Sexual Abuse

round 1992, attorney Richard Hammar, who founded Church Law & Tax, published one of the first child and youth protection resources for churches: Reducing the Risk. This abuse prevention material was based on research that Hammar had conducted starting in the 1980s determining that sexual abuse was one of the top legal issues for churches and ministries.

WASHINGTON (BP) – U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, both Southern Baptists, joined others at a press conference Jan. 14 urging federal authorities to block interstate abortion pill prescriptions.

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.

CLEVELAND, Ga. — Former Truett McConnell University vice president Brad Reynolds has been indicted by a White County grand jury on three felony counts of making false statements to law enforcement, according to court records and officials.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (BP) – A Missouri church youth leader has been arrested on sexual abuse related charges.

WILMINGTON, Ohio (BP) – An Ohio pastor was arrested on abuse-related charges earlier this month.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas (BP) – A former worship pastor and Christian music singer who shared his testimony of physical challenges is facing charges of distributing child pornography.

GLOUCESTER CO., Va. (BP) – A Virginia church is cooperating with authorities over a second case of unlawful sexual conduct by a former leader in as many months.

NASHVILLE (BP) – Jeff Dalrymple, director of Abuse Prevention & Response at the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, envisions churches where agape love is so prevalent that abuse of any kind would be unthinkable.

HOUSTON (BP) – Houston Christian University, formerly Houston Baptist University, has terminated the employment of Jay “Bobby” Spencer, associate provost for online learning. HCU is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.