$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...]
SBC Executive Committee’s legal expenses surpass $12M in three years
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. NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC Executive Committee says it has spent more than $12.1 million on the 2021-2022 Guidepost Solutions investigation and subsequent legal expenses dating back to the 2021 fiscal year. The release of the detailed financial information was the result of a motion adopted by messengers … [Read more...]
Department of Justice concludes Executive Committee investigation; ‘no further action’
NASHVILLE (BP) – The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its investigation of the SBC Executive Committee, Southern Baptist leaders learned Feb. 29. In a statement today, Jonathan Howe, interim SBC EC president/CEO, said the DOJ has told the EC’s legal counsel there is “no further action to be taken.” Email requests for comment from the DOJ were not returned by time of publication. The SBC has been represented during the investigation by Gene Besen and Scarlett Nokes of … [Read more...]
SBC task force proposes new non-profit to address abuse reform
EDITOR'S NOTE: This developing story first appeared at The Baptist Paper at this link: https://thebaptistpaper.org/sbc-abuse-reform-efforts-energized-by-latest-announcement. *This story was updated under the “Funding Plan” subhead below at 3:07 p.m. CT. The original version posted at 5 a.m., and two other minor edits for clarification purposes took place around 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. **At 3:25 p.m. CT, The Baptist Paper received an email with a statement from Send Relief leaders noting … [Read more...]
EC officers, ARITF release statements on Kentucky amicus brief
NASHVILLE (BP) — The revelation of an amicus brief filed by Southern Baptist entities opposing an aspect of a Kentucky sexual abuse survivor’s case prompted statements from SBC Executive Committee officers as well as the SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF) on Friday, Oct. 27. The statements came after SBC entities took fire over the amicus brief, which was filed in April and addresses an abuse victim’s lawsuit in which her abuser’s employer, the Louisville/Jefferson … [Read more...]
SBC entities take fire over Kentucky amicus brief
NASHVILLE (BP) — An amicus brief filed with the Kentucky Supreme Court caused a swarm of controversy within the Southern Baptist Convention when it was reported Wednesday (Oct. 25) by the Louisville Courier-Journal. The brief was filed in April and addresses the case of Samantha Killary. Sean Jackman, her adoptive father and a member of the Louisville Metro Police Department, was convicted in 2020 of molesting his daughter over a period of years. Also named as defendants in an ongoing … [Read more...]
Former Missouri DOM arrested on sex crime charges
COLFAX, La. (BP) – Daryl Stagg, 60, a Southern Baptist associational mission strategist (AMS) serving dozens of churches in north central Louisiana, is jailed on 12 counts of felony sex crimes, the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office reported. Stagg previously served as a Director of Missions at the Harmony Baptist Association in Sedalia, Mo., from 2012-2018, according to his LinkedIn profile and Missouri Baptist Convention records. Stagg is charged with three counts each of first-degree rape, … [Read more...]
ARITF pivots, moves away from Guidepost Solutions
CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP) – Abuse Reform and Implementation Task Force chair Marshall Blalock announced Tuesday (April 4) the task force will no longer recommend Guidepost Solutions to establish and maintain a database for those credibly accused of sexual abuse. Messengers approved the creation of a “ministry check” website at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif. The move comes after continued concerns were expressed by Southern Baptists to the ARITF in connection to a … [Read more...]
Johnny Hunt sues SBC, EC and Guidepost
NASHVILLE (BP) – Longtime pastor and former SBC President Johnny Hunt has filed suit against the SBC, the SBC Executive Committee (EC) and Guidepost Solutions. The suit seeks unspecified damages related to allegations of defamation and the invasion of privacy based on accusations made against Hunt in the 2022 Guidepost report stemming from an investigation into the alleged mishandling of sexual abuse by the SBC EC. Hunt filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Nashville on March 17. Hunt … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist EC’s net assets ‘cut in half’: More-than-$6 million loss related to SBC’s abuse reform, DOJ investigation
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes reporting from Baptist Press and The Baptist Paper. NASHVILLE – The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) lost $6,704,285 in net assets during the 2021-2022 fiscal year – a trend that auditors called “unsustainable.” “The assets have been cut in half,” said EC member Monte Shinkle, emeritus pastor of Concord Baptist Church, Jefferson City. “We dropped $6 million this past year. We have $6 million left … it doesn’t look good.” EC … [Read more...]