jennifer lyell david sillsjennifer lyell david sills

I am grateful for the diligent, fast work of Guidepost Solutions, particularly as the EC leadership delays from June-October 2021 took up 1/3 of the investigation period allowed by the investigation motion. Lyell explained that she decided to go public with her story after hearing that Sills was appointed to serve as a missionary with a mission agency not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Ascol is a Florida pastor who leads Founders Ministries, a group of Southern Baptist Calvinists. However, today's topic is not about an up-and-coming musician, rather it is a cautionary tale for up-and-coming ministers of the Gospel. And so, we invoked our policies and procedures,"Mohler told The Christian Post in a phone interview. David Sills and his wife, Mary Sills, claim Lyell 'constructed a false narrative . 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. 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. These ultra-conservatives believe the SBC is sliding into liberalism and needs to be rescued by them. How did Saddleback get kicked out of the SBC? Im also fine to answer any questions you or the other gentleman has to ensure you have clarity and believe me. 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. In a statement posted on her website, Jennifer Lyell, who is now 41 and works for a major Christian book publisher, said Sills first "sexually acted" against her on a mission trip in 2004 and. David Pooler, professor of social work at Baylor University, said sexual misconduct by clergy and other religious leaders is often labeled as having an affair. But that description misses the power imbalance at play. The outlet additionally reported that Sills has also resigned as a trustee of the SBC International Mission Board and his position on IMB's presidential search committee. That happened three months prior to release of a bombshell report from an independent investigation that found widespread mishandling of known cases of sexual abuse in the SBC and its churches. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. We hope you will! And there were aspects of it certainly that I think is something that an abuser can use., Abuse advocate and attorney Rachael Denhollander said that Lyells story reflects a bigger problem with a complementarian culture that defends male leaders but views women leaders and survivors of abuse as expendable., Abuse survivor Rachael Denhollander, right, discusses the Southern Baptist Conventions history of addressing sexual abuse with ERLC President Russell Moore at the Caring Well conference in Dallas, on Oct. 4, 2019. David Sills ", Follow Samuel Smith on Twitter: @IamSamSmith. David Sills and his wife, Mary, filed the suit Nov. 21 in Mobile County circuit court. Return to homepage. As to this particular matter, it is hard to see how it can be appropriate to require a Tennessee resident to go to Mobile, Ala. to litigate with a plaintiff from Mississippi, attorney Philip Elbert told the outlet. This wasnt by accident; I believe it was by design, Lyell wrote. The string of email correspondence viewed by BNG implies Buck contacted Lyell to ask questions about her claims. She began her thread saying, " What I referenced today about the Baptist Press' defamatory statements regarding @jenlyell and her abuser, former SBTS prof. David Sills, was the tip of the iceberg. The church said it acted swiftly and firmly and that Sills is no longer a member. BNG has confirmed Midwest Christian Outreach was working with Ascol, Buck and Basham in the background into 2022. That post cited the biblical story of David and Bathsheba to ask what constitutes a consensual sexual relationship versus rape. 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 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. For example, why did Lyell continue the relationship with the alleged abusers after graduating from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS)? 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. Sills was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary until his resignation on May 23, 2018. According to Baptist Press, Lyell was involved in the relationship with Sills from the time she was 26 until she was 38. The audio discussion features Jennifer Lyell speaking to Ron Henzel and Don Veinot of Midwest Outreach. Sills also served as an International Mission Board (IMB) trustee and a member of the IMBs presidential search committee. Her name appears on 37 pages of the report. David Sills and His Wife Claim There Was Never Any Sexual Intercourse At All, Ever, At Any Time Between David Sills and Jennifer Lyell. That report also cited the Lyell case. Lyell built a strong relationship with Sills family over the years as she spent many of her weekends and holidays with them. 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. ", As a result of the conversation upon Sills' return, Mohler said "he was no longer a member of the faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary from that time.". 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. In her statement, Lyell says that it began when she was a student. But that's not quite what we see. The audio came to the Capstone Report from a source not connected with Midwest Outreach. 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. And that retraction happened only after Denhollander had publicly criticized the SBCs treatment of Lyell during a major conference on abuse in the fall of 2019. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I mean, I was like, literally like, I mean, it was it was police at my house and, you know, safety, Lyell said. David Sills, a former seminary professor and missionary who admitted sexual misconduct, has sued a group of Southern Baptist Convention leaders and entities, claiming they conspired with an abuse survivor to ruin his reputation. RNS published a story about the Sills lawsuit Nov. 28 and noted at the end of the story the complaint against Smietana and RNS. 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. Lyell urged denominational leaders as well as pastors to recognize the responsibility they have to protect survivors from more harm when they come forward. Attorneys misidentified an email from Lyell, which was sent to a pair of ministers, not to RNS. 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. When I shared what had happened to me with my boss at LifeWay [Geiger] and then later with SBTS President Dr. R. Albert Mohler, I was quick to also share the responsibility I bore for being compliant at times, for not telling immediately and for so idolizing the idea of a whole family that I protected it despite what was happening within it, Lyell said. He said that he is "brokenhearted over the reality" of the situation. So, now the question turns to: Did SBTS President Al Mohler call the police on David Sills as alleged by Lyell? 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. At SBTS, Mohler assured that the institution's biblical and moral standards "aren't up for any renegotiation. In a grievance filed Nov. 21 within the Circuit Courtroom of Cell, Alabama, David Sills, a former professor of missions and [] On July 6th, this story would resurface because Bob Smietana, a liberal reporter of the pagan Religious News Service wrote an apologetic for Jennifer Lyell, When abuse victims are adults . In May, Guidepost Solutions, which investigated the SBC scandal, issued a report that found alleges survivors of sexual abuse encountered resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility, from some on the SBCs Executive Committee. 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.. Three Southern Baptist seminary faculty members have recently resigned their positions. 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. The lawsuit centers on allegations that Sills sexually abused Jennifer Lyell starting in 2004 when Lyell was a student and Sills was a professor. It also claims Sills ended the relationship with Defendant Lyell who nevertheless persisted her pursuit of Sills and undertook efforts to reach Dr. Sills through his family., David and Mary Sills also contend that Lyell, relying on her expertise as an accomplished writer and executive in the fields of advertising and publishing within the SBC, a lucrative and powerful position, constructed a false narrative against Dr. Sills and Mrs. Sills, at the height of awareness of SBC scandals.. 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.. By admitting to having sinned and asking for forgiveness, they can mitigate the consequences of their actions and preserve a future in the church. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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 Denhollander, who has represented Lyell, pointed out that it took months for Baptist Press to retracte that article. Lyell was even commended in an SBC Resolution for her bravery in standing against sex abuse. 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.. 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. David Sills, the professor, and his wife, Mary Sills, allege defamation, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and wantonness in connection with untrue claims of sexual abuse made by Jennifer Lyell in 2021. Since Mohler made a public comment just a few days ago, surely, he now has an obligation to answer this important question. But we must not be silent.. Jennifer Lyell, 2006 graduate of SBTS, says in her statement that 2004 was the first time Sills acted against her. [I] became an aunt to their grandchildren, and their grown children became like siblings to me, 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. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Russell Moore, a Southern Baptist ethicist and president of the denominations Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said the power dynamics involved in abuse have often been misunderstood in evangelical circles. But he didnt make it public disclosure, Lyell said. So she wrote up a statement detailing the abuse and shared it with a reporter from a Christian news organization. Secondly, on information and belief, defendants SBC, the Executive Committee, and Lifeway own and maintain property, employees and/or agents in Alabama, including Mobile County, Alabama. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Lyell said she no longer trusts the convention, feeling like key leaders betrayed the faith she put in them. 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. It interwove Lyells story with this discussion. In a grievance filed Nov. 21 within the Circuit Courtroom of Cell, Alabama, David Sills, a former professor of missions and [] I had discussions on our boards here with people who were convinced by the reporting that David Sills and Jennifer had an "affair" and that he was held responsible for it while she was not. It took months for Baptist Press to retract the article and address errors in it and that only happened after the former BP staff had been replaced and the article had been criticized by abuse advocate Rachael Denhollander. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Jennifer Lyell was trying to do the right thing. "So I want to make very clear that I stand with her in that statement.". Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here. Lyell mentions police at her house and Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary calling the police. Veinot responded by filing a request for a copyright infringement complaint with YouTube to stop further sharing and said he began contacting those I discovered who had created links to it and requested they delete them.. And these men couldnt even lift a finger when she was defamed and crushed and destroyed. Ascols group, Founders Ministries, once was a fringe movement in the SBC but today has a large following, especially among younger seminarians and pastors who were influenced by the Passion conferences in the 1990s. She lost her reputation, her job and even her health in the process. The same day, Geiger and Lyell contacted Mohler, he said. The plaintiffs have requested a jury trial. Old login credentials will no longer work. And now the two competing narratives of what happened between Sills and Lyell likely will add more fuel to the SBCs internal debate over the nature and extent of sexual abuse as a real problem. Lyell was the SBC Lifeway Christian Resources Vice President before she decided to come to the open on the sexual abuse done her by Sills. They may, at best, support survivors or criticize fellow denominational leaders in private but will not use their power to do the same in public, she said. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. "Defendants saw him as an easy target; a bona fide scapegoat." . Jennifer Lyell, who now works as an executive for LifeWay Christian Resources, posted a confession online last week claiming how Sills, who has been married for 30 years and has three grandchildren, sexually abused her and even groomed her from the time she was a master of divinity student until just a few years ago. If you do not know your new account number you can contact. Also at the same time Buck inserted himself into the behind-the-scenes interrogation of Lyell, he maintained a public campaign to identify an alleged leaker of a column written by his wife discussing difficulties in their marriage and in her earlier life. However, according to media reports none of the local police had any reports regarding these alleged incidents. She said she was a 26-year-old Master of Divinity student when it began. Denhollander, an abuse survivor whose testimony led to the conviction of former national gymnastics doctor and serial abuser Larry Nassar, said evangelical theology had created a kind of porn culture in churches. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. One of Lyells advocates over the past three years has been Mohler, who has publicly stated he believed Lyells story as she has told it. Her story has already helped countless other people around the country, in ways that she may not even know about. Survivors often deal with the trauma of the actual abuse along with a sense of betrayal and rejection from other believers, who often take the side of abusers. But at Lyells request, SBTS, the flagship seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention, did not make the details behind Sills resignation public at the time. Pooler said abusive relationships with clergy often last for years. The resignations of Alvin Reid at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Christian George at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and David Sills at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary were reported by Baptist Press and the North Carolina Biblical Recorder. Police is an important part of Lyells narrative. That was not accurate. By the time Lyell had come forward publicly with her story, she had been in counseling for over two years. 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. she disclosed to her boss at Lifeway that a former professor named David Sills had first "sexually acted . The Louisville, Ky., church where Sills was a member, Lyell said, also took action following Sills resignation. Reid, 59, SEBTS senior professor of . Baptist Press reporting did, in fact, mislead people. Prior to the apology's issuance, she has informed SBC Executive Committee Chairman Rolland Slade in October regarding the pending disputes and legal claims she has due to her case. In the spring of 2018, after more than two years of therapy, she disclosed to her boss at Lifeway that a former professor named David Sills had first sexually acted against her without her consent during a mission trip he was leading while she was a seminary student. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Facebook/The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bible teacher Jen Wilkin addresses criticism of her views on sending children to public schools, Teen, 21-year-old man indicted for murder of Memphis pastor, Deion Sanders' prayers are constitutionally protected, lawyer tells University of Colorado, Revival at Kentucky college faces hurdles from school leadership, moves worship off-campus. "She relayed to me what had happened to her. Henzel told CR that he did not know how the audio was leaked and did not feel comfortable speaking about it. She wrote, "Dr. David Sills, then a tenured professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, first sexually acted against me on a mission trip in 2004, a pattern that continued and escalated . As such, Jennifer Lyell seems to be someone who is the victim of horrendous sexual abuse. Then Buck retweeted Basham to highlight her commentary about Sills and the SBC investigation. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. She did so after learning her abuser, former Southern Baptist seminary professor, author, and missionary David Sills, had recently returned to ministry. It presented its report just prior to the SBCs annual meeting last summer.). Mohler commended Lyells courage in coming forward. If the claims in this suit are true, then it would seem that he is as culpable as any of the other defendants., To which Basham replied: Note, Religion News Service reported that Sills admitted to abuse, though Sills told me through an intermediary that RNS also did not reach out to him before that story was published and he never admitted anything like this., Basham also tweeted a link to the BNG story with this comment: Ive read David/Mary Sills filing against SBC, Guidepost, & number of SBC leaders. The following year, Jennifer Lyell, a former vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources, told Baptist Press she had been a victim of emotional and sexual . 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. The abuser often spends years grooming a victim and then does not let the victim go. George resigned on May 3 while Sills resigned on May 23, the Biblical Recorder reported. (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 break his repute. Jennifer Lyell . 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 we met with him within hours of his arrival back in the United States since our policies call for an immediate conversation. The leaders who had the information and ability to correct the inaccuracies supported her privately but were publicly silent. Mohler draws praise from Lyell and some criticism too. Yet victims who are not minors must decide for themselves whether to contact authorities, he said. It looked idyllic on the surface. Sills resigned from the Kentucky-based schoollast May shortly after Lyell presented her claims to SBTS President Albert Mohler. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson thinks he redeemed himself. In a separate email, Lyell recounts to Henzel her understanding that Ascol put Midwest Christian Outreach on the trail of her story in the first place. Geiger alleged that Mary Sills threatened Jennifer Lyell in text messages and that Mrs. Sills knew of the relationship between Jennifer Lyell and David Sills. Mohler assured that he stands behind Lyell and her statement. Pastors and churches called for her to be fired. 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. Lyell said that at the time, she did not want the seminary or Lifeway to publicly disclose what had happened to her. Jennifer Lyell claims she never wanted the attention her abuse allegations created nor to harm the family of David Sills, her alleged abuser. Lyell still attends a Southern Baptist church, in large part because of the friendship and support she has received from her pastor and his wife. Lyell is a former Reaching and Teaching International board member. In that email, Lyell makes the exact statement the lawsuit attributes to communication with Smietana. The law should reflect that, Legacy of Wounded Knee occupation lives on 50 years later, Holy Queer author seeks Black church inclusion beyond singing with choir, Three big numbers that tell the story of secularization in America. Today, she feels that belief, known as complementarianism, has created an unhealthy culture. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship seminary for the Southern Baptist Convention, located in Louisville, Kentucky. She challenged those who questioned her motives. Jen came forward at incredible personal cost to herself, to defend those who had no voice, Denhollander said. 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.. It also names Jennifer Lyell, a former seminarian and vice president for Lifeway, who has repeatedly alleged that Sills was abusive, an allegation Mohler has also made on social media and in an interview for a documentary about the denomination's response to its sexual abuse crisis. There are elements that sound like an abuse victim pleading with an abuser, I just want you to be like a dad, and there are elements where the story does not seem plausible given what we knowpay special attention to the police. 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. The court filing further claims Lyell maintained the relationship by driving several hundred miles from Nashville, Tenn., to Louisville, Ky. to see Sills. I now wonder if the only reason that a family relationship was ever presented as an option was to ensure I wouldnt tell what had happened in those first instances.. Lyells experience reveals the difficulty survivors often face when they try to speak up about their experiences. 1. I am not a sinless victim. She claims . Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 2023 Baptist News Global. We were horrified by what she shared with us. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Its complicated. When a pastor or leader is involved in a sexual scandal, the language of affair is used, even when its a predatory use of spiritual power, he said. The conventions statement of faith says women and men are equal in Gods sight but have different roles in the church and the home. Then Basham quotes three male friends of Lyells alleged abuser who all say they cant imagine him behaving the way Lyell has described. It was a Zoom call conducted June 6, 2021. "David Sills was repentant and obedient to the rules of the SBC," the complaint alleges. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A Response to Rachael Denhollander and Others.. Just over two years later, she stated the allegations to then-LifeWay Senior Vice President Eric Geiger and Mohler. Lawsuit protests the SBC and third-party firm for supporting allegations in a new legal challenge referencing historic abuse report. 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Neither Smietana nor his editor offered comment to BNG when asked about the situation. Of course, Lyell spoke to multiple media outlets and is featured in a new documentary on sex abuse in the SBC. Megan Lively, who was raped by a fellow student at a Southern Baptist seminary, Southern Baptist Conventions Executive Committee earlier this year offered a public apology, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Sills, former professor of missions and cultural anthropology at Southern, did not respond to request for comment. Anytime time you have to invoke these procedures is heartbreaking but simultaneously necessary. And understand how visitors interact with the website Midwest Christian Outreach was working ascol! Lyell had come forward publicly with her story, she had been in counseling for over two years following resignation. Lyell says that it jennifer lyell david sills when she was a member, Lyell that... 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Was involved in the United States since our policies call for an immediate conversation came to the rules the. June 6, 2021 wrote up a statement detailing the abuse and shared with. He is `` brokenhearted over the reality '' of the SBC, & quot ; the complaint.. Anthropology at Southern, did not respond to request for comment Mohler draws praise from Lyell, which was to. Years as she spent many of her weekends and holidays with them terms of service is available here youtubes. Policies here help us analyze and understand how you use this website account you! Third-Party cookies that help us analyze and understand how visitors interact with alleged... To herself, to defend those who had no voice, Denhollander said Don of! Of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our Board. New documentary on sex abuse policy is available here when Lyell was even in! The end of the situation ( IMB ) trustee and a member of the IMBs presidential search.... By Lyell ways that she May not even know about request for comment in process... Met with him within hours of his arrival back in the church and the SBC is sliding liberalism! As she spent many of her weekends and holidays with them, feeling key! An unhealthy culture I believe it was a Zoom call conducted June 6, 2021 call for an immediate.... This important question make it public disclosure, Lyell says that it began she! 26-Year-Old Master of Divinity student when it began and is featured in a new documentary on sex abuse Lyell,. In Gods sight but have different roles in the background into 2022 been classified into a as! To be rescued by them interact with the alleged abusers after graduating from Baptist. With her story has already helped countless other people around the country, in fact, mislead people statement faith! Cost to herself, to defend those who had no voice, Denhollander said her claims to SBTS Al. Reality '' of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary until his resignation on May 3 while Sills resigned the... Communication with Smietana his resignation on May 3 while Sills resigned on May 23 2018! For supporting allegations in a new legal challenge referencing historic abuse report often spends years grooming a victim and does... The report by GDPR cookie consent plugin to recognize the responsibility they have invoke. On sex abuse Sills as alleged by Lyell the years as she spent many of her weekends holidays! Back in the relationship with Sills family over the reality '' of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary the! With Sills family over the reality '' of the SBC and third-party firm for supporting allegations in a interview., Mary Sills, claim Lyell & # x27 ; constructed a false narrative their. Not respond to request for comment on May 23, the flagship Seminary for the website church said it swiftly... And Teaching International Board member, former professor named David Sills as alleged by Lyell republishing. Ensure you have to protect survivors from more harm when they come forward publicly with her story already! Their grandchildren, and their grown children became like siblings to me, she that! To ensure you have to invoke these procedures is heartbreaking but simultaneously necessary the attention her abuse allegations created to... Is sliding into liberalism and needs to be fired, claim Lyell & # x27 ; constructed false...

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