Guidepost Solutions is a third-party firm that the Southern Baptist Convention has contracted to oversee the creation of a “Ministry Check” database containing the names of ministers, pastors, church leaders, and volunteers who have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse. The firm claims to be experts in assessing cultural and organizational risks and providing concrete steps to facilitate change in faith-based organizations facing issues such as sexual harassment and abuse.

However, there are serious concerns about the firm’s ability to serve the Southern Baptist Convention because of its values and beliefs, including its pro-LGBTQ+ stance. Guidepost Solutions has publicly stated its support for the LGBTQ+ community, and according to a recent social media post, the firm is “proud to be an ally” of the community. Critics argue that this position puts the firm at odds with the biblical doctrine followed by the Southern Baptist Convention.

This publication has been overtly critical of the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to hire such a firm to begin with, but, thankfully, other Southern Baptist leaders are taking a strong stance too.

A seemingly unlikely critic of the Southern Baptist Convention’s move to work with Guidepost Solutions is Willy Rice, a former presidential candidate of the convention. Rice says he takes issue with the decision to employ an organization that celebrates a sexual worldview directly at odds with Scripture to serve as an enforcement arm empowered to field and assess accusations against leaders within the Southern Baptist movement. According to Rice, this recommendation is the “shot across the bow” that says this is no longer just about real sexual abuse reform.

In a Twitter post, Rice stated:

“This is a hard “No” for me; a line in the sand that I cannot cross. To employ an organization that affirms and celebrates a sexual worldview directly at odds with Scripture to serve as a type of enforcement arm, directly empowered to field and assess accusations against leaders within our movement is a bridge too far. This task force has ample time to know and consider this contradiction. This recommendation is the shot across the bow that says this is no longer just about real sexual abuse reform.”

Rice went on to express concern about the direction of the convention, suggesting that if the decision to employ Guidepost Solutions stands, the level of support from grassroots Southern Baptists will be reevaluated:

“Our church is one of the largest CP supporters in our state (I was recently told we were 2nd). If this decision holds, that level of generosity will absolutely be reevaluated. If you were looking for a moment when grassroots Southern Baptists needed to stand up and say we are officially headed in the wrong direction, this is that moment.”

Rice’s position is that employing an organization that affirms a sexual worldview contrary to Scripture to oversee sexual abuse reform is unacceptable, and he is calling on grassroots Southern Baptists to stand up and oppose the convention’s decision.