SBC Abuse Survivors Demand Apology From Willy Rice and Jack Graham Over ‘Hoax’ Claims

A group of clergy sex abuse survivors and advocates is calling on Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Willy Rice and prominent SBC Pastor Jack Graham to apologize for labeling the SBC clergy sex abuse crisis as a hoax. In an open letter to Rice and Graham, 86 signers, including Jules Woodson, Tiffany Thigpen, Dave Pittman, Rachael Denhollander, Karen Swallow Prior, and Boz Tchividjian, urge them to apologize for “alleging in various interviews that the Southern Baptist Convention survivors are ‘woke’ and are part of a ‘liberal’ plan to bring down the SBC.”

The SBC has been addressing its sexual abuse crisis for several years. At the 2022 meeting of the denomination, church delegates, known as messengers, overwhelmingly voted to implement reforms for abuse prevention and reporting. This decision followed the denomination’s contract with Guidepost Solutions to conduct an independent investigation into whether the SBC’s Executive Committee (EC) had hindered reporting or covered up abuse allegations over a 20-year period. The resulting report revealed a pattern of ignoring and at times silencing survivors of sexual abuse.

One of the reforms mandated by the messengers was the creation of a “Ministry Check” website to serve as a database of SBC pastors and leaders who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. Despite sustained efforts by an implementation task force and no vote from messengers to revoke the mandate, the idea of a “Ministry Check” website has largely been abandoned by the EC.

In February 2025, Jeff Iorg, president of the EC, stated, “At this point, it’s not a focus for us.” Nevertheless, the EC has followed through on its promise to create a permanent office dedicated to implementing reforms for abuse prevention and reporting. In January 2025, Jeff Dalrymple was appointed head of that office.

In the run-up to the 2026 annual meeting of the SBC, several prominent leaders sought to cast doubt on the idea that sexual abuse has ever been a widespread problem for the denomination. Among them was Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Florida, who was then a candidate for SBC president. In an interview leading up to the vote, Rice said, “Abuse reform was used as a weapon.” In a social media post, Rice said, “There was no systemic issue.” Such statements have been widely criticized by abuse survivors and advocates as dismissive of the crisis.

The open letter from survivors and advocates reflects a growing demand for accountability and transparency within the SBC. The group calls for an acknowledgment of the harm caused by past failures and a commitment to meaningful reform. As the denomination continues to navigate its response to the crisis, the calls for apology and accountability highlight the need for humility and a commitment to justice, reflecting the biblical call to pursue righteousness and care for the vulnerable.

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