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Photo: Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, whose entity oversees SBC Office for Abuse Prevention and Response (OAPR); via Wikipedia.
The Christian Post reported today that The Southern Baptist Convention has launched a revamped helpline aimed at supporting survivors of sexual abuse, and providing resources to churches navigating allegations. The initiative is run by the SBC Office for Abuse Prevention and Response (OAPR) in partnership with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention, according to a report from an SBC news outlet, Baptist Press.
The helpline, available at 833-611-HELP, will allow survivors to report abuse while also offering resources such as counseling and guidance for churches.
The revamped helpline will replace the Guidepost Solutions hotline introduced in 2022, which will continue operating through at least the end of this year.
Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, whose entity oversees OAPR, said the “new helpline suite of services enhances our efforts at providing Southern Baptist churches and ministries the resources they need to prevent sexual abuse or respond to sexual abuse allegations.”
Iorg added, “The new helpline will provide competent assistance to those seeking assistance — for survivors as well as services for ministry leaders who are responding on these issues,” and, “We are putting in place long-term strategies for confronting this pernicious evil because even one instance of sexual abuse is too many.”
The expanded line will take reports and also offer referrals for survivor counseling and guidance for congregations responding to allegations.
Earlier this year, Iorg told the SBC Executive Committee that the Guidepost hotline had received 674 abuse allegations, of which 458 involved Southern Baptists; 128 matters were referred to the SBC Credentials Committee, which investigated or was investigating all of them. Seven churches were deemed “not in friendly cooperation” based on their responses. The SBC has also relaunched its Abuse Prevention & Response website with updated reporting and prevention resources, part of ongoing efforts following the 2022 Guidepost report that found leaders mishandled abuse claims, intimidated victims, and resisted reforms largely over liability concerns.
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., has faced a reckoning after a 2022 investigation by Guidepost Solutions revealed that SBC leaders mishandled sexual abuse allegations for decades. The report documented hundreds of credible abuse cases, along with evidence that leaders had silenced victims, intimidated whistleblowers, and resisted reforms in order to shield the denomination from legal liability. Survivors and advocates argued that this culture of secrecy allowed abusers to move between congregations without accountability, creating a systemic crisis within the church.
In the wake of the revelations, the SBC launched initiatives to address the issue, including establishing an Abuse Prevention & Response Office, creating databases of offenders, and introducing reporting hotlines. However, survivors and critics remain skeptical, pointing to years of institutional resistance and the slow pace of meaningful reform. Many argue that transparency and independent oversight are essential if the SBC is to rebuild trust and ensure that survivors’ voices are heard.
If you experienced abuse in a Southern Baptist context, learn your legal rights and options by visiting our guide: Southern Baptist sexual abuse lawsuit guide. Many survivors say the real value goes beyond dollars. It is also about being heard, validated, and empowered to reclaim your life.
