Todd Unzicker, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, released the following statement May 22 following the release of the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force report.

“Today’s release of the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force report marks a time for our family of churches to grieve, repent, reflect and respond.

“We recognize that the contents of this report will cause survivors of abuse to relive painful experiences and memories. I applaud the courage of abuse survivors who came forward to share their stories. We must demonstrate compassion and care to everyone who bears the pain of abuse.

“In the days ahead, we should follow the counsel found in the book of James and be ‘quick to listen’ and ‘slow to speak.’ The findings of this report should humble us before God. How we respond to sexual abuse speaks volumes about the gospel we proclaim.

“People won’t trust our gospel if they don’t trust that they can be safe in our sanctuaries. As we pray for the gospel to bring healing and hope to everyone affected by this heinous sin, we must also be proactive in preventing abuse and taking the necessary actions to protect the most vulnerable among us.”