Reminder: Lest we categorize how the scandal with Josh Duggar was handled in 2015, as a "Gothard problem", this is a reminder that one of the family's pastors was Ronnie Floyd of the SBC. He did an interview with People Magazine on Duggar's behalf. . .
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And his church released a statement. Key themes were that "everyone sins", there is forgiveness (no mention of what genuine repentance would look like) and that scandals have happened before and will happen again.
This is the same Ronnie Floyd who two years ago. . .
This is the same Ronnie Floyd who two years ago. . .
Became head of the SBC's Executive Committee (the group that makes all the decisions) shortly after their publishing arm (Baptist Press) defamed the highest ranking female SBC executive (who worked for Lifeway) by reporting her violent abuse as an affair. . .
The defamatory article ruined this woman's career, subjected her to thousands of threats (online, BP knew about it), caused constant calls to her employer, and absolutely destroyed her health.
She was VERY well known in the SBC and so appealed to Ronnie for help, very graciously
She was VERY well known in the SBC and so appealed to Ronnie for help, very graciously
He refused to meet with her and backed the BP's story, listening instead to SBC attorney Augie Boto, one of the men who has routinely covered up sexual abuse in the SBC (a well known reality.)
For 8 months she begged for a retraction - everyone knew what it was doing to her. . .
For 8 months she begged for a retraction - everyone knew what it was doing to her. . .
It only came after I raised it publicly with cameras rolling, at the Caring Well convention. The suit eventually settled, but the EC didn't contribute a single penny in restoration.
The men who wrote the article and destroyed her, got a retirement party. No repentance.
The men who wrote the article and destroyed her, got a retirement party. No repentance.
No accountability. No admission of what they had done.
Failure to value women, to care about abuse, patterns of mischaracterizing abuse as affairs or "sin", minimizing and downplaying, that's not a "Gothard problem". And this woman is far from the only one to suffer this way.
Failure to value women, to care about abuse, patterns of mischaracterizing abuse as affairs or "sin", minimizing and downplaying, that's not a "Gothard problem". And this woman is far from the only one to suffer this way.
It goes straight to the top leadership in the country's largest association of churches.
We have been pleading for them to hear us. To learn, to do better.
There are many advocates, myself included, pouring out time and resources behind the scenes, willing to help.
We have been pleading for them to hear us. To learn, to do better.
There are many advocates, myself included, pouring out time and resources behind the scenes, willing to help.
But there has to be a willingness and a desire to learn, and there is not.
This is not a Gothard problem.
people.com/tv/duggars-pas…
This is not a Gothard problem.
people.com/tv/duggars-pas…
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