An independent, outside review of the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board’s past handling of abuse allegations announced in July by IMB President David Platt will continue after he leaves the post next week, officials confirmed Sept. 20. Platt, who…
18 years after child porn conviction, Baptist pastor accused of trying to entice a minor
A former longtime Southern Baptist preacher whose ministry stalled 18 years ago when he went to prison for possessing child pornography is back in jail, this time for allegedly trying to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex.
Church camp rape lawsuit ends in settlement
The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma reportedly agreed to implement steps improve the safety of thousands of youth attending annual summer camps in a confidential settlement of a lawsuit involving the rape of a 13-year-old girl.
Advocates seek transparent probe into alleged abuse failures by SBC
Victim advocates welcomed news of an independent investigation into whether a Southern Baptist Convention entity failed to report a missionary credibly accused of child molestation but cautioned that not all independent investigators are the same.
IMB president announces independent investigation into agency’s handling of alleged abuse
International Mission Board President David Platt pledged Wednesday to commence an independent review of the Southern Baptist Convention agency’s handling of a former missionary now facing criminal charges of sexually abusing a minor. Platt, just back from traveling overseas, declined…
#MeToo fallout continues for Memphis megachurch
Six months after he stood by a staff member accused of past sexual assault of a teenager, the founding pastor of a megachurch in Memphis, Tennessee, has resigned. Lead Pastor Chris Conlee and trustees of Highpoint church released a joint…
Amid #MeToo fallout, Southern Baptist males quietly leaving jobs
An official in the 2,100-church South Carolina Baptist Convention has stepped down for unspecified reasons, adding to a number of men quietly leaving Southern Baptist jobs in recent weeks. The Baptist Courier reported June 19 the resignation of Mark Aderholt,…
Lawyer counters ‘misrepresentation and misinformation’ about seminary president’s firing
The lawyer for former Southwestern Baptist Theological President Paige Patterson says his client did not get a fair hearing before his May 30 firing by the school’s trustees. Fort Worth attorney Shelby Sharpe issued a statement June 4 addressing what…
#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.