SBC appoints Jeff Dalrymple to lead sexual abuse prevention efforts

New Leadership in Southern Baptist Convention’s Abuse Prevention Efforts

With a renewed focus on addressing sexual abuse within its community, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has appointed Jeff Dalrymple as the head of its newly established department dedicated to this cause. Dalrymple, whose career includes roles such as executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention, steps into his new role immediately, as reported by Baptist Press.

Jeff Iorg, President of the SBC Executive Committee, emphasized Dalrymple’s extensive experience in combatting abuse, stating, “Jeff has developed a broad understanding of issues related to sexual abuse prevention and response.”

Before joining the SBC, Dalrymple served as a vice president at Southern Seminary for nearly a decade and worked with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His familiarity with Southern Baptist operations and structures is seen as a valuable asset in his new role.

Dalrymple expressed his commitment to the cause on X, saying he is “honored to serve Southern Baptists to help protect kids and to respond to abuse rightly.”

Past Investigations and Legal Proceedings

In 2022, a significant report by Guidepost Solutions revealed that SBC leaders had mishandled sexual abuse claims, often prioritizing legal liability concerns over victim protection. This led the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation, which concluded without charges in March 2024, according to The Tennessean.

Despite this, the DOJ filed a charge in May against former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Matthew Queen for allegedly falsifying records during the school’s abuse investigation. Additionally, a civil lawsuit accusing the Executive Committee and several SBC churches of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act violations was voluntarily dismissed by plaintiffs in 2023.

Formation of a Permanent Abuse Prevention Department

The establishment of a permanent department for sexual abuse prevention within the SBC was voted on during the SBC Annual Meeting last June, following recommendations for a structured response to abuse allegations. In September, the SBC Executive Committee officially approved the creation of this department, aiming for long-term solutions and dedicated efforts in preventing sexual misconduct.

Jeff Iorg remarked on the move by stating, “We have had two task forces that have done difficult and hard work. But it’s time to stop talking about what we’re going to do and take an initial, strategic step of action that puts into place an administrative response to this issue.”