The messengers at our 2021 annual meeting in Columbia approved a motion that required the incoming president to appoint a task force of South Carolina Baptists, who would be given the responsibility to review and respond to the report that is expected from our national convention in Anaheim, Calif., this summer. The South Carolina Baptist Convention Sexual Abuse Task Force will bring a report back to our state Executive Board and eventually to our annual meeting in November 2022.
While our national convention has been through a very contentious season, I am thankful that our South Carolina state convention has remained united. I’m not suggesting we always agree on every issue, but South Carolina Baptists do tend to handle disagreements in a biblical manner. We haven’t lost the willingness to dialogue, and even more importantly we continue to cooperate. I am thankful for our state convention staff, led by Gary Hollingsworth. They have navigated these troubled waters well. I am also proud of the pastors in our great state. I hope we can continue to serve as an example of unity for our brothers and sisters throughout the Southern Baptist Convention.
I believe all South Carolina Baptists want to do everything possible to prevent sexual abuse in our churches. This is not a political issue in South Carolina. We are simply making sure we are good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. My primary hope in naming this task force is that these men and women be an accurate representation of our South Carolina Baptist churches. I have asked one of our former SCBC presidents, D.J. Horton, to chair this task force. D.J. is well respected in our state, and he will lead us well. I’ve asked Kathy Robinson to serve as the vice chair, bringing an exceptional combination of executive and ministry skills to the team.
The team is made up of four pastors; one is a church planter. I’ve included two counselors, two lawyers, three women, and three current members of our state Executive Board. The full list of task force members is provided below. Please take time to pray for them by name as they prepare to review the report from the national level and recommend how we might best apply those findings to our unique South Carolina context of ministry.
Chair: D.J. Horton, pastor of Church at The Mill, past SCBC president
Vice chair: Kathy Robinson, strategy director at First Baptist, Simpsonville/Upstate Church
Stephen Cutchins, pastor of FBC, North Augusta, SCBC Executive Board member
Elizabeth Darrah, Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries
Steve Hogg, pastor of FBC, Rock Hill/SCBC Executive Board chair
Marty Hogue, pastor of FBC, Ravenel
Melissa Lu, lawyer and member of FBC, Charleston
Phillip Pinkney, church planter, Radiant Church, Charleston
Caleb Riser, lawyer, SCBC Executive Board and member of Shandon Baptist Church, Columbia
While it is common in our day for people to pursue this type of opportunity with a political motivation in mind, no one on this task force sought after this appointment. We can be assured that the South Carolina Baptists serving on this team desire nothing more than protection for the vulnerable and preparation for all Baptist churches in our state.
I encourage all South Carolina Baptists to assume the best and expect great things from those who represent us. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and boldness to follow God’s will as we walk through these most challenging days. May our hearts be aligned with God’s heart.
Charge on in the powerful name of Jesus!