The following press release is from our partner, The Baptist History and Heritage Society
Baptist History & Heritage Society announces speakers for conference on addressing abuse in Baptist communities
TUCKER, Ga. — The Baptist History and Heritage Society is excited to announce the plenary speakers for its upcoming joint annual conference May 19-21 held in collaboration with the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion and the Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Plenary sessions will address critical issues related to abuse in Baptist churches and denominations. Speakers will focus on the systemic dynamics of abuse, the failures of institutional accountability and the urgent need for prevention and justice.
David Pittman, a survivor of child sexual abuse and founder of Together We Heal, will share his story of being abused in a Southern Baptist church in Georgia spotlighting how a culture of silence impacts not only survivors but also their families, congregations and communities, often hindering progress toward accountability and healing.
Rev. Dr. Meredith Stone, Executive Director of Baptist Women in Ministry, and Rev. Dr. Jay Kieve, Abuse Prevention and Response Advocate for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, will lead a session exploring the dynamics of abuse and harassment and sharing approaches to prevention of abuse/harassment and cultivation of safe behaviors.
A panel conversation titled “Breaking the Silence: Addressing Abuse in Baptist Communities” will bring together legal, theological, social work and survivor perspectives to examine the challenges of addressing abuse and creating safer, more just Baptist communities.
Panelists include attorney and author Robert G. Callahan II, domestic violence survivor and researcher Rev. Geneece Goertzen, doctoral research fellow Lucy Huh and Southern Baptist abuse survivor and advocate Chellee Taylor. They will discuss how Baptists can confront abuse with both courage and conviction in this session moderated by Dr. Jon Singletary, Dean of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University.
The closing plenary session will feature a presentation on adult clergy sexual abuse and its impact on survivors from Dr. David Pooler, Professor of Social Work at Baylor University and Director of the Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse: Advocacy and Research Collaborative.
The Baptist History & Heritage Society will also host 27 paper presentations across nine breakout sessions on a diverse variety of Baptist history and identity topics.
Register today, book your hotel and find full program details at https://www.thebhhs.org/events.
Founded in 1938, the Baptist History & Heritage Society is a nonprofit organization of Baptist scholars, clergy, laity, students and congregations committed to helping Baptists discover, conserve, assess and share their history. BHHS’ vision is to bridge the world of the academy and the congregation while sharing the stories of Baptists.
Learn more about BHHS! Connect with us at www.thebhhs.org and follow us on Facebook. Questions? E-mail BHHS Executive Director Aaron Weaver at aweaver@thebhhs.org.