A federal judge has postponed a jury trial in a lawsuit filed by a former Baptist seminary professor David Sills and his wife, Mary, against the Southern Baptist Convention and other defendants.
U.S. District Judge William Campbell canceled the trial slated for Feb. 10, and ordered the parties to propose new dates for the second half of 2026, citing eight pending motions for summary judgment. The order was issued Dec. 15.
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Sills, a former professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, filed suit in November 2022. He alleged “defamation, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and wantonness concerning untrue claims of sexual abuse.” The case stems from Sills’ long-term sexual relationship with former student Jennifer Lyell, who alleged the relationship was abusive. Sills has said it was consensual. Lyell died in June at age 47 after a series of massive strokes.
Other defendants in the case include Guidepost Solutions, Southern Seminary, the seminary’s president Albert Mohler, former SBC presidents Ed Litton and Bart Barber and former SBC Executive Committee leaders Willie McLaurin and Rolland Slade.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This report is a summary of a story written by Baptist Press.
