Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Bart Barber named active members of SBC-affiliated churches in the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force.

ARTIF is the governing body of the Southern Baptist Convention to guide churches in assisting survivors of sexual abuse. Also, the newly-formed task force prevents abusive clergy from reaching out to victims' families, Barber said, The Baptist Messenger reported.

The Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force is paramount to the healing of the survivors who suffered distress from faulty leadership. Guidepost Solutions had a significant impact on helping the Southern Baptist Convention in its reformation.

Chair, Vice Chair of Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force

SBC President Bart Barber installed ministers from two SBC-First Baptist Churches. He named them the chair and vice chair of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force. These pastors were Marshall Blalock, the chair, and Mike Keahbone, the elected-vice chair.

Church members and pastors were the members of the task force. These were dynamic associates from different churches of the Southern Baptist Convention from regions in the United States.

SBC President Bart Barber announced these members were Pastors Brad Eubank, Todd Benkert, Jon Nelson, and Jarrett Stephens. Other members include Parishioner, Professor Gregory Wills, Cyndi Lott, and Mellisa Bowen.

President Barber stated that SBC placed consultants to work with the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force. However, he did not yet name these consultants.

SBC Established Website Ministry

Aside from forming the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, SBC founded a website ministry. The convention elected the ARTIF as the overseer of the Ministry Check website.

SBC expects reports from the task throughout its one-year operation. The effectiveness of the website ministry is among this information. President Bart Barber believed the leadership reformation could help the Southern Baptist Convention and its churches to address sexual abuse cases.

He added the SBC is supporting the task force for their need to assist Baptist churches. Additionally, he claimed the selected members of ARTIF fit into the administrative post.

About SBC President Bart Barber

Bart Barber became president of the Southern Baptist Convention after the national meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Anaheim hosted the assembly, where Barber earned unanimous votes from the delegates.

President Barber is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas. He has been outspoken about equity in serving the largest Protestant denomination in the country. Barber believed women should make their way to serve Jesus Christ through the ministry, says NBC DFW.

NBC DFW reported that President Bart Barber previously served as first vice president of SBC. His tenure in that post was from 2013 to 2014. He has been fighting against sexual abuse in churches. He is also one of the founders of Texas law in 2019 that protects churches from abusive clergy.

About the Southern Baptist Convention

Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a union of Baptist churches. The convention united more than 50,000 Baptist churches affiliated with SBC. These churches work together for their mission to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. SBC-affiliated churches have their history. But these parishes welcome all people to share the message of the Bible.