Sisters sue Baptist church and owner Coastal Church over alleged sexual abuse by former youth group assistant

Two sisters are pursuing legal action against a Baptist church in Richmond and the company that now owns it, alleging that the church failed to stop a now-convicted youth group assistant from sexually abusing them on church property over a decade ago. The lawsuits, filed by a Virginia Beach-based law firm, claim the abuse occurred when the sisters were young children and resulted in long-term emotional and psychological harm.

The sisters, who are not named in the complaints, are seeking $150 million in damages each. They allege the abuse began in 2006 when they were about 6 and 10 years old and continued until 2009. The lawsuits name Bethany Place Church and Gerald Thomas as defendants, with Thomas identified as the youth group assistant who allegedly committed the abuse. The complaints also include Coastal Church, LLC, which now oversees the church network.

Coastal Church, based in Yorktown, manages a network of seven churches across Virginia. The Bethany Place Campus is in Northern Virginia, while the others are located in Hampton Roads. The complaints state that Coastal Church assumed responsibility for all existing and future liabilities when it acquired the church in 2023.

Gerald Thomas, 75, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual battery of both sisters in 2010 and for a similar charge involving another victim in 2020. The charges stem from his alleged sexual abuse of the sisters during his time at Bethany Place. The complaints describe incidents in which Thomas allegedly took one of the sisters to the church’s bathroom, locked them in a stall, and sexually abused her.

The sisters’ mother reportedly informed a church employee about Thomas’ behavior before the abuse was reported to a school counselor. The employee allegedly told the mother that Thomas would be removed from further interaction with children, but he continued to assist with youth group events. The complaints allege that Bethany Place never reported the abuse to authorities.

The lawsuits further accuse the church of failing to act on the mother’s concerns and of allowing the abuse to continue. The complaints describe a pattern of neglect and failure to protect minors, raising questions about the church’s accountability and governance. The case highlights the need for transparency and responsibility in institutions that serve children.

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