When the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Categorical-Information printed the 2019 exposé “Abuse of Religion,” documenting how the Southern Baptist Conference (SBC) spent greater than 20 years masking up sexual abuse allegations in opposition to almost 400 clergymen, Christa Brown described it as a “hallelujah second.” In her memoir, Baptistland, Brown recounts her personal abuse by a pastor and her therapeutic journey, offering solace for fellow victims.
Brown particulars the maddeningly minimal progress the nation’s largest Protestant denomination has made to guard members after these revelations. Ignoring requires significant motion, attendees of the SBC’s 2024 annual assembly as an alternative handed resolutions supporting Israel and opposing in vitro fertilization and voted to oust the First Baptist Church of Alexandria for permitting girls pastors.
The biblically bereft boys membership in Baptistland mirrors the dynamics of American politics. By scandals and convictions, the highly effective prioritize retaining their positions. SBC guarantees of “daring steps” resemble marketing campaign guarantees—simply as politicians count on voters to be placated after elections, SBC patriarchs count on victims to be glad with one other toothless process power.
Brown—whose abuser has continued working within the SBC—exposes the hypocrisy of a corporation that claims to “show God’s compassion to the needy” whereas shielding predators from accountability.
