Was Marshal A.Seymour Named in SBC List of Abusers?
Marshal A.Seymour, a volunteer youth minister at the First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, FL (Renamed Lakes Church in 2020 and has multiple locations), and former youth minister at the Parkway Assembly of God in Mobile, AL, was charged with unlawful sexual activity and three counts of sexual performance with a child in 2007. In lieu of the 2nd degree sexual abuse charge, he pleaded guilty to 3rd degree assault: 1 17 yr. old boy, 1 16 yr. old boy, 1 15 yr. old, 1998 – 1 16 yr. old boy. The Florida church background check revealed no previous misdemeanor assault conviction in Mobile, AL. Seymour moved to Lakeland in 1999 and began volunteering at FBC at the Mall.
In Florida, he is a convicted sex offender. Convicted of three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and one count of directing sexual performance of a child as part of a plea agreement. Sentenced to a maximum of ten years in prison on each count, he was released in 2016.
SBC Investigation Report
According to the Washington Post, a 300-page report was launched on Sunday, May 22, 2022. The document consists of scary brand-new information regarding certain abuse occurrences and clarify how denominational officials actively hindered abuse avoidance and reform for many years.
Southern Baptist Convention leaders have actually announced an extensive and independent 3rd party examination that uncovered that abusers were frequently disregarded, forgotten, or even denounced by upper-level church authorities from within this religious denomination of more than 16 million individuals. In addition, it revealed these leaders typically lied to their own members to avoid them from knowing the unchecked sexual misbehavior.
Continue reading about the bombshell SBC Investigation Report
A History of Ignored Misconduct
The report asserts that a key Southern Baptist Convention official was credibly implicated of sexual assault only one month after completing his two-year stretch as the convention’s president. Furthermore, Johnny Hunt, a popular Georgia Southern Baptist preacher and senior vice president of the SBC’s objectives arm, was credibly implicated of abusing a woman at a 2010 vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. The North American Mission Board president declared he was unaware of the accusations prior to Hunt resigning on May thirteenth. The report also identifies 3 prior presidents of the convention, a previous vice president, and the former head of the SBC’s administrative arm as prominent SBC leaders who helped in covering for and even encouraged alleged abusers.
One victim outlined being treated with hostility as she alleged she was sexually abused by a youth pastor. The implicated pastor served in several Southern Baptist churches in several states. During a meeting with the SBC leaders in 2007, a member of the Exec Board “turned his back to her during her speech and another chortled.”
Accountability in the Baptist Church
Russell Moore, the former head of the SBC’s policy arm, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, mentioned ‘this is not all Southern Baptists, take a look at all the good we do.’ The report demonstrates a pattern of stonewalling, coverup, intimidation, and retaliation.” He desires this document will bring much-needed reform and hold those responsible for their sexual assault.
The report asserts that a principal Southern Baptist leader was credibly accused of sexual assault only 1 month after finishing his two-year spell as the convention’s president. The report also names three previous presidents of the convention, a former vice president, and the previous head of the SBC’s administrative branch as prominent SBC leaders who assisted in protecting and also encouraged presumed abusers.
He wishes this report will bring along much-needed change and hold those accountable for their misconduct.
For information about sexual abuse cases in Florida, visit this page: https://abuseguardian.com/sexual-assault-lawyer/florida/
Abuse Guardian for Florida
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