SBC Executive Committee Says No Charges Following Federal Investigation

March 7, 2024

An 18 month federal investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has wrapped up with no charges or action being taken. Christianity Today reports that the country’s largest Protestant denomination had been under investigation by the Justice Department following a 2022 report alleging abuse by pastors.

The Executive committee was accused of failing to respond to allegations of abuse and failure to enact protective policies due to legal liabilities. The committee oversees day to day business for the SBC from its Nashville headquarters and with dozens of elected trustees from across the country.

Members of the Executive Committee were informed last Thursday that the federal investigation was concluding “with no further action to be taken.”

According to Christianity Today, the Justice Dept. has not publicly acknowledged or commented on the investigation since it began in 2022. Presidents of each of the SBC’s seminaries and agencies had signed a letter agreeing to cooperate with the Department of Justice and to “transparently address the scourge of sexual abuse.”

Jonathan Howe, interim president of the Executive Committee stated, “While we are grateful for closure on this particular matter, we recognize that sexual abuse reform efforts must continue to be implemented across the Convention. We remain steadfast in our commitment to assist churches in preventing and responding well to sexual abuse in the SBC.”

The Tennessean reports that legal expenses have cost the Executive Committee $2.8 million in the previous fiscal year and that some layoffs were instituted due in part to the costs of the response to abuse allegations.

Photo: Top, Credit: Jae C. Hong/AP