Conflicts of interest are a bear, and sooner or later, the bear almost always bites. Three years ago, I wrote a mild-mannered column raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest issue involving Rachael Denhollander’s abuse-related work within the Southern…
Conflicts of interest and ‘dual roles’ undermined SBC abuse investigation
Across four years of Southern Baptist clergy sexual abuse research, investigations and debate, one name continually rises to the surface: Rachael Denhollander. The woman who began the public accusations against USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar in 2016 has played…
Not everyone believes there’s a sexual abuse crisis in the SBC
First, Jennifer Lyell had to defend herself against a public misrepresentation of her story of sexual abuse published by Baptist Press; now she’s facing a second public humiliation from critics who believe the Southern Baptist Convention’s sexual abuse investigation is…
Was it rape? Comment about David and Bathsheba sparks debate of biblical proportions
Abuse survivor and victims’ advocate Rachael Denhollander said a lot at last week’s Caring Well Conference sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, but perhaps nothing grabbed attention like her advice to use care when interpreting Bible stories such as the Old Testament tale of David and Bathsheba.
Caring well? Speaker says Baptist Press reported abuse disclosure as a consensual affair
The official news service of the Southern Baptist Convention “trampled on” an abuse survivor who trusted her denomination to tell her story well, a speaker revealed during the closing session of last week’s “Caring Well” conference on the church’s response to sexual abuse.
ERLC reboots conference to focus on sexual abuse
Southern Baptist Convention officials on Tuesday announced a reboot of a major conference five months away to focus on the problem of sexual abuse in churches.
Sovereign Grace Churches says no to outside investigation of abuse allegations
An evangelical church-planting network accused of covering up decades of sexual abuse has turned down calls for an independent third-party investigation, citing reasons including autonomy of the local church.
#AlMohlerToo: Did a Southern Baptist power broker just get woke?
Seminary president Albert Mohler, in a widely circulated essay, has called for independent, third-party investigations of allegations of sexual abuse in churches and Christian ministries. That position stands in stark contrast to the one he took in the recent past.
Paige Patterson controversy tests SBC’s ‘no criticism’ code, says former denominational worker
Southern Baptist Convention leaders are distancing themselves from an embattled seminary president in an unusual departure from custom about never speaking ill in public about a fellow agency head, according to a former denominational worker.
Victim to church: Sexual assault is not a sin. It’s a crime.
Bible teachings about sin and forgiveness do not give churches the right to pardon a crime, a woman who claims a Tennessee megachurch pastor sexually assaulted her 20 years ago says in new video published March 9 by the New York Times.
Haunted by old lawsuit, C.J. Mahaney withdraws from Together for the Gospel confab
The former head of a Reformed, charismatic evangelical ministry is backing out of a biennial preaching conference he helped found, citing renewed controversy over a sexual abuse scandal involving his former church.
Witness in Larry Nassar case calls out evangelicals for ‘double standard’ in sexual abuse
The first woman to speak publicly about sexual assault by former U.S. gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar and the last to testify against him in court called out evangelical leaders March 1 for what she says is a double standard when it comes to allegations of child sexual abuse.