[1]ORLANDO (BP) – The ongoing process of establishing resources for equipping churches to identify and prevent cases of abuse is just that, a process, SBC Abuse and Prevention Response Coordinator Jeff Dalrymple told a group late Sunday afternoon, June 7. And, he added, those in attendance were among the most crucial part of that effort.
“The Fortify Initiative is, essentially, a training resource for your local association,” Dalrymple told attendees at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Conference of Association Leaders (SBCAL) June 7. “We started putting these plans together last summer to have a localized and contextualized training program for conventions and associations.”
Others shaping the materials included Bob Bumgarner, lead missional strategist at First Coast Churches in Jacksonville, Fla.; Todd Robertson, associational missions strategist at Louisville (Ky.) Regional Baptist Association; Bob Bickford, executive director of the Nashville Baptist Association; and Ray Gentry, president/CEO of the SBCAL.
The Fortify Initiative officially launched with Dalrymple’s breakout session at the SBCAL annual meeting. He noted an oft-used comparison for the way associations are uniquely positioned for addressing the subject of abuse.
“You’re the first responders, the ones getting the phone call from someone asking what they should do with a situation,” he said. “I know that firsthand, because many association leaders call me.”
The localized context of associational missions provided room to improve on previous resources about abuse prevention.
[2]The Essentials curriculum rolled out during the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting was a “fantastic resource,” said Dalrymple. “But it’s a one-size-fits-all, nationwide training. It goes a long way in [helping churches develop] a robust child protection program. But we’re seeing, across the country, new laws related to grooming and clergy sexual misconduct.”
Mississippi, Virginia, Louisiana and Washington passed state laws in 2025 addressing various areas of responsibility, both among the clergy and general public, in reporting sexual abuse. This year, Rhode Island is in the final stages of passing legislation to open a “revival window” [3] for lawsuits against institutions where claims had previously expired. Last month, Georgia’s governor signed a law [4] stemming from a case of sexual abuse at Truett-McConnell University that added clergy to the state’s improper sexual contact statute.
Fortify training events provide associations with materials on topics to cover, a list of presenters, event plans and resources for attendees. Goals for each training are:
- Make the training available to every church in the association/network.
- Communicate the problem of abuse, including indicators of abuse and common grooming behaviors.
- Identify mandatory reporting laws and any other state or jurisdictional laws related to abuse prevention and response.
- Provide an overview of essential safeguards for protecting children and vulnerable adults.
- Feature the Abuse Prevention & Response Resource Guide and localized resources to support churches.
The full slate of resources for the Fortify Initiative [5] and upcoming events can be found at SBC Abuse Prevention & Response.
Dalrymple noted the personal connection he has [6] to point number 4’s inclusion of vulnerable adults through his daughter, Kassie. Messengers at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting will vote on a resolution [7] regarding ministry toward persons with disabilities and their families, as well as hear a report [8] with recommendations for SBC entities, groups and churches to strengthen ministry efforts likewise.
Dalrymple closed the session by pointing out the image of a castle on the Fortify Initiative materials and the inspiration for it in his recent study of Nehemiah. Rebuilding the wall in that part of Scripture didn’t come without threats, and it didn’t finish without resolve.
[9]“They were working and doing manual labor with a sword attached to their side; it’s really remarkable,” he said. “But what’s also remarkable was Nehemiah’s dependence on the Lord and his prayer. My prayer is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the life transformation that happens in our churches continue unthwarted by sexual abuse.”
Abuse prevention measures, he added, are not an afterthought so that churches can get back to “real” ministry.
“This is a part of our ministry, our biblical stewardship,” he said. “One day, we’ll stand before the Lord and give an account for what we’ve been called to do.”
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