When the Southern Baptist Convention, already reeling from a report on sexual abuse cover-ups, announced in 2022 it was facing a Justice Department probe, many envisioned a sprawling investigation that would shine a harsh but ultimately cleansing light on decades of poor leadership — forcing, in turn, a fresh culture of accountability.
Yet when that investigation bore its first public fruit last week, with the unsealing of an in-the-weeds obstruction of justice charge against a former Texas seminary official, some observers felt a bit underwhelmed.
“After all this time and money and energy, all we have is something that happened in 2023?” said Maryland pastor Keith Myer, who has been outspoken for the cause of Southern Baptist sexual abuse survivors. “That feels like a whole lot of nothing to me.”
The U.S. Department of Justice did not respond to a voicemail requesting comment on its plan for the future and whether the possibility of future criminal charges remains.