ATLANTA (GA)
Journal-Constitution
March , 2019
By Shelia M. Poole
Two Georgia churches named in a series of articles in the Houston Chronicle about sexual abuse in Southern Baptist Convention churches are apparently no longer under “inquiry” by the Nashville-based denomination.
SBC President J.D. Greear had asked for a review of standing for 10 churches mentioned in the articles, including Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta and Trinity Baptist Church in Ashburn. The series found more than 700 people were victims of abuse that spanned decades at nearly a dozen churches. One church was found not to be a member of the SBC.The SBC could not be reached for comment.
The SBC Executive Committee bylaws workgroup said in a Feb. 23 statement that, based on the information provided, there was no evidence that church leaders at Eastside and six other churches, among other things, knowingly hired a convicted sex offender, allowed that person to work with minors or did not comply with mandatory child abuse reporting laws.
“We also note that, based on media reports and conversations with church leaders (at Eastside), it appears that after the events in question the church strengthened its existing policies to prevent abuse and properly respond to charges of abuse.” It said no further inquiry is warranted.
That would be good news for the Rev. John Hull, senior pastor of Eastside Baptist on Lower Roswell Road, except he said he was never officially informed that his church was among those under review by the SBC, nor has he been officially told that it is not.
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