In a statement posted on her website, Jennifer Lyell, who is now 41 and works for a major Christian book publisher, said Sills first "sexually acted" against her on a mission trip in 2004 and. Lyell explained that she decided to go public with her story after hearing that Sills was appointed to serve as a missionary with a mission agency not affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. ", "We hold unquestionably to a biblical standard of sexual morality and personal morality and we expect that of any who would teach but also even as students. The audio came to the Capstone Report from a source not connected with Midwest Outreach. Reid, 59, SEBTS senior professor of . That happened three months prior to release of a bombshell report from an independent investigation that found widespread mishandling of known cases of sexual abuse in the SBC and its churches. ", Follow Samuel Smith on Twitter: @IamSamSmith. In the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that. Ascol ran for SBC president on the slogan Change the direction.. Just over two years later, she stated the allegations to then-LifeWay Senior Vice President Eric Geiger and Mohler. The implication of Ms. Lyells statement was that Dr. Sills had acted criminally. The full context of the email is this: Thank you again for replying and taking the time to find a scenario with which you are willing to talk with me. Geiger said he contacted the other missions agency which he identified as Global Outreach International and they removed Sills from their employment. After BNG reported on the Sills lawsuit, Ascol tweeted: Wow. That post cited the biblical story of David and Bathsheba to ask what constitutes a consensual sexual relationship versus rape. A reasonable inference is also that Defendant Lyell intended to advance her false narrative by taking a hand in the actual writing of an article by RNS and Smietana, each of whom had previously served as a resource to Defendant Lyell for the purpose of publishing her malicious allegations against the Sills Plaintiffs. In a filing made in the Mobile, Ala., Circuit Court, David and Mary Sills allege "defamation, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and . If this seems like a contradiction, this is just the beginning. Basham frequently tweeted and replied to tweets about the issue, at one point portraying herself as an investigative reporter who was just asking the questions no one else would ask. The outlet additionally reported that Sills has also resigned as a trustee of the SBC International Mission Board and his position on IMB's presidential search committee. It also names Jennifer Lyell, a former seminarian and vice president for Lifeway, who has repeatedly alleged that Sills was abusive, an allegation Mohler has also made on social media and in. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In a statement posted on her website, Jennifer Lyell, who is now 41 and works for a major Christian book publisher, said Sills first "sexually acted" against her on a mission trip in 2004 and that the relationship continued until she was 38. Lyells case is of particular interest because Guidepost did not talk to some described as corroborating the allegations of abuse and because SBC Elites declared on their own authority that this was a case of Sex Abuse. In addition to being missionaries to these groups it is also our purpose to train and equip those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ, his death, burial and physical resurrection, for their salvation to do the same., At one point last summer, Henzel sent two emails to Ascol, asking him to communicate with elders at Lyells church about Henzels and Veinots concerns regarding Lyells wellness.. Lyell feared he would once again have the opportunity to abuse others and wanted to stop that from happening. Hes wrong. Yet victims who are not minors must decide for themselves whether to contact authorities, he said. Lives in: Mayfield KY Used to live: Mayfield KY AKA: Anthony White, Anthony Scott Jackson, Anthony Scott Jackson, Anthony S Jackson Related to: Lindsey R Jackson, Akia T White, Antonio D Jackson, Carlos L Jackson, Darrell Albert White View Details The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. All rights reserved. Lyell told Baptist Press she has attempted to contact the Louisville Metro Police Departments Special Victims Unit. Guidepost and the SBC are two of 12 total defendants named in the lawsuit that revolves around allegations that David Sills sexually abused Jennifer Lyell starting in 2004, when Lyell was a . These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In a filing made in the Mobile, Ala., Circuit Court, David Sills, former pastor of now-closed Woodland Hills Church, Jackson, and his wife Mary Sills allege "defamation, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and wantonness concerning untrue claims of sexual abuse" initiated by Jennifer Lyell, with whom David Sills Except the pattern of inappropriate sexual activity continued throughout the relationship., Lyell wrote that when she presented her claims to Mohler, she also shared the responsibility" for being compliant at times and for idolizing the idea of a whole family., I protected [the family] despite what was happening within it, she wrote. I am also grateful for the bold leadership of Grant Gaines, Ronnie Parrot, and Todd Benkert. This wasnt by accident; I believe it was by design, Lyell wrote. BNG has confirmed Midwest Christian Outreach was working with Ascol, Buck and Basham in the background into 2022. I am grateful for the diligent, fast work of Guidepost Solutions, particularly as the EC leadership delays from June-October 2021 took up 1/3 of the investigation period allowed by the investigation motion. They simply want to push their agenda & cancel anyone who refuses to kowtow to their self-righteous bloviating. The audio discussion features Jennifer Lyell speaking to Ron Henzel and Don Veinot of Midwest Outreach. I have never been unwilling to be questioned when making allegations that arent only moral, but are also criminal and Im extremely thankful that all parties who received and investigated my allegations did press me for details necessary to understand what I was alleging given my age and the fact it was not a single occurrence as well as that I did not report anything to them for a very long time.. Thereafter, Ms. Lyell engaged in an effort to restore her reputation and preserve her powerful position of doling out lucrative book deals, while affirmatively and skillfully dismantling the reputations, careers, and family life of David Sills and Mary Sills, the court filing states. Veinot and his senior researcher, Ron Henzel, had conducted a video interview with Lyell and wrote about it on their blog under the headline Does Abuse Absolve Adultery? In fact, the key facts alleged are right in the first few paragraphs: 1. According to documents obtained by BNG, however, Ascol, Buck and Basham had collaborated with the source of the original quotation that Sills took out of context in his recent lawsuit. Ascols group, Founders Ministries, once was a fringe movement in the SBC but today has a large following, especially among younger seminarians and pastors who were influenced by the Passion conferences in the 1990s. Lyell was even commended in an SBC Resolution for her bravery in standing against sex abuse. David Sills The Sillses contend neither Mohler nor the SBC nor Guidepost did sufficient investigation to find out the truth of the matter. Lyell first disclosed the situation to a therapist in March 2016, she said. Her name appears on 37 pages of the report. By admitting to having sinned and asking for forgiveness, they can mitigate the consequences of their actions and preserve a future in the church. According to Lyell, the reason she waited so long to come forward with her claims is because she was afraid that her coming forward could cause collateral damage impacting people she loved. Reaching and Teaching International told BP in a statement that they are aware of a statement by Lyell regarding her allegations and are committed to ensuring a culture of transparency and accountability., Lyell said, It is my hope that my story, one in which a SBC entity and its leaders acted swiftly and justly but in which that same individual was also in a ministry position only months later, will also help to illustrate the need for some form of a reporting tool that can ensure that those who have victimized others from a ministry position are unable to ever do so again., (EDITOR'S NOTE This story has been edited by Biblical Recorder staff. Jen came forward at incredible personal cost to herself, to defend those who had no voice, Denhollander said. The case as outlined by David and Mary Sills directly contradicts the narrative told by Lyell and widely accepted as truth. Based on the credible [Baptist Press report], which I learned of on Friday evening, we suspended inclusion of Sillss book on our site as we did more investigation, InterVarsity Press Publisher Jeff Crosby told CP in an email. She wrote, "Dr. David Sills, then a tenured professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, first sexually acted against me on a mission trip in 2004, a pattern that continued and escalated . The group has no apparent connections to the SBC, and its interview with Lyell seems outside its stated purpose. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. David Sills (Photo via Baptist Press) Litigating this case publicly could cause extreme discomfort for some of the defendants named, forcing them to testify under oath about matters they have tried to handle discreetly. In May, Guidepost Solutions, which investigated the SBC scandal, issued a report that found alleges survivors of sexual abuse encountered resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility, from some on the SBCs Executive Committee. Why so much outrage over the burning of an LGBT Pride flag? Im also fine to answer any questions you or the other gentleman has to ensure you have clarity and believe me. In fact, she claims in a newly leaked audio recording that she has been vague intentionallyso that the Sills grandchildren wouldnt find out much about this by using Google. If you do not know your new account number you can contact. In a grievance filed Nov. 21 within the Circuit Courtroom of Cell, Alabama, David Sills, a former professor of missions and [] I mean, I was like, literally like, I mean, it was it was police at my house and, you know, safety, Lyell said. Secondly, on information and belief, defendants SBC, the Executive Committee, and Lifeway own and maintain property, employees and/or agents in Alabama, including Mobile County, Alabama. RNS published a story about the Sills lawsuit Nov. 28 and noted at the end of the story the complaint against Smietana and RNS. The lawsuit challenges what has been accepted as fact in one of the highest-profile cases in the web of allegations regarding mishandling of sexual abuse within the SBC. That report also cited the Lyell case. Want to share a story? Lawsuit protests the SBC and third-party firm for supporting allegations in a new legal challenge referencing historic abuse report. Sills was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary until his resignation on May 23, 2018. Having known that I experienced sexual abuse growing up, Dr. Sills assured me that the first incidents that happened on that mission trip werent really my fault as I naturally felt even though I had not initiated them and was shocked as the actions took place., He explained they were because of what happened to me when I was a child. On July 6th, this story would resurface because Bob Smietana, a liberal reporter of the pagan Religious News Service wrote an apologetic for Jennifer Lyell, When abuse victims are adults . NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Jennifer Lyell was trying to do the right thing. Ascol is a Florida pastor who leads Founders Ministries, a group of Southern Baptist Calvinists. One of Lyells advocates over the past three years has been Mohler, who has publicly stated he believed Lyells story as she has told it. David Sills and his wife, Mary, filed the suit Nov. 21 in Mobile County circuit court. She challenged those who questioned her motives. Nine months after The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) professor David Sills resigned for undisclosed reasons, a woman has released a statement of allegations including details of what she describes as sexual abuse by Sills, beginning while she was a Southern Seminary student. My thinking was I could just verbally work through your article and clarify/add the information you didnt have or was inaccurate as well as answer the broader questions you asked when the information you had didnt reconcile for you. All rights reserved. Photo via Baylor University. Lyell told RNS she did not initially report what . How did Bob Smietana avoid being named in this lawsuit? It also names Jennifer Lyell, a former seminarian and vice president for Lifeway, who has repeatedly alleged that Sills was abusive, an allegation Mohler has also made on social media and in an interview for a documentary about the denomination's response to its sexual abuse crisis. Jennifer Lyell Lyell is a former vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources, the SBC publishing house. Lyell says Sills, who was a surrogate father figure to her, eventually abused her again and then continued for years, even after she left seminary. The SBCs public relations service, Baptist Press, misrepresented her statements about the situation, which eventually led to a public apology and a financial settlement from the SBC Executive Committee, which runs Baptist Press. Based on the information we now have I retract any suggestion that Jennifer Lyells physical relationship with David Sills was consensual., By Aug. 3, 2021 about six weeks after the SBC annual meeting at which a Sexual Abuse Task Force was authorized Midwest Christian Outreach issued an update to its post with this note from Henzel: Shortly after this article was published, Jennifer Lyell graciously reached out to us and provided crucial details of her case both to me and to Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc. President Don Veinot. Sills resigned from the Kentucky-based schoollast May shortly after Lyell presented her claims to SBTS President Albert Mohler. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. As such, Jennifer Lyell seems to be someone who is the victim of horrendous sexual abuse. Lyell was the SBC Lifeway Christian Resources Vice President before she decided to come to the open on the sexual abuse done her by Sills. Some especially a group of Calvinist pastors questioned Lyells account and accused her of trying to make a consensual affair look like abuse. But Mohler confirmed that Lyell shared allegations with him in May 2018 and that Southern, as Lyell stated, immediately took action., Lyell said in her statement, The denominational institutions, the local church, and the missions agency [Sills led] ultimately believed me, supported me, and took the action for which they were responsible., Baptist Press reported Sills resignation in June 2018 based on reporting by North Carolinas Biblical Recorder news journal, which cited a statement from the seminary affirming that Mohler received the resignation of Dr. David Sills from the Southern Seminary faculty on May 23, 2018., It further stated, Southern Seminary is committed to the highest standards of both principle and policy. Well-Respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that, the key facts alleged are in. Nov. 28 and noted at the end of the matter Lyell presented her claims to SBTS president Mohler... 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