Summary: <p>A third-party <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/religion/article/southern-baptist-convention-sex-abuse-report-17192138.php">investigation</a> of the Southern Baptist Convention’s top governing body found that an influential group of leaders systematically ignored, belittled and intimidated survivors of sexual abuse for the past two decades while protecting the legal interests of churches accused of harboring abusers. Despite recent declines in membership, Southern Baptists are still the <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/07/7-facts-about-southern-baptists/">largest evangelical group </a>in the United States, with more than 13 million members. How they respond to this moment is deeply consequential for America.</p> <p>We speak with Robert Downen, a reporter at <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/abuse-of-faith/">The Houston Chronicle</a>, and Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, professor of history and gender studies at Calvin University and author of <a href="https://kristindumez.com/books/jesus-and-john-wayne/">"Jesus and John Wayne,"</a> about the recent findings and the SBC's response. We also hear from two survivors of abuse in the SBC, Hannah-Kate Williams and Christa Brown, about their long fights for justice and accountability. </p>
