The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)President, Willy Rice’s church in the heart of Florida is set to host a major abuse prevention training event, and is because the denomination continues expanding efforts to help churches in strengthening protections for children, youths and as well as vulnerable people.
According to the breaking, Calvary Church in Clearwater, where the SBC president, Rice serves as the pastor, will host the abuse training titled “Safeguarding the Next Generation” event on January 19, 2027. The training is being organized and has a partnership with Calvary Church, the Tampa Bay Baptist Association, the Suncoast Baptist Association and the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s Sexual Abuse Prevention & Response team.
This event is part of the Southern Baptist Church broader Fortify Initiative, not just an event, but an effort put together to design and provide churches and Baptist associations with practical training and resources which helps in preventing abuse and responding appropriately when concerns arise.
SBC president, Rice in his statement clarified that, sexual abuse remains a serious threat that requires the church body to remain vigilant and take meaningful steps to protect people in their ministries. He also stated that, Southern Baptist churches should maintain the ongoing training, establish appropriate safeguarding procedures and take allegations seriously.
According to the SBC Executive Committee record, about 5,200 or more Southern Baptist churches have trained staff members, volunteers and parents in abuse prevention and response for the past 5-years, since 2021. The Executive Committee sometimes in 2024 voted to establish an office dedicated only to sexual abuse prevention and response.
Director of the Southern Baptist Church (SBC) Executive Committee’s Abuse Prevention & Response team, Jeff Dalrymple, said the Fortify organised training was specifically developed with Baptist associations in mind. The initiative was created in massive collaboration with several Baptist associations and the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders.
Another section or pilot version of the established training was completed with the Nashville Baptist Association sometime in April. The Fortify Initiative was officially launched in June during the SBC Annual Meeting in Orlando. Ever since then, several training sessions have reportedly been completed, with additional events scheduled.
Dalrymple then said nearly or more than two dozen more trainings are currently in the planning stages across the country, while the team continues receiving requests from Baptist church partners.
The initiative comes as the SBC continues efforts fighting to improve how affiliated churches can prevent and respond to sexual abuse related cases. According to the dated record, A 2022 investigation by the Guidepost Solutions found that SBC leaders had mishandled abuse allegations and had failed to adequately or probably address concerns which were raised by the survivors. The report prompted additional scrutiny and contributed to further safeguarding measures within the denomination.
The SBC has since introduced and expanded resources intended to help churches respond to allegations, improve reporting procedures and develop stronger abuse-prevention practices.
According to Rice, the SBC president, hosting the January 19 event at Calvary Church represents an opportunity to demonstrate how local congregations and Baptist associations can work together on safeguarding (Abuse Prevention).
The training main aim, is expected to focus on helping churches understand abuse and prevention, as well as to strengthen their ministry protocols and connect with resources available within their local communities.
The broader Fortify Initiative reflects the SBC’s ongoing effort to move abuse prevention beyond individual churches and encourage cooperation across its network of congregations.
