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Jun 2, 2022
Southern Baptist Church leaders have released a once-secret list containing hundreds of pastors and church workers who have been accused of sexual abuse, according to an NBC News report.
The 205-page Southern Baptist list includes hundreds of entries from alleged cases dating back to 2000 and up to 2019. The release of the list comes in the wake of a damning 288-page investigative report detailing repeated inaction on the part of Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee members despite countless allegations of sexual abuse over multiple decades.
“The probe found that the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee had mishandled abuse claims and stonewalled survivors. The investigation was requested by the executive committee after it faced growing pressure for an external probe into abuse allegations,” NBC News reported.
The New York Times reported that the list of accused sex abusers “does not represent a complete tally of Southern Baptist offenders.” However, Gene Besen, interim counsel for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, reportedly said that the list was released as quickly as possible in an effort to support survivors.
“Promptly releasing that list is in our best interest, it’s important, it is of immediate concern to the public and to the survivor community, and we need to do it right away,” Besen told the committee.
A statement published on the Southern Baptist Church’s website noted that the list was being released “for the first time as an initial, but important, step towards addressing the scourge of sexual abuse.”
“Each entry in this list reminds us of the devastation and destruction brought about by sexual abuse,” the statement said.
“Our prayer is that the survivors of these heinous acts find hope and healing, and that churches will utilize this list proactively to protect and care for the most vulnerable among us,” the statement added.
A hotline maintained by Guidepost Solutions, the consulting firm that conducted the investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse against the Southern Baptist Church, has been opened for survivors or their loved ones to report allegations.
Survivors may access resources through Guidepost via 202-864-5578 or SBChotline@guidepostsolutions.com.
The firm told NBC News that callers will be provided with support options and connected with advocates.
Guidepost also told NBC that the hotline was created as a “stopgap measure for survivors” until an SBC annual meeting in Anaheim, California, in June can “pass even more meaningful reforms.”
The full list containing 703 names of accused Southern Baptist pastors and church workers is available here.
Sexual abuse civil lawsuits may be brought in an effort to recover financial compensation for various types of losses endured by survivors of the Southern Baptist Church. Certain compensatory damages may be pursued and recovered through a civil claim, such as:
Dordulian Law Group’s (DLG) sexual abuse lawyers are dedicated to fighting aggressively on behalf of all survivors to secure any applicable financial damages and successfully obtain maximum settlements or verdicts for their claims.
For sexual abuse claims involving minors, many states have implemented revival windows similar to California’s AB 218, which currently allows any survivor of a childhood sex crime the opportunity to file a civil lawsuit seeking financial compensation through the end of 2022.
For a complete listing of state revival windows, please visit our recent blog.
DLG was founded by Sam Dordulian, a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County. As a premier sexual abuse firm serving survivors across the nation, DLG offers a unique four-tiered representation structure known as the SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts).
DLG’s SAJE Team includes:
Our Sexual Assault Justice Experts are here to help survivors secure justice. Contact our top-rated attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.
DLG’s dedicated and aggressive advocacy on behalf of sexual abuse survivors is evident through our proven results. For a free and confidential consultation regarding your sexual abuse lawsuit, contact a member of DLG’s SAJE Team today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM.
Our team of sexual abuse lawyers have secured more than $200,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for survivors while maintaining a 98% success record. When you’re ready to pursue justice on your own terms following a sexual abuse incident, we’re here to fight tirelessly as your dedicated legal advocates.
Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.
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