Nearly 40 Southern Baptist Pastors 'Credibly Accused' Of Sex Abuse: Report

GEORGIA – The Southern Baptist Convention released a list of alleged abusers, that include nearly 40 people who pastored, worked or volunteered at churches in Georgia.

The 205-page list, labeled “highly confidential,” comes after a bombshell report Sunday from an independent investigator that said the top leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention stonewalled and denigrated sexual abuse victims for two decades to protect their own reputations and remained "singularly focused on avoiding liability" for the church.

The list was compiled by a former employee of the SBC’s Executive Committee and was made public for the first time to place a “spotlight on truth and transparency.”

The SBC is a Christian denomination based in the United States. It has nearly 14 million members and is the largest Protestant denomination.

“This list is being made public for the first time as an initial, but important, step towards addressing the scourge of sexual abuse and implementing reform in the Convention,” said two officials with the SBC committee.

The list includes about 750 names with details of the alleged abuses and news story links to the coverage of some of the cases. Most of the information has been redacted or blacked-out and notes: “The information is largely pulled from news articles compiled from 2007 until 2022. It is incomplete. It has not been proofed. It has not been adequately researched. It is not Southern Baptist specific.”

According to the report, the Georgia pastors on the Southern Baptist Convention's list of "credibly accused" clergy are:

• Daniel Louis Kent, was a youth leader at First Baptist Church in Duluth. He was arrested and charged with four counts of electronic transfer of obscene material to a minor. He was not charged for having sexual contact with a teen because the age of consent in Georgia is 16.
• Michael Lee Krug, 35, associate pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Columbus, GA, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Pleaded guilty to aggravated child molestation and two counts of child molestation. Sentenced to 10 years in prison and 15 years probation. Released. Not listed as a registered sex offender in Georgia.
• James Louis Kubicek was a former youth minister at First Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA. He was convicted of child molestation, sexual exploitation of a child and enticing a child for indecent purposes. Sentenced to 20 years on the first charge, five years on the second charge and 10 years on the third charge. Incarcerated in Georgia.
• William C. Lewis, former youth pastor of First Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church, in Brunswick, GA. He was arrested on two counts of child molestation. He was convicted July 7, 2017. Charged with Sexual Battery Against Child Under 16 years; Registered Sex Offender
• Mark Kit Lucus was an organist and youth minister at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Garden City, GA. He was charged with aggravated sexual battery in an assault of a youth. He registered as a sex offender in Georgia for a 2011 child molestation conviction.
• Charles Randy May was a volunteer leader for the children’s ministry at New Victoria Baptist Church in Woodstock. He was Sentenced to 20 years on Oct. 21, 2016, after pleading guilty to four charges including two counts of aggravated sexual battery, aggravated sodomy and exploitation of a disabled adult, according to Cherokee County records. Incarcerated in Georgia.
• James Calvin McCurry, 38, former pastor, Greater Zion Hills Baptist Church, Smyrna, GA, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for abusing an 11-yr-old girl between 1985-86.
• In 1988, Thomas McGowan, 46, pastor, New Grace Baptist Church, Powder Springs, GA, was sentenced to 3 years in prison and 17 years probation for sexually abusing 2 girls. He worked at Morning View Baptist, Rockmart (1981-87), Marietta, GA. Gowan reportedly left 2 prior churches amid allegations.
• In 2004, Jimmie Lee Mills, church volunteer, Providence Baptist Church, Augusta, GA, was accused of abusing a 10 and an 11 year-old girl.
• Jacob Alan “Jake” Morris, 25, was arrested and sentenced as stated below.
  • COURT OF CONVICTION: Hall County and Douglas County, 2010 OUTCOME: Began serving a maximum sentence of life in Georgia State prison in 2010 after being convicted of 11 sex crimes in two counties. He was convicted of eight counts of child molestation in Hall County (all related to 2006 offenses) and two counts of aggravated sodomy and one count of aggravated sexual battery in Douglas County for 2009 offenses
  • CHURCH POSITION: Children's Director, Concord Baptist Church, Clermont, GA. Morris is the son of Senior Pastor Alan Morris.
• In 2006, Kevin Ogle, 42, former pastor, Northgate Colonial Baptist Church, Camden, SC, was arrested for cyber sex with officer who he thought was 14 yr. old girl – initiated in GA. Ogle pleaded guilty to 15 charges of sexual exploitation of children. Sentenced to 20 yrs. probation and 5 yrs. behind bars. OUTCOME: Registered as a sex offender in South Carolina for a sexual exploitation of children conviction from Georgia. Sex Offender Registry – He must register
• Douglas Randall Pope, youth pastor, Merrywood Baptist Church Statesboro, GA, pleaded guilty to child molestation. OUTCOME: Registered sex offender in Georgia. Pleaded guilty to child molestation.
• Norman Anthony Pugh, youth minister, Arnoldsville Baptist Church, Arnoldsville, GA, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 13 years in prison with another seven years on probation for inappropriately touching a 13 year old girl. Previously, he was acquitted in November 2006 on charges of molesting another teenage church member
• Leon Rankins, III, 35, pastor, Restoration Full Gospel Baptist Church, 900 W. Cervantes St., Pensacola, FL, was charged in 1989 when Rankin was 17. He was accused of sexual abusing an 11-yr-old boy. In 1994, Rankin pleaded no contest to 2 counts of sexual battery and was sentenced to 2 yrs. of house arrest and 2 yrs. of probation. In 2007, he was charged with having sex with a 13 yr. old boy . Listed on the Sex Offender Registry
• Matthew Brent Sheffield, volunteer, First Baptist Church, Canton, GA, pleaded guilty to a sex crime. He will serve eight years of probation for sending illicit text messages and making sexually suggestive comments to male students. OUTCOME: Registered as a sex offender in Georgia for two 2014 convictions (following guilty pleas) involving sexual battery of a child under 16, court and state records show. Sentenced to probation as a first offender.
• John Samuel Stafford, janitor, Eastside Baptist Church, Marietta, GA, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor sexual battery conviction and received a 12-month jail sentence. He only had to serve 30 days in jail and the remaining 11 months of the sentence will be spent on probation.
• Phillip Glenn Terrell, youth pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Gainsville, FL, pleaded guilty to molesting two teenage boys. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to molesting teenage boy and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. This sentence will run concurrent prior sentence meaning he will serve 18 years total, with credit for three years sent in jail awaiting trial. He also must serve 32 years probation after his release om prison, with more than 20 restrictions that include no contact with a minors.
• Henry Bazil Waters, 49, position unstated, Grace Baptist Temple Church, Statesboro, GA Waters was convicted for sexually abusing 3 boys in 1989.
• Larry William Whitley, was convicted of child molestation and aggravated Sodom. In 2002 he fled Douglasville, GA, violating his probation and failing to register as a sex offender. He fled to Knoxville, TN, where he volunteered at a local Baptist church. In 2009, he was caught. The name of the church is unknown.
• Charles S. Woodall, former youth leader, Northway Church on Zebulon Road, Macon, GA
  • OUTCOME: Convicted in 2017 on 11 felony charges, including child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes and violation of the oath of public office. Incarcerated in Georgia.
• Perez Blackmon, registered sex offender pastor of church, Albany Herald, 10/30/10 – Rosinvick Missionary Baptist Church, Blakely, GA; Church knowingly hired Blackmon, a registered sex offender. Blackmon did not admit guilt but pleaded to a statutory rape charge rather than face a jury on charges of child molestation and rape. On the statutory rape guilty plea, Blackmon was given 120 days in jail and 15 years on probation.
• In 1994, Kevin DeRosa, 33, former youth minister, Western Hills Baptist Church, Cobb County, GA, was convicted of molesting several male teens between 1992-93. He was in Paulding County jail on similar charges. At one point he was listed on GA Sex Offenders Registry
• In 1999, Robert Smith Dorsett, 65, former youth minister and training director, FBC, Augusta, GA, was sentenced to 30 yrs. in prison when he pleaded guilty to 15 sex crimes against 7 boys between 1970-98.
  • OUTCOME: Registered sex offender in South Carolina for 1999 convictions, including criminal sexual conduct with minors.
• In 1998, John Montgomery Eatman, 50s, deacon, South Cherokee Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA, was convicted for sexually abusing a 14 and 10 yr. old girl (1998 and 1984).
• Alexander Edwards, volunteer youth minister, Eastside Baptist Church, Marietta, GA, was arrested on charges of molesting an 11-year-old Marietta boy.
  • OUTCOME: Convicted of two counts of sexual battery against a child under 16 in 2017 in Cobb County. Ordered to serve three years in prison with credit for time served on Aug. 18, 2017. Registered sex offender in Georgia.
• In 2001, Gunther Fiek, 30, Martial arts instructor, Sunday School and soccer camp, Eastside Baptist Church, Marietta, GA, was sentenced to 90 years in prison for abusing multiple children between 1996-2000.
  • OUTCOME: Sentenced to more than 90 years in Cobb County, Ga., in 2001 after being convicted of 21 different felony offenses, including aggravated child molestation and felony child molestation, according to his Georgia prison and court records.
• Derek Gillett, pastor, Cornerstone Community Church, Forsyth County, GA, and previously youth director, Midway United Methodist Church, Alpharetta, GA, pleaded guilty to two child molestation charges in May 2008 and sentenced to 10 years in prison; 10 years probation. Released. Registered Sex Offender in Georgia.
  • OUTCOME: Registered sex offender in Georgia. Pleaded guilty to two child molestation charges in May 2008 and sentenced to 10 years in prison; 10 years probation. Released.
  • CHURCH POSITION: pastor, Cornerstone Community Church, Forsyth County, GA
  • CHRUCH POSITION: youth director, Midway United Methodist Church, Alpharetta, GA
• CHURCH POSITION: pastor, Cornerstone Community Church, Forsyth County, GA
• CHRUCH POSITION: youth director, Midway United Methodist Church, Alpharetta, GA
• Tommy Gilmore, former youth and education minister, First Baptist Church, Farmers Branch, TX, was accused by of being sexually abused by Gilmore when she was 16in 1968. On Jan. 25, 2006, she settled a civil suit with FBC Farmers Branch, TX. Tommy Gilmore also was former minister, FBC, Tyler, TX, former employee, FBC, Atlanta, GA, former Children’s Minister, FBC, Oviedo, FL, Children’s ministry, Cornerstone Community Church, Center, FL Florida.
• James Benjamin Harris, volunteer middle school Sunday School teacher, youth counselor, Brookwood Baptist Church, Lawrenceville, GA. Passed a background check done by the church.
• OUTCOME: Convicted, following guilty pleas, of three counts of child molestation and one of enticing a child for indecent purposes in Gwinnett County, Ga. Sentenced in 2012 to 12 years confinement years, three years probation on first charge and 15 years probation on remaining three charges. Incarcerated in Georgia.
• Jeffery D. Heberlein, 43, Pastor, Akers Chapel Church, Plainville, GA and former pastor of Mount Gilead and Berdan Baptist churches in Greene County (2001-2003) pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 14 yr old girl from 2003-04. To be sentenced November 13. To be registered as sex offender.
• In 2001, Larry Michael Holmes, 53, former minister, Bishop Baptist Church, Oconee County, GA, was convicted of abusing a 14-yr-old girl. OUTCOME: Registered sex offender in Georgia for 2001 convictions of aggravated child molestation and child molestation.
• In 2010, Joshua Humphrey, 21, volunteer youth leader, Zion Baptist Church, Braselton, GA, was charged with two counts of sodomy, aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, public indecency, cruelty to children and simple battery. The church said Humphrey was not a youth leader, but was in the process of being checked out and interviewed for the position. The church had not yet run a criminal background check. Humphrey pleaded guilty to two counts of child molestation and was sentenced to 20 years.
• Antoine Louis Jenkins (29) – In 2008, Johnson posed as a girl on MySpace to lured two boys (ages 13 and 14) and attempting to lure a third (age 15) out of their homes at night for sexual encounters. He then molested then boys. CHURCH POSITION: Intern, summer camp organizer at Hebron Baptist Church COURT OF CONVICTION: Gwinnett County, 2012 OUTCOME: Sentenced to life in prison in 2012 after being convicted of 19 felony charges, including three counts of aggravated child molestation, 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of child molestation and three other charges. Incarcerated in Georgia.
• In 2007, Carlton Johnson, former choir director, Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Augusta, GA, was a teacher’s aide who was tried and acquitted of sexual battery (1994 – 6 yr. old boy and 2002 – 14 year-old-boy.

Patch has reached out to a number of the Georgia churches named above for comment.

The Guidepost report was released after a seven-month investigation. According to the report, D. August Boto, the committee's former vice president and general counsel, and former SBC spokesman Roger Oldham kept their own private list of abusive ministers. Both retired in 2019. The existence of the list was not widely known within the committee and its staff, the Guidepost reported.

The release of the names is a public repudiation of the way leaders at the nation's largest Protestant denomination have responded to allegations of sexual abuse in the past. In doing so, the SBC's top leaders said they're committed to listening more attentively to survivors of clergy sexual abuse. » Read the full list of accused clergy.

The denomination also released the full report of the investigation conducted by Guidepost Solutions on its handling of sexual abuse allegations. It's available on the website, too.

The denomination's executive committee said Wednesday in a joint statement with Guidepost Solutions, which conducted the investigation, that it is creating a hotline for sexual abuse survivors that will be "an important stopgap measure" until more meaningful reform can be addressed at the SBC annual meeting in Anaheim, California, next month.

Gene Besen, the interim executive committee counsel, said in a statement after the meeting that the prompt release of the names is in the Southern Baptist Convention's best interests.

"It's important, it is of immediate concern to the public and to the survivor committee, and we need to do it right away," he said.

In an interview with The New York Times, Besen said that moving quickly means that some accused pastors' names may be redacted because the claims couldn't be substantiated by news reports and other sources, but researchers may put them back on the list as more facts are known.

"We have become too familiar with using techniques to slow processes down," Ed Litton, president of the SBC's Executive Committee said, according to an account in Christianity Today of the decision to release the names of "credibly accused" pastors. "We need to be very mindful that the world is watching, and they don't need to see business as usual… we have to do this right."

Under the "business as usual" practice, victims of sexual abuse and congregants who supported them repeatedly shared allegations of sexual abuse with top church leaders, "only to be met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling and even outright hostility" by some Executive Committee members, according to the nearly 300-page report.

"Our investigation revealed that, for many years, a few senior EC leaders, along with outside counsel, largely controlled the EC's response to these reports of abuse … and were singularly focused on avoiding liability for the SBC," the report said, continuing:

"In service of this goal, survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved, or met with the constant refrain that the SBC could take no action due to its policy regarding church autonomy — even if it meant that convicted molesters continued in ministry with no notice or warning to their current church or congregation."

Survivors of abuse, both congregants and seminary students, have long pressed the denomination to release the list of clergy "credibly accused" of sexual abuse. The list was maintained for about a decade by an Executive Committee staff member who turned it over to the Executive Committee's former vice president and general counsel.

The investigator found no indication that anyone "took any action to ensure that the accused ministers were no longer in positions of power at SBC churches."

The Associated Press contributed reporting.