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Online listing reminds churches of need for caution

by: Ken Walker

With so many states posting the names of sexual offenders electronically, it was only a matter of time before a Christian group followed suit.

That happened recently when the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) listed the names of nine pastors who "may have been" ministers in a convention-affiliated church. The BGCT promised to post additional names as it obtains more information.

Of the nine offenders, at least two are still in prison. Of five other cases I checked, defendants are on parole or probation for offenses involving boys or girls ranging in age from 7 to 16.

As one of the largest state affiliates of the Southern Baptist Convention, Texas’ move foreshadows other groups taking steps to publicize the names of such criminals. Indeed, at this week's national SBC annual meeting, a motion calling for establishing a registry of clergy sexual offenders was referred to the denomination's executive committee for further study.

Several thoughts occurred as I read about this news.

For starters, churches that have never been technically savvy need to identify members who can handle online research to help screen out the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

There are more indicators of problems than sexual offenses. A pastoral candidate with a trail of bad debts, divorce or questionable judgment isn’t the kind of person a church wants in its pulpit, no matter how gifted an orator.

At the same time, I hope groups compiling such registries use great caution. Since they are subject to human error or misuse, an innocent person could wind up on such a list. Once a reputation is lost, recovering it is a Herculean task.

More relevant to the Church is the red flag the BGCT’s move raises for all congregations. Namely, the need for adequate screening and background checks. That applies to pastors, staff members and volunteers.

Church members are known as trusting and kind souls, a trait for which we can be thankful. The downside is when they are so trusting they fail to protect members, whether innocent children or emotionally vulnerable adults who look to pastors as superhuman spiritual advisors.

A past Church Central article on preventing child abuse contained valuable guidelines to help churches. Among them:

Don’t allow any volunteer to be involved with the nursery, children’s or youth work until that person has been with the church for at least six months. Customarily, abusers won’t wait too long to gain access to children.

Always have two adults to supervise children, even if only one or two children need care. This not only protects the children, but adults from false allegations.

Require that children be picked up from nurseries or classes by a parent, guardian or other trusted adult who has the "claim check."

One good resource that includes a DVD, training manual and reference book is Reducing the Risk II.

In the fall of 2005 I wrote a story about Christian schools forced to pay closer attention to security after a nationwide wave of school shootings. The principal of one small-town school recalled that in his childhood, churches there stayed open 24-7 to allow access for prayer or quiet Bible study.

"It’s troubling it can’t be that way today, but it can’t," he said.

Likewise, it’s sad that we live in the kind of world where vigilance and tough screening measures are necessary at church. However, ignoring reality puts everything at risk, from the church’s financial health to its most precious resource: the leaders of tomorrow.