Was anyone surprised by the latest news about the Southern Baptist Convention hiding sex crimes (protecting “Christian” pedophiles) in the Church?
It is sad, because this incident is not an aberration but reveals that sexism and misogyny is firmly entrenched on our nations’ most trusted institution- the Church. What has happened in the SBC is like what has been happening in the Catholic Church and leads me to say this- I am not surprised because the root problem is not the devil, but a theological system rooted in patriarchy known as complementarianism. I must also confess as a Pentecostal for 40 years- I held to and taught this inhumane doctrine. The Southern Baptist Convention is rooted in a patriarchal system that leads to sexual violence. Patriarchy breeds a sexual violent culture because sexual abuse is the product of patriarchal privilege. To stop sexual violence, we must first get rid of patriarchy. Now understand I am not saying we need to get rid of the family- but we need to dismantle patriarchy- the family pattern where men dominate women and children.
Gerda Lerner defined patriarchy as “the manifestation and institutionalization of male dominance over women and children in the family and the extension of male dominance over women in the society in general… that men hold power in all the important institutions of society and that women are deprived of access to such power. It does not imply that women are either totally powerless or totally deprived of rights, influence and resources.”
It is this “complementarian patriarchy theology” that is at the root belief-attitudinal system behind gender-based violence. What is this theology? It is clearly seen in the history of the SBC. In the 1980’s, Fundamentalists took control over the SBC and passes several resolutions to ensure male dominance. (Prior to this, women were entering Baptist Seminaries and serving as Pastors). In 1984, the SBC passed a resolution against women’s ordination. “No women Preachers!” This resolution was based on the literal rendering of the Bible- to “preserve a submission God requires because the man was first in creation and the woman was first in the Edenic fall.” In other words, because Eve was the first to eat the fruit that led to the humans’ expulsion from Eden, God compels all women to submit to men. Furthermore, the resolution argued for the preservation of “God’s delegated order of authority” – “God the head of Christ, Christ the head of man, man the head of woman.” In other word, the SBC embraced a theology of hierarchy that placed women and children firmly under the control of men in the church and home.
(As I mentioned in a previous blog article, Fundamentalists and some Evangelical Christians believe patriarchy is a divine order.)
Is it any wonder that the SBC “good ole boys club” continues to hide sexual crimes- when the system is built on the misogynistic views of women’s responsibility for the Fall, that the woman is the weaker sex, women’s greater distance from God-likeness, God’s inherent maleness, women’s exclusion from ordained ministry and male leadership in the home, church and the nation. Men are constantly being told that they are more like God than women, that women are subordinate to men, that women are temptresses responsible for men’s desire. Women are constantly being told to submit to their husbands. Within the Church, men are told they’ve been called by God—that they, and only they, have the power to preach and lead a congregation; that they act on behalf of God and in God’s stead; and women are to be silent.
And when a sex crime is committed by a Pastor or male leader; the victim or person reporting the predator is silenced or ostracized. The reports that I have read reveal this treatment is the norm not the exception.
And when a mother/wife goes to the Pastor reporting that her daughter was sexually abused by her Father who is a leader in the Church, and wants a divorce— The Pastor does not report the incident to the police but urges the mother not to seek a divorce but stay with her husband. This is an example of another form of Church/Fundamentalist patriarchal abuse- that is unbelievably common. This Pastor is just as guilty as the predator and needs to be prosecuted for failure to report a sexual crime.
I will continue more thoughts on gender based violence in the Church later this week.
Change thinking-change a culture 