SBC President Willy Rice and Other Prominent SBC Leaders Listed in New Protestant Accountability Database

Protestant Accountability, a survivor-led nonprofit, announced the launch and expansion of ProtestantAccountability.org, a searchable database that collects publicly available information about Protestant clergy and other spiritual leaders who have been accused of committing, enabling, or mishandling sexual abuse. During a video press release on Wednesday (Aug. 19), Chelley Taylor, president of Protestant Accountability and a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, said the organization was created by roughly a dozen survivors to “spread awareness, inform the public, protect potential victims, and help heal those who’ve already been wounded.” Taylor emphasized that the organization does not conduct its own investigations or determine guilt. Instead, it gathers existing public information, including news reports, police reports and court records, and places that information in one searchable location so users can review the material themselves. For example, many citations come from The Roys Report, Baptist News Global, and local news sites. RELATED: Johnny Hunt Loses Final Defamation Claim Against SBC; Sexual Abuse Survivor Responds According to its website, Protestant Accountability says that it “functions as an interactive computer service that distributes content created or provided by other users and content providers. This site relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content.” “If any incorrect information is found, please contact us and we will gladly correct it. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty,” Protestant Accountability states. “Abuse and institutional failures are often hidden from public view. Our organization exists to bring these matters into the light by collecting and organizing publicly available information concerning sexual abuse and misconduct in religious settings,” it adds. “We document allegations, investigations, legal proceedings, convictions, and documented efforts to conceal, enable, or disregard abuse. By preserving these records, we seek to promote transparency, accountability, and the protection of those at risk.” The site also provides a way for people to submit “new information,” “report inaccurate information,” or “provide updates to existing profiles.” “We do not conduct investigations–we only accept entries for individuals with existing, publicly available information,” Protestant Accountability explains. Taylor said the database includes court documents, news coverage and, in some cases, opinion pieces and social media posts when those sources provide additional relevant information. She said the organization generally tries to avoid paywalled material so the information remains accessible to the public.