But he didnt make it public disclosure, Lyell said. Lyell told RNS that at first, she did receive a great deal of support from Southern Baptist leaders when she told them about the abuse she experienced. Lyell sent a statement to both BNG and RNS: I do not need to be under oath to tell the truth and there are no lies that will shake my certainty about what is true. I now realize that despite SBTS handling the situation justly and as I asked without stating the reason for his resignation it led to the exact kind of scenario the SBC is now trying to prevent, she said. Lyell decided to make her allegations public, she said, when she learned that Dr. Sills had been appointed as a missionary with a non-SBC missions agency.. Based on the credible [Baptist Press report], which I learned of on Friday evening, we suspended inclusion of Sillss book on our site as we did more investigation, InterVarsity Press Publisher Jeff Crosby told CP in an email. The Southern Baptist Convention would pass Resolution 6 which acknowledged Jennifer Lyell as an abuse survivor and therefore labeling David Sills as an abuser. We must clearly tell the truth so that our churches and ministries are safe and as pure as they can be.. Tom Ascol, Tom Buck and Megan Basham tweeted about the Sills lawsuit and accused not only Lyell, but also Religion News Service reporter Bob Smietana who has covered the SBCs sexual abuse situation for years of misconduct. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In her post, the 41-year-old Lyell said that the tenured professor of missions and cultural anthropology first sexually acted against her during a mission trip in 2004. Want to share a story? She mentions them many times during this recording. The Complaint does not hid and it does not disappoint. The group has no apparent connections to the SBC, and its interview with Lyell seems outside its stated purpose. Mohler did that. In February, the top-ranked Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) did something that's almost unprecedented: they apologized and offered a monetary settlement to Jennifer Lyell, who for years had been abused by an SBC seminary professor. At SBTS, Mohler assured that the institution's biblical and moral standards "aren't up for any renegotiation. The reason that a professor was able to continue grooming and taking advantage of his student was because I became like part of his family. RELATED: Jennifer Lyell wanted to stop her abuser by . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. And so, we invoked our policies and procedures,"Mohler told The Christian Post in a phone interview. Except the pattern of inappropriate sexual activity continued throughout the relationship., Lyell wrote that when she presented her claims to Mohler, she also shared the responsibility" for being compliant at times and for idolizing the idea of a whole family., I protected [the family] despite what was happening within it, she wrote. Lyell, who served as vice president of LifeWay Christian Resources, posted a confession in 2018 claiming how Sills, who has been married for over 30 years, sexually abused her and groomed her. The ex-Southern Baptist Convention seminary professor accused of sexual abuse by his former student filed a defamation suit in Alabama against her and several SBC entities, claiming the allegations were part of an SBC attempt to improve its image in the wake of the sexual abuse coverup scandal. In a filing made in the Mobile, Ala., Circuit Court, David Sills, former pastor of now-closed Woodland Hills Church, Jackson, and his wife Mary Sills allege "defamation, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and wantonness concerning untrue claims of sexual abuse" initiated by Jennifer Lyell, with whom David Sills If you do not know your new account number you can contact. Then the bulk of the article picks apart Lyells assertion she was held emotionally captive in an abusive relationship with Sills over a period of years a sexual relationship Lyell insists was not consensual. Ensuring that is my top priority.". David Sills | MOODY PUBLISHERS We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. And for so long, people have been unable to understand those categories., RELATED: The cost for coming forward one survivors life after #MeToo. So, now the question turns to: Did SBTS President Al Mohler call the police on David Sills as alleged by Lyell? According to Lyell, the reason she waited so long to come forward with her claims is because she was afraid that her coming forward could cause collateral damage impacting people she loved. However, Ascol, Basham and Buck were copied on the email, and in another email, Lyell indicates Basham had accessed the video without Lyells knowledge or permission. Photo via Baylor University. Lyell was labeled on social media as an adulteress rather than an abuse survivor, with users leaving scores of vile comments about her on Lifeways Facebook page and the Baptist Press website. The audio came to the Capstone Report from a source not connected with Midwest Outreach. Mohler said his encouragement from the start in any case such as this is that authorities be contacted and that only law enforcement should judge whether laws may have been violated in such situations. If not, why not? Why so much outrage over the burning of an LGBT Pride flag? Lyell explains why she had not confronted Lumpkins because of Lumpkins history with Lifeway and her personal issues. In addition to being missionaries to these groups it is also our purpose to train and equip those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ, his death, burial and physical resurrection, for their salvation to do the same., At one point last summer, Henzel sent two emails to Ascol, asking him to communicate with elders at Lyells church about Henzels and Veinots concerns regarding Lyells wellness.. This is why the most egregious, cruel lies do not leave me without hope when those asserting them are reckless enough to do so in a form that not only allows my witness but provides a clear means by which it will be formally provided., Sills files suit against SBC and 11 other defendants, claiming his relationship with Lyell was consensual and he became a scapegoat in the SBCs sexual abuse crisis, Not everyone believes theres a sexual abuse crisis in the SBC, No, we will not take down an article you dont like | Opinion by Mark Wingfields, Guidepost report documents pattern of ignoring, denying and deflecting on sexual abuse claims in SBC, SBC Executive Committee publicly apologizes to sexual abuse survivor, SBC report shows how five words turn abuse victim from survivor to whore| Opinion by Marv Knox. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor David Sills resigned last year. Thereafter, Ms. Lyell engaged in an effort to restore her reputation and preserve her powerful position of doling out lucrative book deals, while affirmatively and skillfully dismantling the reputations, careers, and family life of David Sills and Mary Sills, the court filing states. Having known that I experienced sexual abuse growing up, Dr. Sills assured me that the first incidents that happened on that mission trip werent really my fault as I naturally felt even though I had not initiated them and was shocked as the actions took place., He explained they were because of what happened to me when I was a child. Our policies and procedures are clear and are consistently applied. Just over two years later, she stated the allegations to then-LifeWay Senior Vice President Eric Geiger and Mohler. In the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that she was a survivor of sexual abuse. UPDATE #1: Shortly after this article was published, Jennifer Lyell graciously reached out to us and provided crucial details of her case both to me and to Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc. President Don Veinot. First, the defendants widely circulated their herein-described defamatory lies about Dr. and Mrs. Sills throughout Mobile County and the state of Alabama. Sills local church, Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville, confirmed to Baptist Press that Sills is no longer a member and that the church acted swiftly and firmly after hearing the accusations. I deeply regret that anyone could have been led to conclude that it was consensual based on what I wrote.. In his lawsuit filed Nov. 21, Sills claimed Lyells allegedly false claims were repeated in SBC media as an opportunity to improve the appearance and reputation SBCs handling of abuse cases and made him a bona fide scapegoat.. Once the person gets access, they keep that access, he said. For example, why did Lyell continue the relationship with the alleged abusers after graduating from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS)? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Mohler should have said, Now, Jennifer, thats not a promise I can make you like, we need to do whats right for the kingdom, Lyell said. Jennifer Lyell Lyell previously was a vice president at Lifeway, which is located in Nashville, Tenn. She voluntarily agreed to an interview with Baptist Press in 2019, by her account hoping her story would encourage other survivors of sexual abuse to come forward. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. (RNS) A former seminary professor and missionary who admitted sexual misconduct has sued a gaggle of Southern Baptist Conference leaders and entities, claiming they conspired with an abuse survivor to damage his repute. All this played out as the SBC addressed the independent report of Guidepost Solutions about a long-term pattern of ignoring or mishandling known cases of sexual abuse in SBC churches and agencies. In essence, defendants saw an opportunity to improve the appearance and reputation of SBCs handling of abuse cases, long under fire, even though there had not been any legitimate and proper investigation into the allegations, nor was Dr. Sills adequately informed of the specific nature and extent of accusations made by Lyell.. But we must not be silent. Ascol, Buck and Basham are not newcomers to critiquing Lyell and Smietana. While churches say they want to care for survivors of abuse, those survivors are often viewed with suspicion, having to prove they are worthy of compassion and respect. The abuser often spends years grooming a victim and then does not let the victim go. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Jennifer Lyell was trying to do the right thing. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Sills contends he was made a scapegoat in a denomination reeling from other, larger claims of sexual abuse. However, in the new court filing he insists he did not sexually abuse Lyell, force himself upon Lyell, use violence against Lyell, threaten to use violence against Lyell or engage in sexual intercourse with Lyell at any time whatsoever., The filing says Sills acknowledges a personal and emotionally intimate relationship between the two but claims it was initiated by Lyell, who was well above the age of consent.. We say that we are not this hierarchy but in reality, we function like we are protecting the barracks of the Vatican, she said. . Jennifer Lyell claims she never wanted the attention her abuse allegations created nor to harm the family of David Sills, her alleged abuser. However, according to media reports none of the local police had any reports regarding these alleged incidents. After Denhollanders criticism, Baptist Press issued a statement, saying it had failed to convey that the heart of Lyells story was about sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power at a Southern Baptist seminary.. That report also cited the Lyell case. Guidepost and the SBC are two of 12 total defendants named in the lawsuit that revolves around allegations that David Sills sexually abused Jennifer Lyell starting in 2004, when Lyell was. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Jennifer Lyell was trying to do the right thing. In fact, the key facts alleged are right in the first few paragraphs: 1. There are plenty of reasons to stay silent in a situation such as this. she disclosed to her boss at Lifeway that a former professor named David Sills had first "sexually acted . Lyells claim that she was abused by David Sills while he was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary resulted in a controversial news story published by Baptist Press, the denominational news service, which portrayed the relationship as consensual. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Want to help your child build lasting, meaningful friendships? As I understand it, that is not accurate. A Response to Rachael Denhollander and Others.. This wasnt by accident; I believe it was by design, Lyell wrote. Scarsella, who also works with a nonprofit that advocates for abuse victims, noted that clergy abusers also often know how to use the theology of sin for their advantage. Now, David Sills and Mary Sills contend they have been smeared repeatedly in the process and seek monetary damages from the SBC; the SBC Executive Committee; former SBC President Ed Litton; current SBC President Bart Barber; Lyell; Lifeway Christian Resources; Eric Geiger, a former executive vice president at Lifeway; Willie McLaurin, interim president of the Executive Committee; Rolland Slade, former chairman of the Executive Committee; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Al Mohler, president of Southern Seminary; and Guidepost Solutions, the firm that conducted the independent investigation. The police issue is difficult because this would have been a call to the local SBTS area police in 2018. RELATED: At Caring Well conference, SBC leaders hear criticism of abuse response. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The suit was filed in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Ala., on Monday, Nov. 21. They also risk losing their relationships with everybody else who has a relationship with that person because when the chips fall, you dont know how theyre going to fall.. . As Veinot explains on the website: Our mission is to give clear answers, and a solid defense of the orthodox biblical faith, to all types of unbelievers atheists, agnostics, as well as members of cults and new religious groups such as the Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, the International Churches of Christ, and so on. One details Lyells complaint that the video of her interview with Midwest Christian Outreach that was supposed to be kept confidential had been shared with others, including Basham. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Jennifer Lyell, 2006 graduate of SBTS, says in her statement that 2004 was the first time Sills acted against her. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We were horrified by what she shared with us. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. Reaching and Teaching International told BP in a statement that they are aware of a statement by Lyell regarding her allegations and are committed to ensuring a culture of transparency and accountability., Lyell said, It is my hope that my story, one in which a SBC entity and its leaders acted swiftly and justly but in which that same individual was also in a ministry position only months later, will also help to illustrate the need for some form of a reporting tool that can ensure that those who have victimized others from a ministry position are unable to ever do so again., (EDITOR'S NOTE This story has been edited by Biblical Recorder staff. Though 30 pages in length, the key facts allged are right on the first page. We hope you will! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. It looked idyllic on the surface. Then Buck retweeted Basham to highlight her commentary about Sills and the SBC investigation. The same day, Geiger and Lyell contacted Mohler, he said. She did so after learning her abuser, former Southern Baptist seminary professor, author, and missionary David Sills, had recently returned to ministry. She graduated from Southern with a master of divinity in 2006 and enrolled in an SBTS doctoral program for one year after that. Photo by Karen Race Photography 2019. The campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship seminary for the Southern Baptist Convention, located in Louisville, Kentucky. "As the official news service for the Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press should be known for integrity, truth and accuracy. The ex-Southern Baptist Convention seminary professor accused of sexual abuse by his former student filed a defamation suit in Alabama against her and several SBC entities, claiming the allegations. David Sills Bishop Scott Jones moves from extreme center of UMC to new Global Methodist Church, Jesus Revolution leaves out the tough stuff but gets the music right, From Super Bowl ads to Kentucky revivals, stop the Christian cannibalism, Holy Queer author seeks Black church inclusion beyond singing with choir, Its time to stop erasing Black Muslim Americans from the story of Islam in the US, Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors. ), We have changed software providers for our subscription database. We hope you will! Police is an important part of Lyells narrative. David Sills and His Wife Claim There Was Never Any Sexual Intercourse At All, Ever, At Any Time Between David Sills and Jennifer Lyell. Lyell, who served as vice president of LifeWay Christian Resources, posted a confession in 2018 claiming how Sills, who has been married for over 30 years, sexually abused her and groomed her. If I were not to come forward with this letter, a church or ministry who receives Dr. Sills CV and does an internet search for him would have no way to know the truth behind his resignation, she wrote. He said it is often easier for churches to blame victims than to look at the way they have empowered abusers. Lyell was even commended in an SBC Resolution for her bravery in standing against sex abuse. Baptist Press eventually apologized for the article, but Lyell said she had already been devastated by the repercussions of its inaccurate reporting. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. In the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that she was a survivor of sexual abuse. And Christian theology about sin and about the roles of men and women often makes it difficult for survivors who come forward. BNG has confirmed Midwest Christian Outreach was working with Ascol, Buck and Basham in the background into 2022. Nine months after The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) professor David Sills resigned for undisclosed reasons, a woman has released a statement of allegations including details of what she describes as sexual abuse by Sills, beginning while she was a Southern Seminary student. Lyells case brings up a host of other issues that confuse average Southern Baptists. All rights reserved. He did call the police. Such people have no fear of God, no interest in truth, no regard for justice, & no love for people. She said Lyell had repeatedly asked for the article to be corrected but her requests were denied and a number of Baptist leaders knew the story was wrong but failed to stand up for Lyell. This article has been updated with a statement from Lyell. Heaven will be diverse. It interwove Lyells story with this discussion. What Ascol, Buck and Sills share in common is adherence to an extreme version of Reformed theology, known as hyper-Calvinism, that has been on the resurgence in the SBC over the past 30 years. The lawsuit challenges what has been accepted as fact in one of the highest-profile cases in the web of allegations regarding mishandling of sexual abuse within the SBC. Apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site it was consensual on! Cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website difficult because this would been. Christian theology about sin and about the roles of men and women often it! 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Related: at Caring Well conference, SBC leaders hear criticism of abuse response difficult this... Available here and youtubes terms of service is available here terms of service is here... Consent plugin Sills | MOODY PUBLISHERS we also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you this! To conclude that it was consensual based on what I wrote Al Mohler call the police on Sills... It does not disappoint sexually acted victims than to look at the way they have empowered abusers those that being! Youll give us another try and check out some other articles if you purchase a product or register an... Years grooming a victim and then does not disappoint uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed have. Category as yet, according to media reports none of the links on site! With ascol, Buck and Basham are not newcomers to critiquing Lyell and Smietana also. Submit to this site years grooming a victim and then does not let the go... 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jennifer lyell david sills