BCNE Condemns Actions of Former Local Church Lay Leader

Earlier this year, the Baptist Convention of New England was notified of a series of incidents that took place in a BCNE church approximately 20 years ago. A lay leader, who was later ordained, engaged in inappropriate sexual relationships with at least four women in the church. The lay leader has since moved out of the region.

BCNE representatives contacted as many of the involved parties as possible. Based on these interviews, every woman was over the age of consent, and none of them described the relations as forced.

Until a few weeks ago, the church leadership was unaware of the sexual nature of the relationships and the number of women affected. At the time the events occurred, church leaders learned only about conduct unbecoming a married man with one or two women. They quietly imposed church discipline on the lay leader, removing him from leadership roles and requiring him to submit to strict personal and financial accountability. Church leaders felt that not speaking openly about these measures would protect the privacy of the women and their families. As a result, some of the women expressed feeling that they had been brushed aside due to the lack of communication.

Within the structure of the Southern Baptist Convention, every church is autonomous, and the Baptist Convention of New England has no authority over any church. However, we have met with the church’s current leadership and encouraged them to hold a mediated meeting with the women who were affected in order to promote open communication, as well as emotional and relational healing. We have also recommended that the lay leader’s current pastor be notified of these relationships.

Although it appears that nothing illegal happened, the BCNE strongly condemns the actions of this lay leader, who abused his position in the church in order to receive sexual gratification. We affirm the Bible’s teaching that sex is reserved for marriage. In addition, due to the power dynamics between a church leader and a church member, we agree with experts who state that a sexual relationship of this nature can never be truly consensual.

We also affirm that local churches must deal with sin involving a church leader in a timely, appropriate, public manner (1 Tim. 5:19-20). The protection of victims, discipline of perpetrators, warnings to leaders and healing of the congregation are matters for public witness.

In order to accommodate the desire for privacy of the women involved, no further details will be released from this office.