Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Ed Litton released a video Tuesday (July 20) following the first meeting of a task force he named to oversee an independent review of the SBC Executive Committee (EC).

In a motion adopted at the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting, messengers overwhelmingly approved the naming of a task force to administrate a third-party investigation into allegations the EC mishandled claims of sexual abuse.

In the video, Litton said he believes messengers desired a task force to “ensure a transparent and thorough review so that we may know the truth and receive recommendations on how to improve the way sex abuse cases have been handled.”

Litton said the group is “composed of pastors who are widely respected as well as individuals with professional expertise for this assignment. …

“This group is committed to pursuing God’s guidance and wisdom throughout the task, to seek the truth, to ensure that voices of survivors are heard and to bring the findings of this review to the Southern Baptist Convention, including recommendations that will lead to strong reforms.

“I am grateful for the willingness of these people to serve our convention in this important role.”

Litton said the team, which plans to meet again this week, will issue a press release once the firm that will handle the review has been hired and a contract signed.

He added that the task force will provide at least one update shortly after the New Year and will issue its report one month prior to the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting next June in Anaheim, Calif.

Litton urged Southern Baptists to pray for the task force, for the yet-to-be-named review firm and for “our own hearts, that we’ll be prepared to receive the truth.”

“The time and the care that will be spent on this review are worth it,” Litton said in the video, “because the protection and the care and the healing of the most vulnerable are worth it.”