Southern Baptist Convention
Reporting on abuse in Southern Baptist churches, the 2022 independent investigation, and the denomination's fight over reforms.
24 developments, 2019–2026, oldest first.
2019
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Houston Chronicle and Express-News 'Abuse of Faith' finds about 700 victims in Southern Baptist churches
A joint newspaper investigation documented roughly 380 Southern Baptist leaders and volunteers accused of sexual misconduct over 20 years, involving about 700 alleged victims.
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Southern Baptist leaders vow changes after newspaper abuse investigation
SBC President J.D. Greear and other leaders pledged reforms after the Chronicle series, including reviewing churches named in the reporting.
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Southern Baptists approve constitutional amendments allowing expulsion of churches over abuse
Messengers at the Birmingham annual meeting voted to make mishandling sexual abuse grounds for removing a church from friendly cooperation.
2020
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Texas church expelled from SBC for hiring a convicted sex offender as pastor
The SBC Executive Committee voted to disfellowship a Texas congregation over its employment of a registered sex offender as pastor.
2021
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Leaked letters prompt Southern Baptist pastors to demand inquiry into abuse handling
After letters from former ethics chief Russell Moore alleging mistreatment of abuse survivors became public, pastors called for an independent investigation of the Executive Committee.
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Southern Baptist messengers approve task force and independent review of Executive Committee
Messengers in Nashville overwhelmingly voted for a third-party investigation of how the Executive Committee handled abuse claims.
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SBC Executive Committee waives attorney-client privilege for abuse investigation
After weeks of dispute, the Executive Committee voted to waive privilege so Guidepost Solutions could access legal records.
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SBC Executive Committee chief Ronnie Floyd resigns amid abuse probe dispute
Floyd stepped down as president of the Executive Committee following the vote to waive privilege in the abuse investigation.
2022
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Guidepost report finds SBC leaders stonewalled survivors and protected the institution for decades
The independent report found Executive Committee leaders mishandled abuse reports and resisted reforms, and included an allegation against former SBC president Johnny Hunt.
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SBC releases previously secret list of accused abusers
Executive Committee leaders published an internal list kept by staff of hundreds of ministers and others accused of abuse.
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Southern Baptists overwhelmingly approve abuse reforms in Anaheim
Messengers backed creating a database of credibly accused ministers and an implementation task force.
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Justice Department opens investigation into Southern Baptist Convention
SBC leaders disclosed that the DOJ had launched an investigation involving multiple SBC entities related to abuse.
2023
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Dispute over SBC abuse hotline highlights struggles to implement reforms
A disagreement over handling calls to the Guidepost-run abuse hotline raised questions about the pace of reform.
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Former SBC president Johnny Hunt sues denomination and Guidepost for defamation
Hunt, who was accused in the Guidepost report, filed suit seeking damages and disputing the report's findings.
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Southern Baptists settle abuse lawsuit tied to Paul Pressler
SBC entities reached a settlement in a long-running Texas lawsuit alleging abuse by former judge and SBC leader Paul Pressler, who denied the claims.
2024
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SBC abuse task force plans new nonprofit to run database and reforms
The implementation task force proposed spinning off an independent nonprofit to oversee the accused-minister database.
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Future of SBC abuse reform handed to denominational committee
At the Indianapolis meeting the task force concluded its work, leaving reforms to the Executive Committee.
2025
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Abuse database no longer a priority for SBC leaders
SBC executives said legal and financial hurdles had derailed the planned database of accused ministers.
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SBC leaders cite mounting legal bills from abuse-related litigation
The Executive Committee reported strained finances driven by legal costs from the abuse investigation and related lawsuits.
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Justice Department closes SBC abuse investigation without new charges
SBC leaders said the DOJ had concluded its probe of the convention with no charges against SBC entities.
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Federal judge dismisses most of Johnny Hunt's defamation claims against SBC and Guidepost
A Tennessee federal judge ruled for the SBC, its Executive Committee and Guidepost on most claims, leaving one claim against former president Bart Barber.
2026
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SBC annual meeting turns to other issues as abuse reforms stall
Ahead of the 2026 meeting, reporting found SBC leaders seeking to move past the abuse crisis with key reforms unfinished.
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Judge dismisses Johnny Hunt's final defamation claim
The court rejected Hunt's last remaining claim against Bart Barber, ruling Hunt was a public figure who failed to show actual malice.
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Johnny Hunt appeals dismissal of defamation suit to Sixth Circuit
Hunt filed a notice of appeal after the district court dismissed all his claims against the SBC, Guidepost and Barber.