New Report Reveals How Southern Baptist Convention Leaders Hid Sexual Abuse Crisis

Sex Abuse Crisis Within the SBC and SBC Executive Committee Response

According to the Washington Post, a 300-page report was released on Sunday, May 22, 2022. The report contains horrifying new details regarding specific abuse instances and sheds light on how denominational officials actively opposed abuse prevention and reform for decades.

Southern Baptist Convention leaders have announced an extensive and independent third-party investigation that found that abusers were often ignored, forgotten, or even blamed by high-ranking church officials from within this religious denomination of larger than 16 million members. Additionally, it revealed these leaders often lied to their own members to prevent them from being aware of the rampant sexual misconduct.

Update: On May 27, 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Releases List of Southern Baptist Abusers

On Friday, May 27, 2022, just before the memorial day weekend holiday, the Southern Baptist Convention made good on its promise to release the internal list of names of known abusers to the public. This comes in the wake of the bombshell report a few days earlier that outlined details of rampant abuse within the congregation, and the great efforts made to cover up and limit the liability and exposure of the Convention.

The lawyers at Justice Guardians and the network of Abuse Guardians will cover each name listed in the report on this site. We have also set up a Southern Baptist Convention Abuse Helpline for anyone that feels they would like to speak with a lawyer that represents survivors of sexual abuse, and has experience in litigating against the Southern Baptist Convention.

Southern Baptist List Of Names Of Sexual Predators

• Larry Michael Berkley – SBC – Shiloh Baptist Church in Harrison, Arkansas
• Mark Aderholt – SBC – Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas
• Demetrius Allen – First Baptist – First Baptist Church of Venice, CA
• Joshua Lee Allen – SBC – Tyler Street Baptist Church in Jacksonville, TX
• Dan Earl Allmond – SBC – Tampa Baptist Church in Tampa, FL
• Mark Anderson – Second Baptist Church in Brawley, CA
• Andrew Argent – First Baptist – Praise and Worship Church in Cleveland, TX
• Johnathan Bailey – First Baptist – First Baptist Church New Orleans in Lakeview, LA
• Tim Ray Ballard – SBC – Abundant Life Schools, Sherwood, AR
• A.V. Ballenger – SBC – First Baptist Church in Hammond IN
• Joe David Barron – SBC – Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX
• Sergio David Bezerra – SBC – Waco Baptist Academy in Waco, TX
• John Earl “Jeb” Bonine – SBC – Sierra Heights Baptist Church in Fresno, CA
• David Glenn Boyd – SBC – Wheelwright Baptist Church in Wheelwright, KY
• Stephen Bratton – SBC – Grace Family Baptist Church in Houston, NY
• Kenneth Brightman – FBC – First Baptist Church in Jeffersontown, KY
• John Holland Brothers Jr. – SBC – First Baptist Church in Yampa, CO
• William Frank Brown – SBC – Bellmead First Baptist Church in Waco, TX
• Robert Browning – SBC – Secar Creek Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL
• Craig A. Burden – SBC – Calvary Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN
• James Earl Busby – SBC – Alliance Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX
• Daniel James Carrel – SBC – Sienna Ranch Baptist Church in Missouri City, TX
• Jerry Dale Carver – SBC – Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, TX
• Charles Richard “Rick” Willits – SBC – Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, TX
• Howard Key Chambers – SBC – DeHaven Baptist Church in La Grange, KY
• Joshua Clemons – SBC – Crossroads Community Church in Parker, CO
• Mark Comford – SBC – Faith Baptist Church in LaPorte, IN
• Jacob Allen Conder – SBC – Wing Avenue Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY
• Jason J.D. Cooper – SBC – Macedonia Baptist Church in Rayville, LA
• John Cordero – SBC – Alliance Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX
• Robert Lindsay Cowan – SBC – Baptist Church of Cool in Cool, CA
• James E. Crawn – SBC – Faith Baptist Church in Idaville, IN
• Jim Cude – SBC – First Baptist Church in Whitesboro, TX
• Tommy Gene Daniels – SBC – First Baptist Church in Rio Linda, CA
• Greg Dickens – SBC – Winona First Baptist Church in Winona, TX
• John Wayne Diehl – SBC – Piner Baptist Church in Morning View, KY
• Bradley Wayne Dixon – SBC – San Marcos Baptist Academy in San Marcos, TX
• Terry Wayne Dobbs – SBC – Old Fashion United Baptist Church in Yorktown, IN
• Donald Domelle – SBC – Baptist Temple of Salinas in Salinas, CA
• Timothy N. Douglas – SBC – Creekside Community Church in Katy, TX
• Joshua Earls – SBC – Arapaho Road Baptist Church in Garland, TX
• Jordan Earls – SBC – Arapaho Road Baptist Church in Garland, TX
• Patrick K. Farmer – SBC – Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, TX
• David Wayne Farren – SBC – Anchor Church in Texarkana, AR
• Shane Flournoy – SBC – Texas School For The Deaf in Austin, TX
• John Forse – SBC – Second Baptist Church in Houston, TX
• Trevor Jacob Fortner – SBC – Fifth Street Baptist Church in Levelland, TX
• Chad Foster – SBC – Community of Faith Church in Houston, TX
• Monte Ray Freeman – SBC – First Baptist Church in Coppell, TX
• Jeremy Fulton – SBC – Mariner’s Temple Baptist Church in New York City, NY
• Andres Garcia – SBC – Primera Iglesia Bautista del Sur Colirio in Yuba City, CA
• Ruben A. Garcia – SBC – Betania Baptist Church in Austin, TX
• David Gardiner – SBC – Liverpool Baptist Church in Liverpool, NY
• Mickey Odell Gerald II – SBC – Community First Baptist Church in Dallas, TX
• Keith Geren – SBC – Wayside Baptist Church in Kendall, FL
• Darrell Gilyard – SBC – Tabernacle Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL
• Angelo “Doogie” Golatt – SBC – Donahue Family Church in Pineville, LA
• Nathan John Gorzelanczyk – SBC – Floria United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, FL
• Brian Clay Gray – SBC – Anchor Baptist Church in Wheatland, CA
• David Ray Gray – SBC – Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Scurry, TX
• James Robert Griffin – SBC – Immanuel Baptist Church in Slidell, LA
• Scott Grose – SBC – First Baptist Church in Sellersburg, IN
• Dan William Haby Jr. – SBC – Cowboy Way Church in Alvarado, TX
• Thomas Warran Halsey – SBC – First Baptist Church in Leesburg, FL
• Carlton F. Hammonds – SBC – Willows Baptist Church in Willows, CA
• Derrick “Duke” Hampsch – SBC – First Baptist Church in Vincennes, IN
• Timothy Han – SBC – Miracle Land Korean Bptist Church in Cypress, CA
• Paul “Kevin” Hendrix – FBC – First Baptist Church in Cherokee Village, AR
• Thomas Bradley Hill – FBC – First Baptist Church in Houston, TX
• Eddie Hillburn – SBC – Woodland First Baptist Church in The Woodlands, TX
• Russell Thomas Hirner – SBC – Longview Baptist Christian Academy in Longview, TX
• Melissa Huckaby – SBC – Clover Road Baptist Church in Tracy, CA
• Jude Dayton Hughes – SBC – Jonas Ridge Baptist Church in Jonas Ridge, NC
• Nathaniel Hull Jr. – FBC – First Baptist Church in West Helena, AR
• Derek Wayne Hutter – SBC – South Garland Baptist Church in Garland, TX
• Joshua Ross Hyles – SBC – Unknown in Texas
• Jason Jackson – SBC – Main Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, KY
• Matt Jarrell – SBC – Open Door Baptist Church in Mesquite, TX
• Jonathan Lamont Jenkins – SBC – Starlight Baptist Church in Santa Ana, CA
• Robert Thomas Jenkins-Hayes – SBC – Rocky Bayou Baptist Church in Niceville, FL
• Brian K. Johnson – SBC – Vineyard Ministries in Westwego, LA
• Kenneth Johnson – SBC – Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, FL
• William Johnson Jr. – SBC – Calvary Baptist Church in Ithaca, NY
• Michael Lee Jones – SBC – Cathedral of Faith in Houston, TX
• Thomas Reid Jones – SBC – Riverbend Baptist Church in Austin, TX
• Joel Dean Joslin – SBC – Unknown in Irving and Fort Worth, TX
• Phillip Joubert – SBC – Community Baptist Church in Bayside, NY
• Dale Alan Julio – SBC – Rocky Bayou Baptist Church in Niceville, FL
• Matthew Anthony Keller – SBC – Haltom Road Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX
• Grady O. Kemp Sr. – SBC – Mount Zion Baptist Church in Lyons, NY
• Daniel Keith Kiger – FBC – First Baptist Church in Winslow, AR
• Kevin Othell Laferney – SBC – Glenwood First Baptist Church in Gilmer, TX
• Dalton Lanhier – SBC – Trinity Life Baptist Church in Garland, TX
• Michael Phillip Latham – SBC – Harris Baptist Conference Center in Bienville, LA
• Paul Lavertu – Independent Baptist – Gateway Baptist Church in Loveland, CO
• Russell Dion Lewis – SBC – Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, FL
• Stephen Douglas Livingston – SBC – First Baptist Church in Sinton, TX
• Roy Long – SBC – First Baptist Church of Hesperia in Victorville, CA
• Gordon Lunceford – SBC – First Baptist Church in Lawrenceburg, KY
• Samuel Lyte – SBC – Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Big Springs, TX
• Fernando Maldonado – SBC – Grace Bible Church in Pleasant Hill, CA
• Kerry Clyde Martin – SBC – Temecula Valley Baptist Church in Temecula, CA
• Salvador Mata – SBC – First Baptist Church in Terrell, TX
• Joshua Luke McDonald – SBC – First Baptist Church in Bridge City, TX
• John O. McKay Jr. – SBC – First Baptist Church in Hondo, TX
• James Gordon McLees – Independent Baptist – Tri-City Baptist Church in Westminster, CO
• Holland Farrell McMorris – SBC – Paradise Baptist Church in Ball, LA
• Matthew Allen McMurray – SBC – Timberline Baptist Camp in Lindale, TX
• James “Javie” Vernon McNeal – SBC – Bethlehem Baptist Church in Hazel Green, AL
• Ruven Meulenberg – SBC – Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA
• Billie Lewis Minson – SBC – First Baptist Church in Swan, TX
• Victor Mitchell – SBC – Old Mount Olive Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, LA
• Malo “Victor” Monteiro – SBC – Faith Baptist Church in Wildomar, CA
• Stephen Morris – SBC – Oliver’s Grove Baptist Church in Four Oaks, NC
• Jefferson Marion Moore Jr. – SBC – Unknown Church; Dogwood City Daycare in Dogwood City, TX
• John Scott Moore – SBC – Lighthouse Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, CO
• Santiago “Jimmy” Morales Jr. – SBC – San Marcos Baptist Academy in San Marcos, TX
• Randy Lee Morrow – SBC – Countryside Baptist Church in Clearwater, FL
• Chester Mulligan – SBC – Central Baptist Church in East Chicago, IN
• Douglas Myers – SBC – Triangle Community Church in Tavares, FL among others
• Larry Nuell Neathery – SBC – River Oaks Baptist Church and Westside Victory Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX
• Joe David Nelms – SBC – Pacific Coast Church in San Clemente, CA (Formerly named First Baptist Church of San Clemente)
• Benjamin Nelson – SBC – Peoria Baptist Church in Hillsboro, TX
• Patrick Newsome Jr. – SBC – First Centennial Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY
• Minh Van Nguyen – SBC – First Vietnamese Church in San Jose, CA
• Joseph Niemeyer – SBC – Banklick Baptist Church in Walton, KY
• Spencer K. Osbourne – SBC – New Covenant Free Will Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN
• Merton E. Parks – SBC – Oswegatchie First Baptist Church in Oswegatchie, NY
• Wesley Craig Parnell – SBC – Unknown Church in Salinas, CA
• Timothy E. Patton – SBC – Danville First Baptist Church in Danville, AR
• Travis Payne – SBC – South Texarkana Baptist Church in Texarkana, AR
• David Pearson – SBC – Unknown – Denton, TX, also of West Side Baptist Church in Sharpsville, PA
• Ricardo Javier Pena – SBC – Doverside Baptist Church in Houston, TX
• David Kent Pierce – FBC – First Baptist Church in Benton, AR
• Joshua Neal Ponder – FBC – First Baptist Church in Mabank, TX
• William Henry Randall – SBC – St. Simon Baptist Church in Orange Park, FL
• James Holcomb Rankin – SBC – Bellevue Baptist Church in Hurst, TX
• Leon Rankins III – SBC – Restoration Full Gospel Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL
• Terah Rawlings – SBC – Hilltop Baptist School (Hilltop Bapitst Church) in Colorado Springs, CO
• Timothy Lee Reddin – SBC – Turner Street Baptist Church in Springdale, AR
• Travis Reid – FBC – First Baptist Church in Azle, TX
• David Joe Rich – SBC – Springs Community Baptist Church in Apopka, FL
• William Allen Richardson II – SBC – First Baptist Church of Mango in Seffner, FL
• Timothy Scott Richerson – SBC – Freedom Baptist Church in Campbellsville, KY
• Richard Thomas Riley – SBC – Life Way Christan School in Centerton, AR
• Morris David Roberts – SBC – Unknown in Bexar County, TX
• James “Jay” Virtue Robinson IV – SBC – Southwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX
• Jordan Lee Roseboom – SBC – Rock Point Baptist Church in Crawfordsville, IN
• Joel Rumbaugh – Independent – Bethel Baptist Church in La Grange, TX
• Phillip Rutledge – SBC – Ranchland Heights Baptist Church in Midland, TX
• Siepo Sampson – SBC – Thessalonia Baptist Church in Bronx, NY
• John Calvin Savage – SBC – Grace Baptist Church in Corona, CA
• Lloyd C. Schallenberger – SBC – Unknown – Polk County in Florida
• Caleb Sexton – Unknown – Hedstrom Memorial Baptist Church in Buffalo, NY
• Marshal A. Seymour – FBC – First Baptist Church At the Mall (Lakes Church) in Lakeland, FL
• Eddie Shauberger – SBC – Oak Island Baptist Church in Anahuac, TX
• Richard Frank Shaw – SBC – Chester Avenue Baptist Church in Middlesboro, KY
• Murrvin Sheppard – SBC – Mt. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Miscanopy, FL
• Frank William Sizemore – SBC – Unknown in Dallas, TX
• Sherman R. Smith – SBC – Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA
• Curtis Jene Smith – SBC – Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Waco, TX
• Gary Ladell Smitherman – SBC – Friendship Baptist Church in Clanton, AL
• Derek L. Smittle – FBC – First Baptist Church in Centerton, AR
• Rodolfo Sosa – SBC – Ciudad del Refugio  in Austin, TX
• Joseph Jermaine Spencer – SBC – Mountain View community Church in Temecula, CA
• Bernard Squires – SBC – Grace Baptist Church in Columbia City, IN
• Nathan Anthony St. Pierre – SBC – Washington Avenue Baptist Church in Evansville, IN
• Hezekiah Stallworth – SBC – Oak Grove Baptist Church and Beulah Baptist Church in Elkhart, TX
• Jay Clair Strickland – SBC – Sharon Heights Baptist Church in Brookside, AL
• Christopher Cody Stutts – SBC – Westwood Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL
• Samuel A. Sutter – SBC – Openwater Church in Odessa, FL
• Anthony Lynn Thibodeaux – SBC – Fairfield Missionary Baptist Church in Fairfield, TX
• Charles Thomas – SBC – Foothill Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland, CA
• Jason Thomas – SBC – Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, TX
• Joseph Gary Torres – SBC – Iglesia Bautista Reformada in Sunland, CA
• Timothy Tower – SBC – Community Baptist Church in Brandenburg, KY
• David J. Troup – SBC – Borden Baptist Church in Woodhull, NY
• Erbey Valdez – SBC – New Spirit Baptist Church in San Antonio, TX
• John Maxwell Ware – SBC – First Baptist Church in Pine Castle, FL
• Robert James Washington Jr. – SBC – New Beginnings Faith in Shreveport, LA
• Robert John Weber – SBC – Second Baptist Church in Odessa, TX
• Gary Don Welch – SBC – Northside Baptist Church in Corsicana, TX
• Aaron D. West – SBC – Faith Baptist Church in Lawtey, FL
• Brandon Wade White – SBC – First Baptist Church in Pleasant Grove, AL
• Thomas W. Wilson – SBC – Smithville Baptist Church in Watertown, NY
• Franklin Leroy Wray – SBC – Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Texarkana, TX
• Scott Dewayne Wright – SBC – Crossing Church in Tampa, FL
• Samuel Yoon – SBC – New Community Mission Church in San Leandro, CA
• John Lau – SBC – Fort Drum Army Base in Fort Drum, NY
• Kurt W. Sturtevant – SBC – Pleasant Street Baptist Church in Mechanic Falls, ME
• John H. Harris Jr. – SBC – Galilee Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ
• Daniel J. Moore – SBC – New Whiteland Baptist Church in Franklin, IN
• Larry Edward Elliott – SBC – Unknown in Boone, NC
• Benjamin Ross Hollifield – SBC – Piedmont Baptist Church in Kannapolis, NC
• Dale “Dickie” Amyx – SBC – Bolivar Baptist Church in Sanger, TX
• Jeffery Lamar Carter – SBC – Madison Street Baptist Church in Starke, FL
• Stephen Lee Edmonds – FBC – First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL
• Tonja Stovall Fischer – SBC – Unknown in Nueces County, TX
• Robert Michael Black – SBC – New Home Baptist Church in St. Joseph, MO
• Joseph Edmund Conger – SBC – New Life Baptist Church in Cole Camp, MO
• Michael Alan Crippen – FBC – First Baptist Church in Duenweg, MO
• Shawn Davies – FBC – First Baptist Church in Greenwood, MO (Renamed Fellowship Church – Greenwood)
• Dale Gregory Johnson – SBC – Parkade Baptist Church in Columbia, MO
• Terry McDowell – SBC – Gateway Southern Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO
• James R. Niederstadt – SBC – Vinson General Baptist Church in Malden, MO
• Travis Smith – FBC – First Baptist Church in Stover, MO
• John Henry Stone – SBC – Grandview Baptist Church in Grandview, MO

A History of Ignored Abuse Revealed in SBC Investigation Report

For nearly two decades, victims who were sexually abused attempted to contact the administration of the Southern Baptist Convention about the pastors and church employees. Almost all of these reported incidents fell outside of the statutes of limitations, making it unclear how many predators were actually charged. According to the report, an internal list was kept. However, survivors’ cries for justice went unheeded as leaders from churches and organizations tried to protect themselves rather than those who have been victimized by sexual assault.

The report claims that a key Southern Baptist leader was credibly accused of sexual assault just one month after completing his two-year term as the convention’s president. Additionally, Johnny Hunt, a well-known Georgia Southern Baptist preacher and senior vice president of the SBC’s missions arm, was credibly accused of assaulting a woman during a 2010 vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. The North American Mission Board president claimed he was unaware of the accusations prior to Hunt resigning on May 13. The report also names three prior presidents of the convention, a former vice president, and the former head of the SBC’s administrative arm as prominent SBC leaders who aided in covering and even encouraged suspected abusers.

One victim described being treated with hostility as she alleged she was sexually abused by a youth pastor. The accused pastor served in multiple Southern Baptist churches in several states. During a meeting with the SBC leaders in 2007, a member of the Executive Committee “turned his back to her during her speech and another chortled.”

Southern Baptist Convention News: Accountability in the Baptist Church

Russell Moore, the former head of the SBC’s policy arm, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, stated ‘this is not all Southern Baptists, look at all the good we do.’ The report demonstrates a pattern of stonewalling, coverup, intimidation, and retaliation.” He hopes this report will bring much-needed reform and hold those accountable for their actions.

Seeking Justice For Chuch Sex Abuse Survivors

Laurence Banville sat down with Brian Kent, an experienced sexual abuse attorney that filed a new sexual abuse lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention last week. They discussed how survivors could seek justice.

https://abuseguardian.com/southern-baptist-sexual-assault-lawyer/

Laurence: Who is liable for keeping the church congregation safe from dangers like sexual abuse?

Brian: The church has a legal responsibility to ensure its congregation is safe from preventable dangers, including sexual abuse. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in reports of sexual abuse within churches across the country and throughout all denominations. Knowing this, the church has an obligation to implement safety measures to prevent it from occurring. These could include background checks but, more importantly, properly following up when misconduct is reported. If the church officials fail to follow the safety procedures or are accused of withholding information, they can be deemed negligent and held liable in a civil lawsuit.

Laurence: What can victims do to get justice?

Brian: In many cases, victims and their families may have grounds to pursue a lawsuit against the church or church officials. If the church failed to look out for the well-being of its members, it could be considered negligent. Speaking to an experienced church sexual abuse attorney may help victims and their families determine their best legal actions.

Sources:

Washington Post