On May 28, after a yearlong investigation, the Dallas Police Child Exploitation Squad arrested Matthew Harmon, 46, on charges of sexual assault of a child for an offense that allegedly occurred in 2007. The alleged incident involved a victim Harmon…
Notes from the abused at Kamp Kanakuk: ‘You know what Satan is doing, but you still let him in’
Editor’s note: Names of some survivors are omitted to respect their privacy. Since the exposure of sex abuser Pete Newman at Kanakuk Kamps in 2009, a growing community of child sex abuse survivors and justice advocates has formed. In interviews…
Dockery comments on indictment, names two other employees involved
The president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has weighed in with a public statement identifying the two other employees mentioned but not named in a federal indictment. In a May 29 release, President David Dockery identified Terri Stovall, longtime-serving dean…
Former seminary administrator pleads not guilty, is placed on leave by his NC church
The former seminary administrator indicted last week on charges of obstruction of justice in a sexual abuse case has been placed on administrative leave by his church. Matt Queen also last week pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. Friendly…
Former Southwestern administrator indicted for falsifying sexual abuse records
A Southern Baptist pastor who previously served as a seminary administrator has been indicted in federal court on one charge of falsifying records to cover up a report of sexual abuse. This is the first indictment of a Southern Baptist…
New data show SBC not really reckoning with sexual abuse
According to the Southern Baptist Convention’s latest statistical report, the SBC has lost more than 3.3 million members since 2006, which happens to be the year I did my first sidewalk press conference outside SBC headquarters, talking about clergy sex…
We understand Mica Miller’s tragic story
If you have heard of Mica Miller or have followed the recent news concerning her death, you might be alarmed at the way domestic violence can infiltrate the church. This was not a hidden case of abuse. Her husband was…
Candidate for SBC president stirs a storm by saying sexual abuse cases are a ‘distraction’
In a six-man race for the Southern Baptist Convention presidency, one candidate made headlines over the weekend for his stance on the 42 sexual abuse lawsuits reportedly pending against the denomination. Critics pounced when David Allen, a seminary preaching professor,…
Church life is the perfect cover for abusers, Brown says in BNG webinar
The all-encompassing nature of church life can provide predators with the ideal cover for committing sexual abuse within congregations, abuse survivor and author Christa Brown said. “Access and trust. Pastors and churches have both access to kids and enormous trust…