Southern Baptist leaders apologize to sex abuse survivor

Source: Associated Press

Southern Baptist leaders apologize to sex abuse survivor

By DEEPA BHARATH
February 22, 2022

The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee has offered a public apology and a confidential monetary settlement to sexual abuse survivor Jennifer Lyell, who was mischaracterized by the denomination’s in-house news service when she decided to go public with her story in March 2019.

The committee, which acts on behalf of the SBC between its annual national meetings, announced the resolution during their Tuesday meeting in Nashville, the latest chapter in a saga that has raised questions about the handling of sexual abuse in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. In addition to a public apology, Lyell also received a financial settlement of an undisclosed amount, according to Gene R. Besen, the committee’s interim legal counsel.

Lyell publicly disclosed she was a sexual abuse survivor after learning the man she accused of abuse, a former Southern Baptist seminary professor, had recently returned to ministry. She said she came forward with her story to prevent the man from engaging in further abusive acts.

However, Baptist Press, which is owned by the Executive Committee, incorrectly reported that Lyell had admitted to being involved in a “morally inappropriate relationship” with her former professor.

In a statement posted on social media in October 2019, Lyell talked about the harassment she experienced on social media after that Baptist Press report. ...

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/religion-nashville-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-sexual-abuse-baptist-3c890a675a018d1e3d83839d2834818f