NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee will work to fulfill its ministry assignments despite budget challenges in the coming year, EC President and CEO Jeff Iorg told the body Feb. 16 during its meeting in Nashville. Paramount are the absence of a one-time $3 million priority allocation that helped the EC meet legal costs in 2025-2026, and an anticipated cut to the EC budget that will enable an increase in International Mission Board funding from 50.41 … [Read more...]
Tennessee Supreme Court hears defamation case against SBC, others
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – Tennessee Supreme Court justices sought clarity regarding the church autonomy doctrine Thursday (Jan. 8) in a case focused on the Southern Baptist Convention’s protocols to address claims of sexual abuse. Attorneys for Preston Garner, who has brought a defamation lawsuit against the SBC and others, asserted that a letter sent in the early days of 2023 stemming from a report to the SBC abuse hotline led to Garner’s dismissal at a Christian school and the … [Read more...]
Missouri youth leader charged with abuse of youth group member
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (BP) – A Missouri church youth leader has been arrested on sexual abuse related charges. Donald Aaron Axtell, 37, was arrested Nov. 13 on charges of second-degree statutory rape, possession of child pornography and furnishing pornographic materials to a minor. Axtell was identified by local news media as the associate youth pastor at Excelsior Springs Baptist Church. A statement from the church said he was a volunteer. According to media reports, the … [Read more...]
Tennessee Supreme Court will hear defamation case against SBC
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...]
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