come”: A Vision for the Church to Value and Protect the Lives of Children
    Jesus’ words still echo through time: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). These words were not just a gentle invitation—they were a command. A command to the Church to make room, to open arms, to clear the way. Yet in too many places, we’ve allowed hindrances to remain. We’ve allowed silence, fear, neglect, and even abuse to take root where there should be protection, joy, and peace.