Messengers to the Arkansas Baptist State Convention annual meeting voted unanimously in favor of a motion to look into the convention’s handling of sexual abuse allegations.

The motion was presented during the afternoon session Oct. 26 and calls for the new convention president, Larry White, to “form a sexual abuse task force to ensure the policies and procedures of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) are above reproach in handling sexual abuse allegations.”

The motion also states that the ABSC has no authority over local churches, but that the intent is to “ensure that where the ABSC does have purview, it is above reproach.”

The motion calls for the task force to give a report on best practices and steps taken to messengers to the 2022 annual meeting.

In a statement, ABSC Executive Director Sonny Tucker said his “heart breaks” for victims of sexual abuse and that he fully affirms the establishment of the task force in order to “ensure the ABSC operates by the highest standards possible.”

“We will continue to utilize resources to serve churches in order to prevent sexual abuse from ever occurring,” the statement said. “Also, we will continue to seek ways to bring help, comfort and healing for those who have suffered sexual abuse.”

The statement was also signed by several others in ABSC leadership.