Today at First Baptist Church, we are in a state of deep regret and sadness. In recent days, we learned beyond any doubt that several decades ago some acts of harm against several of our youth occurred through our scouting program.

A trusted scout leader molested several scouts, damaging them and their families forever. At that time, those who handled the matter, in agreement with the boys’ parents, took action to prevent further damage to others by banning the offender from working with children and youth in the future. They provided counseling to all involved but did not report the incidents to any legal authority, honoring the wishes of the families.

This was in the early 1980s. Because these facts remained unknown to the great majority of the church and the community, the offender continued as a deacon until his official removal from any leadership position within the church when these facts were recently verified.

Ideally, childhood and youth should be full of the best memories of adults and events that bless our lives with a strong sense of love and security. But when this ideal is shattered by molestation, everyone loses. The victim loses trust, not only in those around him but even in himself, often feeling somehow responsible for what has happened.

This is usually compounded by fear, silence, hiddenness and a heavy but totally undeserved burden of shame. These become scars that heal slowly, if at all. Far from the ideal, it is the reality for some. The offender loses self-respect and self-worth and must live with the tormenting shame, guilt and embarrassment of his actions and the consequences of their disclosure. He will never be free and will never feel fully forgiven. So, he, too is scarred, he also loses.

None of this excuses his actions. None of this diminishes our responsibility to protect others.

Jesus said, “What is whispered in secret shall be shouted from the rooftop.” In recent weeks, the whispers some have heard for years have been shouted aloud. Doubts are removed, the truth is exceptionally painful. Apparently, secrecy was the chosen way of handling such matters 35 years ago.

Today, this would be handled not only by removing the scout leader and preventing him from ever working again with youth, but also by reporting him to law enforcement. Thankfully, youth are more protected today than ever, both by law and by our own policies and guidelines established to prevent abuse.

Still, everyone loses: a good organization like the Boy Scouts of America; our church which ministers to an entire region; the offender and his innocent family; and by far and most of all, the youth, now adults, who have sought to move on with their lives and must now revisit the pain — all of us lose some of our much-needed idealism, and so much more. The regret is profound, the sadness overwhelming.

the Rev. Bill Coates
First Baptist Church, Gainesville

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