Dalrymple to lead newly formed Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Department
Jeff Dalrymple, 49, the former executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention and a Southern Baptist, has been appointed by the SBC Executive Committee to lead the convention’s new department focused on combatting and preventing sexual abuse within the denomination.
His background includes serving as vice president at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
Dalrymple posted on X/Twitter following the announcement of his hiring that he is “honored to serve Southern Baptists to help protect kids and to respond to abuse rightly.” The SBC’s past mishandling of sexual abuse allegations resulted in the creation of the Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Department, which will be funded initially with $1.8 million remaining from the $3 million gift by the North American Mission Board’s Send Relief fund in June 2022 toward the SBC’s sexual abuse response.
Following an extensive investigation by Guidepost Solutions and subsequent scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice, the need for a dedicated entity became evident, according to SBC leaders, who said the creation of this department marked a significant step in addressing critical issues and implementing necessary response to sexual abuse within the denomination.
Related: