NASHVILLE (BP) – The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear the appeal of the Southern Baptist Convention as it tries to protect its constitutional rights in a case connected to an inquiry by the SBC Credentials Committee. Preston Garner, a longtime worship pastor and school music teacher, and his wife Kellie filed suit in 2023 against the SBC, Guidepost Solutions and others. The Garners are alleging defamation/libel and slander, defamation by implication, invasion of privacy and loss of … [Read more...]
SBC appeals defamation case to Tennessee Supreme Court
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention and other defendants lost an appeal in a Tennessee district court but have appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court. The case, Preston Garner et. al. v. Southern Baptist Convention et. al., regards an inquiry made by the SBC Credentials Committee in the course of following up on a confidential report made to the SBC’s abuse hotline. Preston Garner, a longtime worship pastor and school music teacher, and his wife Kellie filed suit in 2023 … [Read more...]
Federal judge explains summary judgment ruling in Hunt case
NASHVILLE (BP) – Chief U.S. District Judge William Campbell released a memorandum April 1 explaining his decision to grant summary judgment in almost all counts of Johnny Hunt’s suit against the SBC, SBC Executive Committee and Guidepost Solutions. In the judgment issued March 31, Campbell ruled against Hunt in all claims related to Guidepost Solutions and in all but one against the SBC and SBC Executive Committee. The suit is related to the May 2022 Guidepost Report investigation the … [Read more...]
Update: After two years of litigation, one count remains in Johnny Hunt suit
NASHVILLE (BP) – Johnny Hunt—the longtime pastor of a large Southern Baptist church, former SBC president, author, conference leader and speaker—filed a lawsuit on March 17, 2023, against the SBC, the SBC Executive Committee and Guidepost Solutions. Two years and two weeks later, a federal judge issued an order dismissing all but one count of the lawsuit. “We are grateful for this decision and the forward progress in our legal process,” said SBC EC President and CEO Jeff Iorg when the … [Read more...]
Federal judge drops all but one count in Johnny Hunt’s lawsuit against SBC, Guidepost Solutions
NASHVILLE (BP) – Federal Judge William Campbell has granted the defense’s request and dropped all but one claim in Johnny Hunt’s lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention, the SBC Executive Committee and Guidepost Solutions. “We are grateful for this decision and the forward progress in our legal process,” said Jeff Iorg, SBC Executive Committee president. The only charge left standing against the SBC is related to a tweet Hunt claims defamed him. The judge’s full order … [Read more...]
TIMELINE: Sexual abuse investigation-related costs approach $13M since 2021
NASHVILLE (BP) – At last month’s SBC Executive Committee meeting, EC President and CEO Jeff Iorg reported that as of Dec. 24, some $13 million had been spent on investigations related to sexual abuse and related legal costs. He further reported that the EC is pursuing a $3 million loan to cover legal costs in the current fiscal year. Additionally, EC members approved a 2025-26 budget that includes a $3 million priority allocation for legal fees. That budget awaits SBC messenger approval in … [Read more...]
WRAP-UP: SBC Executive Committee proposes plan for budget woes
by Laura Erlanson/Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC Executive Committee took major steps to tackle issues that have been brewing in the Convention for several years, including addressing the financial fallout from the SBC’s response to sexual abuse, introducing a new director for abuse response within the Convention and responding to the call for additional financial information from entities. Members also voted, at the recommendation of the SBC Credentials Committee, to deem two … [Read more...]
In his mission and calling, Dalrymple aims to mobilize the SBC in abuse prevention
NASHVILLE (BP) – As the inaugural Southern Baptist czar for sexual abuse prevention and response, Jeff Dalrymple is fulfilling a calling and a mission, packing years of leadership in the arena that has taught him how to win the battle. The Executive Committee’s Director of Abuse Prevention and Response, with Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President and CEO Jeff Iorg, shared his plans for the post at a press conference Feb. 18 following the EC meeting in … [Read more...]
EC approves $190 million allocation budget that includes legal costs
NASHVILLE (BP) — Executive Committee members approved a recommendation Tuesday morning (Feb. 18) for a $190 million 2025-26 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget that includes $3 million earmarked for anticipated legal costs. The recommendation moves forward to messengers for a vote at the SBC Annual Meeting held in Dallas in June. EC members spent approximately 33 minutes of the 46-minute report brought by the Committee on Convention Finances and Stewardship discussing the $3 … [Read more...]
Iorg addresses sexual abuse, financial realities in report to Executive Committee
$3 million of CP funds earmarked toward potential legal costs NASHVILLE (BP) — In a landmark address to SBC Executive Committee members, SBC EC President Jeff Iorg outlined plans for continued sexual abuse prevention and response, presented findings from the SBC’s sexual abuse hotline that clarify the incidence of abuse in Southern Baptist churches and shared steps for responding to calls for greater financial clarity from SBC entities. His comments came Monday evening in the Executive … [Read more...]
Jeff Dalrymple to lead ongoing Southern Baptist sexual abuse response
NASHVILLE (BP) – Jeff Dalrymple has been named to lead the office within the SBC Executive Committee dedicated to Southern Baptists’ long-term efforts in Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response, according to a statement from EC President and CEO Jeff Iorg. Dalrymple, 49, begins his role immediately. He will be formally introduced at the SBC Executive Committee’s Feb. 17-18 meeting. At that time, Iorg said, several sexual abuse prevention and response initiatives will be announced in order … [Read more...]
EC votes to create department dedicated to ongoing sexual abuse response
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to correctly report the amount of money remaining of the initial funds given by SendRelief to assist in sexual abuse prevention and response. Read related story from Executive Committee meeting here. NASHVILLE (BP) — Trustees for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee approved Tuesday (Sept. 17) a recommendation to create a department within the EC to assist churches in the area of sexual abuse prevention and response. Messengers … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 5
- Next Page »