By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist church in Texas has been sued for $1 million by an unidentified woman who claims lack of oversight enabled a former youth minister and his younger brother to sexually abuse her as a teenager….
Baptist pastor charged with abuse
By Bob Allen An American Baptist pastor in New York state is under arrest on felony charges of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl. New York State Police arrested Thomas Wilson, 63, of Watertown, N.Y., on one count of first-degree sexual…
Trial postponed for accused Baptist preacher
By Bob Allen The trial of a Missouri Baptist preacher charged with child sexual abuse has been continued until Jan. 16, according to court documents quoted by a local newspaper. Travis R. Smith, 44, arrested in 2012 on felony charges…
Youth pastor charged with child abuse
By Bob Allen A former youth pastor at a Southern Baptist church in Charlottesville, Va., is under arrest for the alleged sexual assault of a child under his care. Jacob Daniel “Jake” Kepple, 35, resigned his post at First Baptist…
Former youth minister pleads guilty to abuse
By Bob Allen A 74-year-old former Southern Baptist youth pastor pleaded guilty Dec. 1 to six charges of sexually abusing minors in Jefferson County, Ala. Mack Allen Davis, former youth minister at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., still faces…
Anti-abuse group archives member stories
By Bob Allen A victims’ advocate says she believes it’s important to talk about a Southern Baptist megachurch’s mishandling of alleged child sex abuse 25 years ago so other churches don’t repeat the same mistakes today. “This is a story…
Music minister charged with child exploitation
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist music minister remains in custody after his Oct. 16 arrest by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force in LaGrange, Ky. Howard Key Chambers, 62, minister of music at DeHaven Baptist Church in La Grange,…
SNAP says SBC leader poor choice for prayer chairman
By Bob Allen A national support group for clergy sex-abuse victims called on the National Day of Prayer Task Force to reconsider its choice for 2015 honorary chairman because of unanswered questions about his handling of abuse allegations in the…
Youth minister charged with sexual abuse
By Bob Allen A 37-year-old Southern Baptist youth minister is under arrest in Sasche, Texas, on charges stemming from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Derek Hutter, minister to students at South Garland Baptist Church in Garland, Texas,…