When parents search the internet for “how to make sure your child is safe at summer camp,” about 84,900,000 Google results appear. Most of the links are lists of tips parents can keep in mind when sending children away for…
SBC pastor creates Go Fund Me to get abuse survivors to New Orleans convention
A Southern Baptist pastor who is an advocate for victims of sexual abuse has started a Go Fund Me to get abuse survivors to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in New Orleans this June. As of midnight April 12,…
Judge throws out Jane Roe’s defamation case against Patterson and Southwestern Seminary
A former student’s defamation case against Paige Patterson and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was dismissed on summary judgment April 4. U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan granted a petition to dismiss the final charges remaining against the seminary and its former…
Boy Scouts closer to settling abuse claims, but challenges remain
A proposed settlement plan for more than 80,000 abuse cases filed against the Boy Scouts of America came one step closer to reality March 28 when a federal judge affirmed a $2.46 billion settlement plan, overriding objections by some insurers…
Part of former student’s case against Patterson and Southwestern dismissed by judge
This headline and story have been updated to reflect the fact that one part of the case was not dismissed. Just six days before a long-awaited trial was to begin on allegations from a former student that Southwestern Baptist Theological…
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,…
Two days after filing suit against SBC, ‘Pastor Johnny’ was preaching in Georgia
Two days after filing a defamation lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention and Guidepost Solutions, Johnny Hunt was in the pulpit Sunday, March 19, preaching an hour-long sermon at one of the congregations that has stood by him amid allegations…
‘Pastor Johnny’ sues the SBC and Guidepost
Johnny Hunt is suing the Southern Baptist Convention, the SBC Executive Committee and Guidepost Solutions for defamation and invasion of privacy for making public the story of his “brief, inappropriate, extramarital encounter with a married woman” in 2010. Hunt is…
SBC task force says Ministry Check website for sexual abuse will require cooperation
The Southern Baptist Convention’s new Ministry Check website will operate on the same principle that binds the denomination together — cooperation — according to the task force overseeing it. On Feb. 27, the SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force released…
In the SBC, a cord of three is not easily broken: Debates about sexuality, gender and abuse all twist together
There’s only one thing Southern Baptist Convention conservatives get more upset about than women serving as pastors: The slightest affirmation of LGBTQ persons. This truth was borne out in the SBC over the last week as leaders sought to put…
Benkert resigns SBC task force amid criticism for reporting two churches that platformed accused sexual abuser
An Indiana pastor who reported two congregations to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Credentials Committee for platforming accused sexual abuser Johnny Hunt has resigned from the SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force. Todd Benkert’s sudden resignation from the task force came…
Control and abuse: Report sheds new light on the beginnings of L’Arche and the life and legacy of Jean Vanier, its founder
Jean Vanier, the renowned and beloved author, speaker and founder of L’Arche, an international network of residential communities supporting adults with intellectual disabilities, also was a sexual predator of women, according to a report released Jan. 30. The report was…