The attorney representing a man alleging sexual abuse by former Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler is seeking a delay in court proceedings after police raided one of the parties named in a lawsuit originally filed in 2017. The Houston Chronicle…
Judge dismisses 5 of 8 claims in Pressler lawsuit, citing statutes of limitations
A Texas judge has dismissed most of a sexual assault lawsuit against former Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler due to statutes of limitation. Houston Judge Ravi K. Sandill signed an order Oct. 15 granting summary judgment in favor of Pressler…
Interim IMB president says investigation into handling of abuse allegations will continue
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,…