By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 5, 2026 at 3:41 PM
A Baylor University professor, Dr. David Pooler, is facing allegations of sexual, emotional, and professional misconduct. These allegations involve survivors of adult clergy sexual abuse, a community where Dr. Pooler conducts research and provides therapy. The allegations were brought to light by the Restored Voices Collective (RVC), a nonprofit organization supporting female survivors of adult clergy sexual abuse, where Dr. Pooler formerly served on the advisory board.
An independent investigation by the Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) found credible allegations of sexual misconduct against Dr. Pooler. The investigation, as reported by The Baylor Lariat, also identified credible allegations of emotional misconduct and professional boundary violations. The 30-page GRACE report is based on interviews with 18 witnesses, reviews of 39 documents, social media posts, and 41 survey responses, and direct conversations with Dr. Pooler.
The investigation detailed allegations from three survivors, including a former Baylor student who conducted research under Dr. Pooler. The GRACE report highlights the concerns raised by these survivors and corroborating information from additional witnesses. As of the latest update, Dr. Pooler remains listed as a professor on Baylor University’s website and continues to work as a licensed clinical social worker in Texas, focusing on religious trauma and spiritual abuse.
Dr. Pooler has not responded to requests for comment from The Chron or The Baylor Lariat. This situation underscores the importance of accountability and justice within communities, aligning with biblical principles such as those found in Micah 6:8, which calls for justice, mercy, and humility. As the community navigates this challenging situation, it is crucial to uphold truth and care for all affected, reflecting the call to love one’s neighbor and seek justice as outlined in Ephesians 5:11.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
