I was a worship leader at a South Carolina church when I learned that a person convicted of sexually abusing children had been permitted to serve in a position of authority within the church. Learning this was devastating, not only because of the harm already done, but because it raised the question every parent, survivor, and congregant should be able to ask: How was this allowed, and what safeguards were in place to protect children?

Forgiveness is personal. Accountability is protection.

A person’s claim of repentance or transformation cannot replace clear boundaries, transparency, thorough screening, and safety policies. Faith communities should be places where children and families are safe—not places where concerns about abuse are minimized, dismissed, or met with spiritual language that pressures people into silence.

This is not an attack on faith. It is a call for faith organizations to live out their responsibility to protect the vulnerable.

We are calling on South Carolina churches, ministries, religious schools, and other faith organizations to adopt and publicly enforce meaningful child-protection practices, including:

Comprehensive background checks for all employees, volunteers, and leaders
Clear written policies that prohibit anyone convicted of child sexual abuse from holding positions of authority, serving with youth, or having unsupervised access to children
Mandatory training on recognizing, reporting, and responding to suspected abuse
Clear reporting pathways that do not require survivors or concerned members to go only through church leadership
Survivor-centered support and transparent communication when serious safety concerns arise
No church’s reputation matters more than a child’s safety. No title, apology, or testimony should outweigh the need to protect children.

Sign this petition to urge South Carolina faith organizations to strengthen their child-safety and abuse-reporting practices—and to make accountability, transparency, and protection non-negotiable.