Tag Archives: Baptists

Religion News Service reports: Southern Baptists have been dogged by leadership scandals for years. Now they have a different kind of abuse scandal on their hands. James David “Jim” Goldston III, 71, and his wife, Agnes, 73, are accused of poisoning their neighbor’s three dogs. Two of the dogs, Labrador retrievers, died. A veterinarian confirmed that all three dogs were …

Decatur’s NBC affiliate reports: A former church pastor accepted a plea agreement in court on Friday, pleading guilty to Count II Grooming, a Class 4 felony. Joseph Krol, 38, is accused of sending sexually inappropriate Snapchat messages to a 15-year-old minor from Oreana. A sworn affidavit said Krol asked the child to take part in a “true online confessions game” …

Manchester’s ABC News affiliate reports: The pastor of a church in Nashua has been arrested and charged with possessing child sexual abuse images after an investigation that police said has been going on for years. Stephen Bates, 46, pastor of Bible Baptist Church, was arrested Tuesday at the church’s Caldwell Road property. Police said the investigation dates back to 2016 …

The Associated Press reports: The Southern Baptist Convention’s executive committee voted Tuesday to oust four of its churches, two over policies deemed to be too inclusive of LGBTQ people and two more for employing pastors convicted of sex offenses. The actions were announced at a meeting marked by warnings from two top leaders that the SBC, the largest Protestant denomination …

Chattanooga’s ABC affiliate reports: A dying Tennessee man’s final wish will not be honored. A bereaved son in Sweetwater, Tennessee says his sexual orientation is standing in the way of his father’s funeral service. Jessie Goodman is engaged to Brandon Smitty. Goodman’s father is very ill and dying. His final wish is that his services be held at the church …

Huntsville’s CBS News affiliate reports: The lead pastor of a Florence church has been arrested, accused of sexually abusing young boys in his congregation. John Martin was taken into custody Friday evening and booked into the Lauderdale County Detention Center on four counts of Sexual Abuse. Martin has been a pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church on Sweetwater Avenue for nine …

“If I ever go to a restaurant and sit down and here comes this flaming foo-foo fruit loop – I’m just like, oh great. I’m here to have a date night, enjoy some time with my wife and because of the lisps, I can’t even, you know. My recommendation – if you don’t just get up and leave – my …

Houston’s ABC affiliate reports: A Montgomery County religious leader has been charged with prostitution. According to charging documents, 52-year-old Eddie Hilburn was taken into custody after he agreed to pay for sex. Officials at The Woodlands First Baptist Church confirmed that Hilburn is an associate pastor. According to the church’s website, Hilburn has been with the church since 2012 and …