Southern Baptist Convention Named in Class-Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Child Safety Failures at South Carolina Church

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and its Executive Committee have been named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit involving Pawleys Island Community Church in South Carolina. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, alleges that church leadership allowed a convicted sex offender to volunteer near children for years. The lawsuit is brought by a John Doe and Jane Doe who had a child entrusted to the defendants’ care.

Pawleys Island Community Church, which cooperates with the SBC, is under investigation for allegedly permitting Warren Spencer Perry, a convicted sex offender, to serve as a volunteer custodian in the vicinity of children despite concerns being raised. The lawsuit seeks to hold the defendants accountable for their actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to secular principles of law governing childcare and educational facilities.

In addition to the SBC and its Executive Committee, the defendants named in the litigation include the church itself, Pawleys Island Christian Academy, Senior Pastor Donald James Williams, church employee and leader Virginia Lee Williams, Academy Director Jennifer Howard, John Doe church elders 1-10, and Perry. The complaint is brought on behalf of all persons who paid tuition or mandatory enrollment fees to the academy for a child who attended while Perry was authorized to work or be present on campus.

The lawsuit asserts that the church was formerly known as Pawleys Island Baptist Church and is an independent, self-governing, elder-led congregation not subject to the control of a parent denomination. It also notes that the church is a cooperating church with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, a state convention affiliated with the SBC.

The complaint emphasizes that the legal action does not involve religious doctrine but rather seeks to ensure that the defendants are held to the same secular standards applicable to all institutions. It calls for accountability in the supervision of known dangers and the truthfulness of safety representations made to parents.

The SBC has not yet commented on the lawsuit, with a spokesperson stating that they will review it and respond appropriately once officially notified. The case highlights the importance of vigilance in safeguarding minors and upholding the principles of care and responsibility. As Micah 6:8 reminds us, we are to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Source: Read the original report