A lawsuit brought against leaders of Second Baptist Church of Houston will proceed to a jury trial scheduled for July 27, now that mediation efforts failed. Nothing more about the mediation efforts is publicly stated, as the letter from the…
Professor sues BNG over reports of alleged sexual abuse
A former Baptist university professor has filed a lawsuit against Baptist News Global for defamation over reports of alleged sexual abuse. BNG has denied the allegations in his lawsuit. Jeremy Lyon, formerly associate professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at…
Assemblies of God seeks to shield top exec from deposition
The Assemblies of God seeks to shield its top leader from being deposed in a court case related to sexual abuse in a popular AOG campus ministry. The General Council of the Assemblies of God says Doug Clay, general superintendent,…
SBC Executive Committee won’t pursue countersuit against Hunt
After some debate, the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee declined to accept a suggestion to go on the legal offensive against Johnny Hunt. Hunt, a former SBC president, filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the SBC for defamation after he was…
More accusations fly at Second Baptist Houston
Defendants in the lawsuit brought by disgruntled members of Second Baptist Church in Houston have asked the state district court to move the case to a special court that deals only in business matters. On June 9, defendants of Second…
New date set for Johnny Hunt trial
A new trial date has been set for Johnny Hunt’s lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention in which he seeks more than $100 million for damages to his income, reputation and livelihood. That new date falls one week after the…
Greenway ends defamation claims against Southwestern without a financial settlement
In a surprising turn of events, the defamation lawsuit brought against Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and its former trustee chairman by former President Adam Greenway has come to an abrupt conclusion, with Greenway receiving none of the compensation he sought….
Sex discrimination case against Moody Bible Institute may proceed
A sex discrimination lawsuit filed against Moody Bible Institute can proceed after a federal appeals court ruled the litigation poses no threat to the Chicago school’s constitutionally protected religious autonomy. The evangelical institution said it fired communications instructor Janay Garrick…
McRaney to file appeal and keep his case against NAMB alive
Will McRaney will file an appeal asking for a federal court’s review of a single judge’s dismissal of his defamation case against the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board. He and his wife, Sandy, announced the decision via a…
New court documents show First Baptist Houston leaders knew of allegations against Pressler in 2004
Leaders of First Baptist Church of Houston knew about Paul Pressler’s alleged inappropriate sexual activity with young men in 2004, according to correspondence from the church to Pressler obtained by the Texas Tribune. Journalist Robert Downen, writing for the Tribune,…
Judge’s dismissal of 36 churches’ lawsuit holds implications for other UMC departures
A North Carolina judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by 36 United Methodist churches seeking to leave the denomination without following its required exit process. The dismissal holds broader implications for the slow-moving splintering of the worldwide denomination, which currently…
Lyell asks Alabama court to dismiss Sills lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction
Sexual abuse survivor Jennifer Lyell has filed a motion with the Circuit Court of Mobile, Ala., asking that a lawsuit brought against her and others by David and Mary Sills be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. In November, the Sillses…