Finding hope in darkness

Mary Jackson is a WORLD writer based in Northern California. For ­several years, she covered the Relations beat for WORLD Digital, reporting on issues related to sexuality and gender. There she uncovered the story of a Baptist lay leader and influential Texas judge with a long history of abuse allegations. Reporting on that story led her to dig deeper into the Southern Baptist Convention, just as the denomination began to face a reckoning over its past handling of abuse cases. Her story (see “The list” in this issue) details the pros and cons of the proposed remedy. Here’s the story behind the story.

You were at the SBC annual meeting when messengers approved the new abuse prevention measures. What was the mood in the room during the debate and after the vote? It was tense. Some attendees booed one critic who spoke against the reforms, but detractors stayed largely quiet when it came time to vote. When it became clear the reforms would pass, supporters sent up a loud cheer. There was a solid consensus in the room that the reforms needed to happen.

What have you found most challenging about reporting on this topic? It’s not something most people want to talk about or discuss. Sexual abuse happens in the shadows and often stays there. Everyone wants to believe it could never happen in their church or to their kids. It’s also challenging to look at old accusations and back to a time when the prevalence and harm of clergy ­sexual abuse were largely ignored.

You talked to a lot of abuse survivors in the course of your reporting. What was the most difficult thing about hearing their stories? Seeing how abuse and church leaders’ mishandling of it skewed many victims’ perception of the Church and the faith. Many have walked away from their faith altogether.

As a mom, what would you say to parents about protecting their children from abuse? From an early age, parents should have healthy conversations with their kids about their bodies—God’s good design, what parts are ­private, what kind of touch is inappropriate, when secret-keeping is not OK, and what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or touches their private parts. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb’s book, God Made All of Me, is a helpful tool. Ask a lot of questions and use discernment with sleepovers, overnight camps, and people with whom you’re entrusting your children. Maintain open dialogue and help them learn situations to avoid and when to say “no.”