In May 2022, Megan Basham wrote to Texas pastor Tom Ascol as an intermediary to seek clarifying information from David Sills about his relationship with Jennifer Lyell and subsequent firing from the faculty of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. That email…
New York Archdiocese says it’s setting up a $300M fund for sexual abuse victims
The Archdiocese of New York on Monday announced it will set up a $300 million fund to compensate victims of sexual abuse who have sued the church.
Matt Queen’s return to the pastorate sends a message
In October 2024, Matt Queen pled guilty to lying to the FBI in a sexual abuse investigation, and now, just a year later, Queen has been hired as associate pastor at a prominent Southern Baptist church. At the time of his crime, Queen…
In Lebanon, sexual abuse and economic abuse go hand in hand
“I don’t know if I’ve started ignoring everything because I got used to the ugliness, or because the smell of cannabis makes it easier not to care.” With these words, Ftoun, 15, a Syrian refugee working in cannabis fields in the plains…
ACNA archbishop faces allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying
Stephen D. “Steve” Wood, the archbishop and senior-most official of the Anglican Church in North America, faces allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying and plagiarism, according to an investigation and “presentment” (formal church complaint) first reported by the Washington Post. The allegations…
Why fundamentalist men won’t stop the abuse of women
“She had it coming.” Those were the words a relative said to the television as the anchor finished his report some years ago about a sexual abuse football scandal at Baylor University. Tevin Elliot, Baylor’s star linebacker, had been accused…
David Sills won’t press case against Lyell’s estate
Since Jennifer Lyell is dead, David and Mary Sills will not seek legal damages against her estate but they will continue their litigation against the Southern Baptist Convention and 10 other people or entities. Sills, a former professor at Southern…
SBC launches new sexual abuse helpline
After scathing criticism of its current sexual abuse hotline, the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee launched an alternative help line Aug. 18. The announcement came from the SBC Executive Committee’s Office for Abuse Prevention and Response. The new hotline is…
The betrayal of a historic wisdom
For decades, there was a historic wisdom in the connectionalism and autonomy of local churches within Southern Baptist life. That wisdom is evident in the way local churches have related to one another — fostering friendships, camaraderie and mutual support….
Wes Campbell resigns from Gospel Music Association board after Tait sex abuse allegations
Wes Campbell has resigned from the Gospel Music Association board after allegations that Newsboys Inc. helped cover up sexual abuse committed by former Newsboys frontrunner Michael Tait. Campbell is the owner of Newsboys Inc., which was dropped from its record…
CBF session explores responses to sexual abuse in congregations
One learning lab at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s General Assembly asked attendees to consider what their church would do if abuse happened in their congregation. Jay Kieve, CBF’s abuse prevention and response advocate, joined attorney David Cooke to talk through…
Pope Leo XIV Wants Priests To Stay Celibate And Deal Firmly With Sex Abusers
Pope Leo XIV affirmed Wednesday that priests must be celibate and insisted that bishops take “firm and decisive” action to deal with sex abusers, as he gave marching orders Wednesday to the world’s Catholic hierarchs.