Gordon Lunceford Listed in SBC Abuse Investigation Report

Was Gordon Lunceford Named in Southern Baptist List of Abusers?

Gordon Lunceford, a youth minister at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky’s First Baptist Church, pleaded guilty to unlawful transaction with a minor and sexual misconduct and was sentenced to five years probation for abuse that occurred in 1992. He was ordered to pay the victim $7,500.

Southern Baptist Abuse Database

According to the Washington Post, a 300-page report was launched on Sunday, May 22, 2022. The report contains terrible new information concerning certain abuse occurrences and clarify how denominational authorities actively hindered abuse prevention and change for years.

Southern Baptist Convention leaders have revealed a substantial and independent 3rd party examination that revealed that abusers were typically neglected, forgotten, or perhaps blamed by upper-level church administrators from within this religious denomination of larger than 16 million individuals. Additionally, it exposed these leaders often lied to their very own members to stop them from knowing the flagrant sexual misconduct.

Click to read more about the Southern Baptist Abuse Database

A Record of Ignored Misconduct

The report claims that a key Southern Baptist official was credibly accused of sexual assault only one month after completing his two-year period as the convention’s president. Furthermore, Johnny Hunt, a well-known Georgia Southern Baptist preacher and senior vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s objectives arm, was credibly accused of abusing a lady during a 2010 vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida. The North American Mission Board president declared he was unaware of the accusations prior to Hunt resigning on May thirteenth. The report likewise identifies 3 previous presidents of the convention, a previous vice president, and the former head of the SBC’s administrative arm as prominent SBC leaders who assisted in covering up for and even motivated known abusers.

One victim recounted being treated with animosity as she alleged she was sexually assaulted by a youth pastor. The implicated pastor served in numerous Southern Baptist churches in several states. During a meeting with the SBC leaders in 2007, a member of the Executive Committee “turned his back to her during her speech and another chortled.”

Accountability in the Southern Baptist Church

Russell Moore, the former head of the SBC’s policy branch, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, mentioned ‘this is not all Southern Baptists, take a look at all the good we do.’ The report demonstrates a trend of stonewalling, coverup, retaliation, and intimidation.” He anticipates this report will deliver much-needed change and hold those liable for their sexual assault.

The document alleges that a key Southern Baptist leader was credibly implicated of sexual assault only 1 month after finishing his two-year term as the convention’s president. The report likewise names three prior presidents of the convention, a former vice president, and the former head of the SBC’s administrative arm as renoun SBC leaders who helped in protecting and also motivated believed abusers.

He hopes this report will bring about much-needed reform and hold those accountable for their misconduct.

To learn more about resources available for survivors in Kentucky, visit this page: https://abuseguardian.com/sexual-assault-lawyer/kentucky/sex-trauma-therapist-ky/