NASHVILLE (BP) – The cost of the investigation into alleged mishandling of sexual abuse claims by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee has reached $1.7 million since being commissioned last fall, according to invoice summaries provided to Baptist Press.
The budget provided by Guidepost Solutions, the firm contracted to conduct the independent investigation, originally projected the investigation to cost between $1.3 million and $1.6 million.
Guidepost sends invoices to the Sexual Abuse Task Force commissioned by messengers at the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting. That documentation is then passed to the SBC Executive Committee. From October 2021 through February, those invoices totaled $1,743,121.
Willie McLaurin, interim Executive Committee president and CEO, said those expenditures reflect the wishes of Southern Baptists regarding the investigation. “The final authority and final accountability for how funds are spent is given by the messengers and the convention,” he said.
“Southern Baptist[s] can be confident that while the investigation focused on the Executive Committee, the EC has diligently fulfilled the request of the messengers by funding the investigation. I am incredibly thankful that for such a time as this, reserve funds were available to use without having impact on our cooperative work.”
The reserve funds McLaurin referenced are generated from gifts allocated through the Cooperative Program to the Executive Committee. Those reserves have been built over the years through investments and as of February stood at $15 million, with $12.2 million in unrestricted funds.
In their September 2021 meeting, Executive Committee trustees originally voted to allocate up to $1.6 million for the investigation. At their February gathering, members approved a recommendation that increased that figure to $2 million. Legal fees were originally approved for $500,000, but also increased in February to $2 million in a unanimous vote.
SBC President Ed Litton, senior pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala., appointed the Task Force to oversee an independent, third-party review, per the motion brought forward and approved by messengers.
“When Southern Baptists voted overwhelmingly in Nashville to authorize this investigation, their will was unmistakable,” said Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala. “Our convention sent one loud and clear message: sexual abuse is something we cannot afford to get wrong.
“This process has been difficult and costly, but these obstacles do not compare to the devastation and pain wrought by sexual abuse. I am grateful that in recent months our Executive Committee staff and trustees have acted decisively to support this investigation.
I would ask all Southern Baptists to continue to pray not only for this process but for the recommendations and reforms it will yield,” he said.
