A pastor of an Arkansas Baptist church has stepped down amid an ongoing controversy over church leadership’s handling of abuse allegations.
Steven Smith, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, announced his departure from the church, effective April 7.
Smith, who has led the church since 2017, said in a statement released March 27 he hopes his decision will help “diffuse the current situation and allow Immanuel to heal.” The controversy stems from allegations of abuse against a child involving a former staff member, Patrick Stephen Miller, former assistant director of children’s ministry.
Apology
After a story ran in December in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Smith apologized to the congregation about not sharing information with them sooner. His apology came three months after another staff member resigned due to concerns of how Smith had handled another case of alleged abuse involving a former music ministry volunteer and a high school student.
Two church members reportedly have since filed complaints with the Southern Baptist Convention’s credentials committee, the Democrat-Gazette reported.
