The Southern Baptist Convention, rocked by accusations of sex abuse against a former judge and key figure, has reached a confidential settlement ending years of litigation. Paul Pressler, a prominent leader within the convention and retired Texas judge, was accused of multiple instances of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in 2017 by Duane Rollins. Rollins claimed Pressler began abusing him when he was just 14 years old during the time he attended Pressler’s youth group, the abuse continuing over decades, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
The fallout of the lawsuit included an extensive investigation by the Houston Chronicle that eventually forced the Southern Baptist Convention to take a harder look internally and to admit to more cover-ups. Settlements were reached with multiple insurance carriers contributing to the terms, according to statements obtained by the Texas Tribune. Jared Woodfill, Pressler's law partner and a notable figure in Houston’s GOP circles, was accused of not only being aware of the assaults but also continuing to work with Pressler — even providing him with young, male personal assistants, despite knowing about the allegations as early as 2004.
Though the settlement’s specifics remain under wraps, lawyers for both Pressler and Rollins stated they had arrived at “mutually satisfactory terms.” Meanwhile, the Southern Baptist Convention acknowledged the "horrendous nature of the abuse allegations" as a significant factor in their decision to settle. Michael Goldberg, Rollins’ attorney, expressed pride in the resolution against the SBC and Woodfill, asserting confidence in the terms achieved, as indicated in a Houston Chronicle report.
The lawsuits have led to policy changes and a wake-up call for the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. The revelation of sexual abuse within the ranks of the convention has compelled the body to confront allegations and acknowledge survivors’ accounts, previously swept beneath the proverbial rug. Woodfill, despite Rollins' legal moves, insists he has not reached a settlement and is challenging an insurance company's steps to do so, per the Texas Tribune.
Pressler, who has been a significant figure in conservative evangelical circles and once served as a vice president for the convention, has never been criminally charged for the alleged abuses. Rollins’ case was a catalyst for both exposing Pressler's conduct and expanding the rights of abuse victims in Texas. The lawsuit, which initially hit a snag due to the statute of limitations, was revived by the Texas Supreme Court's landmark decision to support victims’ rights to come forward after several years, as highlighted by the Texas Tribune.
