Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Current lawsuits involve two individuals featured prominently in SATF report

  • May 22, 2022
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News, SBC, Sexual Abuse Investigation Archive
Hannah Kate Williams hears a response to her question at the February 2022 meeting of the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville..
(Photo by Van Payne/The Baptist Paper)

Current lawsuits involve two individuals featured prominently in SATF report

As Southern Baptists review and unpack the report released today (May 22) by the Sexual Abuse Task Force, at least two lawsuits involving individuals featured prominently in the report remain active.

Williams lawsuit

One is by survivor Hannah Kate Williams, who filed a lawsuit Aug. 16, 2021, in Kentucky’s Franklin Circuit Court in which she alleges years of abuse by her Baptist pastor father, James Ray Williams.

Williams names 12 defendants and alleges that “since her advocacy began” the powers in the Southern Baptist Convention have intentionally and concertedly acted to silence her, lie about her, and deny her truth.”

In the suit, Williams names 12 defendants, including the SBC Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lifeway Christian Resources, Williams’ father and eight other SBC figures, including Hershael York, dean of of the school of theology at Southern Seminary, and Pastor Mike Stone, former EC chair and candidate for SBC president in 2021.

She alleges the defendants were part of a “conspiracy to silence her or frame her as a liar, charlatan or crazy person” and deny her story as she advocated for herself and other survivors.

Williams’ story alleges physical and sexual abuse by her father beginning when she was 4 or 5 years old and continuing until she first left home at 16.

During the early years, her father was both a student and an employee of Southern Seminary, where he was jointly employed by Lifeway to run the campus bookstore. He went on to serve as pastor of several SBC churches.

Pressler lawsuit

In an ongoing legal battle in Texas, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in April that a lawsuit filed by Duane Rollins against Paul Pressler, a prominent Southern Baptist often referred to as “co-architect of the conservative resurgence,” could proceed.

Pressler fought the suit, claiming the statute of limitations had expired.

Rollins, a former assistant to Pressler, claims Pressler sexually abused him beginning when Rollins was 14 and a member of Pressler’s Bible study. The abuse continued into Rollins’ adult years.

According to court documents, Rollins and Pressler had “an altercation in a Dallas hotel room” in 2003 that led to an assault lawsuit, which was settled. As part of that $450,000 settlement, Pressler agreed to pay Rollins $1,500 per month for 25 years as “long as the confidentiality of this agreement is maintained.”

Rollins testified that it took years for him to realize what had happened to him was abuse.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Church in Indonesia continues to worship despite threats to disperse
    Church in Indonesia continues to worship despite threats to disperse
    March 25, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Edith Mitchell continues to serve the Lord at age 101
    Edith Mitchell continues to serve the Lord at age 101
    March 25, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • SWBTS Old Testament research professor dies at 79
    SWBTS Old Testament research professor dies at 79
    March 24, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Church in Indonesia continues to worship despite threats to disperse

A church in West Java Province, Indonesia refused to yield to Muslim intruders’ attempts to stop their worship service on Sunday (March 19), Morning Star

Edith Mitchell continues to serve the Lord at age 101

 At 101 years old, Edith Mitchell has always had a passion for music and serving the Lord.   Mitchell, who resides in Mountain Home, Arkansas, started

SWBTS Old Testament research professor dies at 79

Helmuth Pehlke, senior research professor of Old Testament at Bibelseminar Bonn, the German-based partnering seminary of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, died March 22. He was

Churches, don’t miss the ministry of first impressions

I visit a lot of churches in my work. A few weeks ago, during a visit to Shepherd Church in the Los Angeles area, led

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel