By Bob Allen Members of a Florida Southern Baptist church expressed shock and dismay at Wednesday’s arrest of a lifelong church member and trusted volunteer with youth and the choir on charges of sexual battery against a child. William Allen…
Pastor resigns amid abuse allegations
By Bob Allen An independent Baptist pastor has resigned his church in Georgia after allegations of sexual abuse 18 years ago in Michigan resurfaced on the Internet. Leaders at King’s Way Baptist Church in Douglasville, Ga., confirmed in a letter…
Why Paige Patterson’s anti-outsider stance is wrong
By Christa Brown Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president Paige Patterson preaches that churches should resolve their conflicts internally and should not take them to “the world of unbelief.” This means, he explains, that when a person has been “offended ……
Activist says media helps fight abuse
By Bob Allen A lifelong Baptist who advocates on behalf of clergy sex-abuse victims says the media is doing more to promote healing and children’s safety than pastors who try to keep it out of the headlines. Amy Smith, Houston…
Advocate says SBC leader gives bad advice
By Bob Allen A leading advocate for victims of clergy sex abuse says a Southern Baptist leader’s advice not to take congregational disputes to the media “flies in the face of common sense and civic duty.” David Clohessy, national director…
Blogger: SBC leaders ignoring abuse decree
By Bob Allen A Georgia pastor and blogger says denominational officials are ignoring a resolution adopted at this year’s Southern Baptist Convention calling for a zero-tolerance policy toward the sexual abuse of children in churches. Peter Lumpkins, who blogs at…
C.J. Mahaney returning to SEBTS
By Bob Allen A Calvinist preacher named in a lawsuit alleging what has been termed the largest evangelical sex-abuse scandal to date is scheduled to speak at an upcoming collegiate conference on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. C.J….
Expert: Church waking up to abuse
By Bob Allen An expert who recently told a group of journalists that evangelicals are worse than Catholics when it comes to reporting sexual abuse by clergy added in a radio interview that he believes that is starting to change….
Evangelicals behind Catholics on abuse
By Bob Allen A Liberty University law professor and grandson of Billy Graham told reporters Sept. 26 that he thinks evangelicals “are worse” than Catholics when it comes to responding to sexual abuse by clergy. “Protestants can be very arrogant…
Baptist ethicist signs abuse petition
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist ethicist has endorsed an online petition urging greater transparency about sexual abuse occurring in evangelical churches. Ben Mitchell, Graves Professor ofMoral Philosophy at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., added his signature to “A Public…
Accused camp chaperone out of jail
By Bob Allen A North Carolina man charged with sex offenses at a Baptist youth camp got out of jail July 23 after a judge reduced his bond from $350,000 to $20,000. Clyde Wesley Way, 68, was arrested July 10…
Statement cites sexual abuse in church
By Bob Allen Seventy-two faith leaders signed a public statement July 17 decrying silence from evangelical leaders on the issue of sexual abuse in the church. Released by Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), an advocacy group…