Trigger Warning: This page may contain content that is painful or upsetting if you have been sexually assaulted or have experienced sexual abuse. If you experience distress while reading the following content, you can reach a support specialist through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-4673.
According to a third-party report by Guidepost Solutions, LLC, more than 700 pastors within the SBC were known to have abuse allegations against them. For years, the church covered up this problem, or swept it under the rug.
The Link Between the Southern Baptist Church and Sexual Abuse
The 288-page report by the independent investigations firm, Guidepost Solutions, LLC, details how members of church leadership were privy to abuse allegations against pastors for almost two decades. Yet instead of handling these cases with care, due investigations, and punitive measures for perpetrators, church leadership members (known as the Executive Committee) either ignored them, covered them up, or allowed the accused to simply move away.
Among the shocking details of the investigation is a list of more than 700 pastors, some still active within the church, who were known to have abuse allegations against them, but were not held accountable.
The Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) represents a Christian and Protestant denomination within the United States. The SBC represents the largest Baptist denomination in the world, and nearly the largest Christian denomination in the U.S. — second only to Catholicism.
This denomination gained its name from its roots, having been formed in Augusta, Georgia in 1845 after a group of Baptists in the southern United States separated from the northern Baptists.
Following many of the traditional tenets of Christianity, leaders of the SBC aim to provide spiritual guidance, foster fellowship, and inspire through leadership. While the SBC showed more than 14.5 million members in the US Census in 2020, it has lost 14% of its congregants from 2006 to 2022, or about 2.3 million members.
History of Sexual Abuse Reports Within the SBC
The seven-month investigation by Guidepost has recently brought to light the innumerable reports made by church members across the nation to EC members. Yet these reports have been kept hidden since long before the investigation was made.
For years, parishioners would reach out to church leaders to report incidents of sexual abuse or sexual assault. Reports were made in all manner of communication:
- Phone calls
- Emails
- Letters sent by mail
- In-person appearances to SBC meetings
- Reaching out to the media
Unfortunately, most reports were handled with hostility or resistance. They were ignored or left unaddressed. At best, the accused church leader would be asked to switch congregations. In most cases, though, church leaders were not punished in any way, and were allowed to continue practicing. Such sexual abuse reports were kept secret and not reported to authorities or otherwise reviewed by the Executive Committee.
The Turning Point: The #MeToo Movement
The SBC had faced allegations of sexual misconduct which it was largely able to keep under wraps for decades — until the #MeToo Movement in 2018. This movement, which gained widespread recognition in 2018, is a social movement against sexual crimes and rape culture.
The movement represents a key turning point in the investigations into sexual assault, sexual abuse, and general mistreatment of women within the SBC. That is, the momentum from #MeToo put pressure on the church to finally take action in regards to reports of sexual misconduct within the church and by church leaders.
As #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements have brought support victims into a national spotlight, EC general counsel, Augie Boto, referred to abuse allegations as “a satanic scheme to completely distract us from evangelism.”
The report stems from a vote at last year’s Southern Baptist Convention, where thousands of SBC “messengers” voted for independent oversight of the Guidepost Solutions investigation, which would have otherwise been limited to EC leaders. Then, new president, Ed Litton, designated a task force to work as a mediary between EC leaders and Guidepost results. Now, a year later, the results are heinous.
The Mishandling of Sexual Abuse Reports by the SBC
One systemic problem the report uncovered was not only that EC members and their attorneys dismissed claims, but there was a pattern of intimidation against victims. They were shunned, threatened, and treated as though they were lying or worthless. One victim recounts, after her abuse led to a teenage pregnancy, she was forced to apologize to her congregation and was banned from naming the father.
The management of all sexual abuse or assault reports by the Southern Baptist Convention seemed to have a common goal: avoiding liability. To that end, the EC members would avoid communication regarding sexual misconduct reports, undermine victims, and actively choose to take no action.
Sexual Abuse Investigations of the SBC
The independent report by Guidepost details that most reports of sexual abuse or assault which led to action resulted in a simple measure: moving EC members to another church, in another location. This action was undertaken with the goal of helping to avoid a ‘culture of sexual misconduct.’
Yet inappropriate sexual behaviors within the church were not new incidents, and some churches even employed pastors and other church leaders with previous sexual assault charges.
As of May 2022, the Southern Baptist Convention, in response to the investigation report details and ongoing resulting legal pressure, released a 205-page list of hundreds of names of pastors and other EC members accused of sexual misconduct.
Guidepost’s Proposed Changes to Improve SBC Responses to Sexual Abuse Allegations
The comprehensive report by Guidepost ended with a thorough prompt for changes which can help the Southern Baptist Convention better respond to future reports of sexual assault or abuse.
The response recommended in the investigation will be costly for SBC, should they choose to implement it. It contains measures for reparations for victims, as well as systemic changes within the church.
While some changes will require a hefty amount of work, others require changing the church’s policies to reflect better treatment of the victims overall, as well as fair handling of reports and punitive measures for those who are found guilty.
The summary of Guidepost’s proposed changes for the SBC include:
- Implementing an offender information system database: This would alert community members to the presence of offenders.
- Establishing an entity to oversee changes and reform: In order to not relapse into old patterns, the SBC would need accountability for change.
- Offering access to a ‘Resource Toolbox’: This would provide training, educational information, protocols, and more for church leaders.
- Acknowledgement of survivors via a sincere apology: These reparations should be offered in addition to a compensation fund and ongoing survivor support.
However, it’s unclear whether the SBC will take all of the recommendations, and how or when they will be implemented. Partnering with an SBC abuse scandal lawyer may help you receive the compensation you deserve for the pain you have endured.
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Psychological Toll of Sexual Abuse
Data suggests most survivors of child sexual abuse keep their allegations a secret until adulthood. The average age for survivors to come forward is around 52 years old. However, the statute of limitations (how long you have to start a case) varies from state to state and based on severity of the case. In some cases, it may be less than ten years.
There are a number of reasons victims decide not to come forward, including:
- Anxiety, depression, and mental health concerns
- Power dynamics and relationship to perpetrator, like that between a pastor and congregation member
- Stigma that no one will believe them
These psychological burdens occur in any abuse case, but the SBC took it a step further. They used intimidation tactics to ensure that victims felt they had no course of action, including, but not limited to, demonizing victims as part of a satanic coup to stop evangelism.
For many Americans, “Faith leaders are uniquely positioned to share information about child care and advocate for children and families,” according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. For that reason, many parents trust their child’s care to church leaders, and the betrayal of child sexual abuse run rampant in the SBC’s congregation is isolating, humiliating, and may make parents, children, and adult victims feel ashamed or confused.
Florin|Roebig understands your case is sensitive, and the health of you and your child are a top priority. When you receive fair compensation for your sexual abuse case, you may be compensated for medical bills from psychological treatment and expenses related to pain and suffering.
Seeking Justice for Southern Baptist Church Sexual Abuse
The Guidepost report is clear. While victims of ongoing and long-term sexual abuse at the hands of a Southern Baptist pastor were treated like enemies of the church and its mission of evangelism, church leadership repeatedly supported pastors accused of abuse.
In one instance, a church leader cited “heartfelt concerns for the minister” to explain delayed reporting. In another instance uncovered in the report, former SBC president Paige Patterson had a history of covering abuse, including emailing a victim that he wanted to “break her down”. These horrifying allegations against church leadership are just two of many in the report that is over 200 pages.
The evidence suggests the problem isn’t with a single church or group of pastors, but a widespread, systemic issue of prioritizing evangelism over victims. The fact is the Southern Baptist Convention brings in over $11B in a year from churches. Executive leadership is choosing to protect money over victims. If you’re a sexual assault victim of a minister in the Southern Baptist Church, you have rights.
Your Rights as a Survivor
Laws around sexual abuse may vary depending on which state you are in, but there are certain federal statutes that ensure survivors of sexual abuse receive justice.
Passed in 1984, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) allows victims of a crime to apply for compensation of related expenses through their state’s victims’ advocacy board.
The Debbie Smith Act and SAFER Act are both focused on ensuring the backlog of unprocessed sexual assault evidence is reduced, and help victims access testing they need and have it handled in a competent, expedited way.
In 2016, the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act solidified access to sexual assault evidence collection and testing kits, allowing them to be preserved and kept for the duration of the statute of limitations.
Legal Options for Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Survivors
After enduring sexual mistreatment at the hands of a trusted church member, you or your loved one may be feeling a range of emotions, from anger to sadness, fear, mistrust, and even withdrawal from your beloved church.
The impact of being sexually harmed can be long-lasting, especially when the perpetrator sees no repercussions for their actions. You deserve to seek damages for the harm you’ve endured, and beginning a sexual abuse lawsuit can help you do just that.
A lawsuit will allow you to seek justice via compensation for personal injury — to your mind, body, and spirit. For this, you will need the legal advice and guidance of a reputable sexual assault lawyer, such as those with the Florin|Roebig law firm.
With years of experience in sexual abuse and sexual assault cases, our trusted lawyers can handle your case with the utmost care. We know the laws which apply, the statute of limitations, and more.
We’ll handle all communications for your case, so you can focus on what’s important: healing and recovering. When you’re ready, we can review the details of your incident and give you a better idea of where you stand. We can help you build a strong case rooted in evidence to secure the compensation you need to reflect the justice you deserve.
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Florin|Roebig: Southern Baptist Church Sex Abuse Lawyers
If you’re a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or child sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted church member, you deserve to have your story told in court. You also deserve to receive fair compensation for the lifelong burdens of abuse.
The law offices of Florin|Roebig have experienced child sexual abuse lawyers who seek justice for survivors in need of legal advocates. We understand these situations are delicate, and speaking up can be difficult. Simply fill out the contact form, and you’ll be linked with an attorney who is knowledgeable and ethical, and who will manage the expectations of your attorney-client relationship. Reach out to Florin|Roebig for a free consultation today, and learn how a sexual abuse lawyer can help.
