Statement on SBC

Westport Road Baptist Church laments the actions of the past in the SBC and pray for healing and justice for the victims.  We also pray for action to prevent further such abuses.
The following lament and repentance for sexual abuse was adopted at the most recent Southern Baptist Convention.

• Denounce in the strongest possible terms every instance of sexual abuse, those who perpetrate abuse, and those who seek to defend or protect these perpetrators;
• Affirm the Bible’s teaching to seek justice for those who have been harmed, protect the vulnerable, and honor the dignity and worth of survivors of sexual abuse (Genesis 1:26, Psalm 82:2-4, Isaiah 1:17, Micah 6:8);
• Publicly lament the harm our actions and inactions have caused to survivors of sexual abuse;
• Publicly apologize to and ask forgiveness from survivors of sexual abuse for our failure to care well for survivors, for our failure to hold perpetrators of sexual abuse adequately accountable in our churches and institutions, for our institutional responses which have prioritized the reputation of our institutions over protection and justice for survivors, and for the unspeakable harm this failure has caused to survivors through both our action and inaction;
• Publicly repent and acknowledge our need for comprehensive change in caring well for survivors of sexual abuse;
• Affirm that amid our failures, we express our hope in Christ, who never fails to care for those who have been harmed, that he watches over the vulnerable members of our churches, that he can bring healing to survivors of sexual abuse, and that he can bring both retributive justice to perpetrators of sexual abuse and restorative justice to survivors of sexual abuse;
• Affirm we will prayerfully endeavor to eliminate all instances of sexual abuse among our churches;
• Commit to the ongoing moral demands of the gospel in relation to sexual abuse, observing the command of our Lord to “teach everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20), including the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27, 34-35);
• Call for churches to teach the importance of honoring one another and treating one another virtuously in the area of sexuality so
• Call for Southern Baptists to give of our time and resources to bind the wounds of the broken, hold accountable perpetrators of sexual abuse and those who seek to defend them, and care well for survivors of sexual abuse; and be it finally

As a church, we have sought and will continue to strive to create a safe environment for all people. We additionally have a rigorous policy to protect minors. A few of those protections include:

• Background checks of all volunteers.
• Sex abuse prevention training for all staff and volunteers.
• Cameras throughout our building.
• A security guard during main worship services.
• A special church committee to handle potential allegations against staff or individuals within the church.