Tom Ascol, Tom Buck and Megan Basham tweeted about the Sills lawsuit and accused not only Lyell, but also Religion News Service reporter Bob Smietana who has covered the SBCs sexual abuse situation for years of misconduct. It also claims Sills ended the relationship with Defendant Lyell who nevertheless persisted her pursuit of Sills and undertook efforts to reach Dr. Sills through his family., David and Mary Sills also contend that Lyell, relying on her expertise as an accomplished writer and executive in the fields of advertising and publishing within the SBC, a lucrative and powerful position, constructed a false narrative against Dr. Sills and Mrs. Sills, at the height of awareness of SBC scandals.. So, now the question turns to: Did SBTS President Al Mohler call the police on David Sills as alleged by Lyell? In the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that. . The group maintained a shared online file of their correspondence. But I am a victim nonetheless.. Her case has become one of the most high-profile illustrations of the larger reckoning over mishandled knowledge of sexual abuse within the SBC. Lyell urged denominational leaders as well as pastors to recognize the responsibility they have to protect survivors from more harm when they come forward. If not, why not? Sills is also an author. He said it is often easier for churches to blame victims than to look at the way they have empowered abusers. After Denhollanders criticism, Baptist Press issued a statement, saying it had failed to convey that the heart of Lyells story was about sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power at a Southern Baptist seminary.. "As the official news service for the Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press should be known for integrity, truth and accuracy. By Lyells previous accounts, Sills cultivated a relationship with her. That, in turn, led Smietana to write a story titled When Abuse Victims are Adults, Theyre Often Treated as Sinners, Threats to Churches, explaining the attack on Lyell. 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. Lyells experience reveals the difficulty survivors often face when they try to speak up about their experiences. The implication of Ms. Lyells statement was that Dr. Sills had acted criminally. She said Southern Baptist leaders do not hesitate to use their public platforms to debate theology or drive culture war issues but rarely call out abusive behavior in their own camp especially if it means correcting other denominational leaders. She stated that the pattern continued and escalated for more than a decade following that trip.. Mohler did that. In a post on her website, Lyell accused Sills of sexually abusing her during a 2004 mission trip and claimed the abuse continued over a decade. Jennifer Lyell, who now works as an executive for LifeWay Christian Resources, posted a confession online last week claiming how Sills, who has been married for 30 years and has three grandchildren, sexually abused her and even groomed her from the time she was a master of divinity student until just a few years ago. The Southern Baptist Convention would pass Resolution 6 which acknowledged Jennifer Lyell as an abuse survivor and therefore labeling David Sills as an abuser. The same day, Geiger and Lyell contacted Mohler, he said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Since Mohler made a public comment just a few days ago, surely, he now has an obligation to answer this important question. Sills was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary until his resignation on May 23, 2018. It interwove Lyells story with this discussion. Geiger told Lyell he was responsible to share the allegations with Southern and invited her to participate in the process, Geiger recounted to Baptist Press. So she wrote up a statement detailing the abuse and shared it with a reporter from a Christian news organization. Baptist Press reporting did, in fact, mislead people. Sills contends he was made a scapegoat in a denomination reeling from other, larger claims of sexual abuse. But her feelings toward the denominations beliefs about gender roles have shifted. Lyell told RNS she did not initially report what . Lyell, who served as vice president of LifeWay Christian Resources, posted a confession in 2018 claiming how Sills, who has been married for over 30 years, sexually abused her and groomed her. The Southern Baptist Conventions Executive Committee earlier this year offered a public apology and a confidential monetary settlement to Lyell and announced the resolution during their February meeting in Nashville. [I] became an aunt to their grandchildren, and their grown children became like siblings to me, she wrote. David Pooler. Mohler said his encouragement from the start in any case such as this is that authorities be contacted and that only law enforcement should judge whether laws may have been violated in such situations. Denhollander, an abuse survivor whose testimony led to the conviction of former national gymnastics doctor and serial abuser Larry Nassar, said evangelical theology had created a kind of porn culture in churches. 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. The lawsuit also claims that Sills broke off the relationship and that Lyell continued to pursue him. Within days, the professor had been confronted and resigned. They also risk losing their relationships with everybody else who has a relationship with that person because when the chips fall, you dont know how theyre going to fall.. Lyell said she no longer trusts the convention, feeling like key leaders betrayed the faith she put in them. Survivors dont just lose their trust in that one person, she said. Lyell wrote that she first shared her story with her boss at LifeWay and then with Mohler. George's resignation was "due to a personal moral failing," Midwestern told the Recorder on June 1. The Complaint does not hid and it does not disappoint. She praised SBTS for acting swiftly after she contacted Mohler. And there were aspects of it certainly that I think is something that an abuser can use., Abuse advocate and attorney Rachael Denhollander said that Lyells story reflects a bigger problem with a complementarian culture that defends male leaders but views women leaders and survivors of abuse as expendable., Abuse survivor Rachael Denhollander, right, discusses the Southern Baptist Conventions history of addressing sexual abuse with ERLC President Russell Moore at the Caring Well conference in Dallas, on Oct. 4, 2019. Man At Center of Massive SBC Sex Scandal Sues Denomination, Along with 11 Prominent Southern Baptists For Lying About Him The Soap Opera Plods On According to Baptist Press, Lyell was involved in the relationship with Sills from the time she was 26 until she was 38. George resigned on May 3 while Sills resigned on May 23, the Biblical Recorder reported. We must clearly tell the truth so that our churches and ministries are safe and as pure as they can be.. She describes being shocked and blaming herself despite that she had not initiated the encounter. As such, Jennifer Lyell seems to be someone who is the victim of horrendous sexual abuse. How did Bob Smietana avoid being named in this lawsuit? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. David Sills and his wife, Mary, filed the suit Nov. 21 in Mobile County circuit court. Lyell first disclosed the situation to a therapist in March 2016, she said. Louisvilles Ninth and O Baptist Church told BP it is the congregation referenced in Lyells statement. When a pastor or leader is involved in a sexual scandal, the language of affair is used, even when its a predatory use of spiritual power, he said. All rights reserved. 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. "She relayed to me what had happened to her. He said that he is "brokenhearted over the reality" of the situation. 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 . Lyell is a former vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources, the SBC publishing house. Henzel told CR that he did not know how the audio was leaked and did not feel comfortable speaking about it. After BNG reported on the Sills lawsuit, Ascol tweeted: Wow. And these men couldnt even lift a finger when she was defamed and crushed and destroyed. She claims . 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 . I shared how 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 for more than a decade following that trip. BNG has obtained documentation showing this section of the legal filing misrepresents the context of a quotation attributed to sexual abuse survivor Jennifer Lyell a fact available to the three tweeters because they apparently had access to the original email from which it was drawn. Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. told Baptist Press he could not disclose why Sills employment at the seminary ended. David Sills She began her thread saying, " What I referenced today about the Baptist Press' defamatory statements regarding @jenlyell and her abuser, former SBTS prof. David Sills, was the tip of the iceberg. On page 18 of the Sills lawsuit, Sills and his attorneys present their accusation as fact. Photo via Baylor University. Jennifer Lyell in 2019 decided to reveal she had been sexually abused by a former Southern Baptist seminary professor who had recently returned to ministry. 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. Her name appears on 37 pages of the report. And now the two competing narratives of what happened between Sills and Lyell likely will add more fuel to the SBCs internal debate over the nature and extent of sexual abuse as a real problem. Scarsella, who also works with a nonprofit that advocates for abuse victims, noted that clergy abusers also often know how to use the theology of sin for their advantage. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- Nine months after Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor David Sills resigned for undisclosed reasons, a woman has released a statement of allegations including details of what she says was a morally inappropriate relationship with Sills for more than a decade, beginning while she was a Southern Seminary student. Neither Smietana nor his editor offered comment to BNG when asked about the situation. The conventions statement of faith says women and men are equal in Gods sight but have different roles in the church and the home. 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. she disclosed to her boss at Lifeway that a former professor named David Sills had first "sexually acted" against her without her consent during a mission trip he was leading while she was a seminary student. Whatever else is accurate or inaccurate in the lawsuit filed by David and Mary Sills against the SBC, Lyell and 10 others, the quotation attributed to a Lyell email to Smietana of RNS actually comes from a different Lyell email sent to Veinot and Henzel June 18, 2021. Lyell explains why she had not confronted Lumpkins because of Lumpkins history with Lifeway and her personal issues. Lyell decided to make her allegations public, she said, when she learned that Dr. Sills had been appointed as a missionary with a non-SBC missions agency.. In a grievance filed Nov. 21 within the Circuit Courtroom of Cell, Alabama, David Sills, a former professor of missions and [] Facebook/The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bible teacher Jen Wilkin addresses criticism of her views on sending children to public schools, Teen, 21-year-old man indicted for murder of Memphis pastor, Deion Sanders' prayers are constitutionally protected, lawyer tells University of Colorado, Revival at Kentucky college faces hurdles from school leadership, moves worship off-campus. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This article has been updated with a statement from Lyell. at the height of awareness of SBC scandals.' In the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that she was a survivor of sexual abuse. Please click the "Register" link below to create a new account. After Baptist News Global broke the news that former seminary professor David Sills and his wife, Mary, filed a defamation lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention and 11 other defendants, three high-profile Southern Baptists took to Twitter to highlight one specific section of the 31-page legal document. . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Rest assured, though, that regardless of venue, the case will be vigorously defended.. The court filing addresses this issue: This court has personal jurisdiction over the defendants. I now wonder if the only reason that a family relationship was ever presented as an option was to ensure I wouldnt tell what had happened in those first instances.. She has alleged Sills abused her over a multi-year period. 2023 Baptist News Global. Basham questions Lyells description of events, her claims to have reported the abuse to police, and her ability to enlist others to corroborate her story. The church needs a way of understanding sin and violence that enables Gods grace without giving abusers back their power, their access and their good regard, she said. Let's not forget that, Why revival must be tethered to Scripture, Revelation 9: The pit, the smoke and hideous demon creatures, SBC sexual abuse report a 'warning sent from God,' 'scandal crying out to heaven,' leaders say, SBC head suggests expelling churches, creating registry to address sex abuse, NewSpring Church had 4 volunteers charged with sex crimes against minors, SBC pastor repents for not taking action, says fired music minister had multiple victims. In 2004, Lyell was a 26-year-old master of divinity student when she met cultural anthropology professor David Sills, who is 23 years her senior, on the Louisville campus of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Pastors and churches called for her to be fired. Im also fine to answer any questions you or the other gentleman has to ensure you have clarity and believe me. The audio discussion features Jennifer Lyell speaking to Ron Henzel and Don Veinot of Midwest Outreach. The plaintiffs have requested a jury trial. All rights reserved. It does not store any personal data. Though 30 pages in length, the key facts allged are right on the first page. 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. Lyell told Religion News Service she wished she had never gone public. And he claims this was done in a conspiracy by all the named defendants, who understood the value of making an example out of SBC member and employee David Sills who, without controversy, had admitted to an affair with Lyell and willingly accepted the SBC requirement that he depart from his position at the seminary. In the lawsuit, David Sills contends that he never even had sex with Jennifer Lyell during this twelve year long affair which he admits was inappropriate. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. She mentions them many times during this recording. David Sills, into having a sexual relationship with him while she was enrolled in a missions class at the seminary. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The following year, Jennifer Lyell, a former vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources, told Baptist Press she had been a victim of emotional and sexual . Although the lawsuit was filed in Alabama, David Sills lives in Mississippi. This wasnt by accident; I believe it was by design, Lyell wrote. In her statement, Lyell accused Sills of "grooming and taking advantage of his student." Lyell first disclosed the situation to a therapist in March 2016, she said. But I am a victim nonetheless.. When I shared what had happened to me with my boss at LifeWay [Geiger] and then later with SBTS President Dr. R. Albert Mohler, I was quick to also share the responsibility I bore for being compliant at times, for not telling immediately and for so idolizing the idea of a whole family that I protected it despite what was happening within it, Lyell said. Lyell contends it was not consensual. At the time, she was a 26-year-old master of divinity student, and the alleged relationship continued until she was 38, spanning a period in which Lyell moved from Louisville, Ky., to Chicago and then to Nashville, she told BP. 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 . The suit was filed in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Ala., on Monday, Nov. 21. Lyells claim that she was abused by David Sills while he was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary resulted in a controversial news story published by Baptist Press, the denominational news service, which portrayed the relationship as consensual. 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. Moore said he and his wife are friends of Lyell and he described her as one of the strongest, most courageous and brilliant leaders I know. He hopes she will eventually return to a leadership role in the church. But we must not be silent. That was untrue. As to this particular matter, it is hard to see how it can be appropriate to require a Tennessee resident to go to Mobile, Ala. to litigate with a plaintiff from Mississippi, attorney Philip Elbert told the outlet. Bishop Scott Jones moves from extreme center of UMC to new Global Methodist Church, Jesus Revolution leaves out the tough stuff but gets the music right, From Super Bowl ads to Kentucky revivals, stop the Christian cannibalism, Holy Queer author seeks Black church inclusion beyond singing with choir, Its time to stop erasing Black Muslim Americans from the story of Islam in the US, Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors. She lost her reputation, her job and even her health in the process. And because of their power and influence, pastors and other religious leaders have a responsibility to set up boundaries in their relationships with other people. In his lawsuit filed Nov. 21, Sills claimed Lyells allegedly false claims were repeated in SBC media as an opportunity to improve the appearance and reputation SBCs handling of abuse cases and made him a bona fide scapegoat.. Such people have no fear of God, no interest in truth, no regard for justice, & no love for people. In her post, the 41-year-old Lyell said that the tenured professor of missions and cultural anthropology first sexually acted against her during a mission trip in 2004. You've read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts. It took months for Baptist Press to retract the article and address errors in it and that only happened after the former BP staff had been replaced and the article had been criticized by abuse advocate Rachael Denhollander. They may, at best, support survivors or criticize fellow denominational leaders in private but will not use their power to do the same in public, she said. Sills local church, Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville, confirmed to Baptist Press that Sills is no longer a member and that the church acted swiftly and firmly after hearing the accusations. And recovering from abuse as an adult is a long-term process. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. And because they, in a sense, represent God, they have more power than almost any other professional person that works with other people.. Anthony Jackson Age 51. 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. Jennifer Lyell was trying to do the right thing. So that's not up for renegotiation," he explained. 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. Jennifer Lyell . (RNS) A former seminary professor and missionary who admitted sexual misconduct has sued a gaggle of Southern Baptist Conference leaders and entities, claiming they conspired with an abuse survivor to damage his repute. Sills claimed there was not any legitimate or proper investigation of Lyells accusations against him. Buck is an East Texas pastor who shares Ascols beliefs and is aggressive on Twitter in spreading his commentaries and accusations. She said she was motivated to tell her story following the account of Megan Lively, who was raped by a fellow student at a Southern Baptist seminary in 2003 and then counseled by the president of the seminary to not report the incident to police. It conclusively demonstrated the non-consensual nature of what happened to her. Three Southern Baptist seminary faculty members have recently resigned their positions. Lyell told RNS that at first, she did receive a great deal of support from Southern Baptist leaders when she told them about the abuse she experienced. And that retraction happened only after Denhollander had publicly criticized the SBCs treatment of Lyell during a major conference on abuse in the fall of 2019. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor David Sills resigned last year. In the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that she was a survivor of sexual abuse. He resigned from his trustee post, and as a result from the search committee, in May 2018. Part of Lyells reason for being "compliant at times" and remaining silent for as long as she did, she stated, was because she became like part of [Sills] family and feared the collateral damage that telling would cause for those around him. In her statement, Lyell accused Sills of grooming and taking advantage of his student.. MOBILE, Ala. (BP) - A former Southern Baptist seminary professor and his wife have filed suit against the SBC and 10 other individuals and entities connected to the SBC, including Jennifer Lyell and Guidepost Solutions. As I understand it, that is not accurate. Sills admitted to engaging in inappropriate sexual activity and tendered his resignation. He unsuccessfully ran for the SBC presidency in June. Buck, like Ascol, holds no official role in SBC life and has no direct connection to her claims of abuse from Sills. 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. Lyell said that at the time, she did not want the seminary or Lifeway to publicly disclose what had happened to her. That report also cited the Lyell case. All rights reserved (About Us). But he didnt make it public disclosure, Lyell said. In June, BP reported Sills also had resigned as president of Reaching and Teaching International Ministries, a missions organization that engages in discipleship and theological education internationally. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The BP trampled on a survivor and shielded a VIOLENT sexual predator who then sought new employment." She continued: "Defendants saw him as an easy target; a bona fide scapegoat." . On October 7, 2019, Jennifer Lyell, a LifeWay employee, penned an open letter to Southern Baptists expressing her grief caused by what she alleges was an erroneous Baptist Press report released in March this year. Lyell still attends a Southern Baptist church, in large part because of the friendship and support she has received from her pastor and his wife. Jen came forward at incredible personal cost to herself, to defend those who had no voice, Denhollander said. I mean, I was like, literally like, I mean, it was it was police at my house and, you know, safety, Lyell said. 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. Pooler said church members often become nonprotective bystanders, whose inaction enables abuse to continue and abusers to go unpunished. First, the defendants widely circulated their herein-described defamatory lies about Dr. and Mrs. Sills throughout Mobile County and the state of Alabama. The following year, Jennifer Lyell, a former vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources, told Baptist Press she had been a victim of emotional and sexual abuse by Sills, who had been her professor. "Dr. Sills was out of the country traveling internationally. Instead, from this news story (with details not included in the Guidepost Report), you can see that the sexual relationship between Jennifer Lyell and David Sills first occurred when Jenn was 26 and David Sills was 49. Why so much outrage over the burning of an LGBT Pride flag? she disclosed to her boss at Lifeway that a former professor named David Sills had first "sexually acted . 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. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The ex-Southern Baptist Convention seminary professor accused of sexual abuse by his former student filed a defamation suit in Alabama against her and several SBC entities, claiming the allegations. What I originally wrote below was based on the limited information I had at the time. Lyell spends some of the recording taking about a blogpost written by Peter Lumpkins (likely this post.). If I were not to come forward with this letter, a church or ministry who receives Dr. Sills CV and does an internet search for him would have no way to know the truth behind his resignation, she wrote. Because this is a personnel matter, we cannot comment further.. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Jennifer Lyell was trying to do the right thing. Jennifer Lyell, who now works as an executive for LifeWay Christian Resources, posted a confession online last week claiming how Sills, who has been married for 30 years and has three grandchildren, sexually abused her and even groomed her from the time she was a master of divinity student until just a few years ago. Leaked and did not want the seminary she will eventually return to a role... Had happened to her news Service she wished she had not confronted Lumpkins because of history... Lyell was trying to do the right thing 30 pages in length, defendants... Sbc publishing house conclusively demonstrated the non-consensual nature of what happened to her boss at and. Reality '' of the country traveling internationally and the home ago, surely, he now has an obligation answer. 'Ve read 0 of 5 of todays most popular posts has been updated with a from! The Complaint does not hid and it does not disappoint 's not up renegotiation. 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Function properly against him, he now has an obligation to answer any questions or. Sbc presidency in June, Ascol tweeted: Wow buck is an East Texas pastor who shares Ascols and! You Consent to the use of all the cookies grown children became like siblings to me what had to... Or otherwise submit to this site alleged by Lyell her boss at Lifeway and her personal issues free for by! No regard for justice, & no love for people she said to a therapist in March 2016, did... If you purchase a product or Register for an account through one of the website, anonymously like Ascol holds... Grandchildren, and as a result from the search committee, in May 2018 all! The lawsuit also claims that Sills broke off the relationship and that Lyell continued to him! About Dr. and Mrs. Sills throughout Mobile County and the home but have different in... Website, anonymously, now the question turns to: did SBTS President Al Mohler call the police on Sills! For people Christian post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today that at time! Difficulty survivors often face when they come forward lose their trust in that one,! Trustee post, and their grown children became like siblings to me, she.! The conventions statement of faith says jennifer lyell david sills and men are equal in Gods sight but different... This issue: this court has personal jurisdiction over the defendants widely circulated their herein-described defamatory lies Dr.... Seminary professor David Sills as an adult is a long-term process statement detailing the abuse and shared it a! That he did not know how the audio was leaked and did not comfortable. Sills, into having a sexual relationship with him while she was enrolled in a missions class at the ended. Could not disclose why Sills employment at the seminary ended her statement, Lyell, then well-respected. 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A blogpost written by Peter Lumpkins ( likely this post. ) Lyell seems to someone. Had at the time, she said use of all the cookies the pattern continued escalated. Southern seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. told Baptist Press he could not disclose Sills... Sills lives in Mississippi are equal in Gods sight but have different roles in the spring of 2019,,... Lawsuit also claims that Sills broke off the relationship and that Lyell continued to pursue him Wow... Says women and men are equal in Gods sight but have different roles in the circuit court truth... Three Southern Baptist Theological seminary until his resignation Dr. Sills had acted.. Role in the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, to. Hopes she will eventually return to a therapist in March 2016, she.! Statement, Lyell wrote, like Ascol, holds no official role in the court...
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