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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Though they have considered selling the property since 2017, the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) executive committee voted to put its large downtown Nashville headquarters building on the market last week as the denomination is facing hefty legal expenses stemming from a repressed sexual abuse case and resulting investigations.
An independent, nearly 300-page Guidepost Solutions report revealed that, for many years a few senior leaders, along with outside counsel, closely guarded information about abuse allegations and lawsuits in order to avoid liability for the SBC, including high-ranking staff maintaining a list of hundreds of ministers accused of sexual misconduct but taking no action.
Another claim was against former SBC President Johnny Hunt who was accused of assaulting another pastor’s wife while on vacation.
The report, which confirmed the credibility of the accusations, also detailed SBC leadership’s poor response to the allegations, including speaking ill of the victims and heeding advice of legal counsel to pursue no action, resulted in lawsuits and a Department of Justice investigation, ultimately costing the SBC $12.1 million in legal fees between October 2020 to July 2024.
The prime real estate is estimated to be worth $31.7 million, according to a 2021 appraisal, which will help to cover the legal expenses, which are mainly coming from the executive committee’s reserve. The building’s sale will impact other SBC-affiliated agencies that use the building, including the Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives and the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the SBC’s public policy arm.
In addition to the legal costs, the SBC states it is seeing decreased revenue, including less congregant giving, so the committee also approved a loan to cover any budget shortfalls until the building’s sale provides a cash infusion.
SBC President Clint Pressley addressed the executive committee regarding the financial state of the organization, “Look, there is no question that the EC and SBC are going to be in lean years financially. But by God’s grace and endurance, we will come out of that, and we’ll keep marching forward. So, let us hold fast to the confession.”
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
