In a statement from the new VP for communications, Jonathan Howe, Baptist Press admitted that their previous reporting on the Jennifer Lyell story was woefully inadequate.
When Jennifer told her story, Baptist Press, though it was begged to do so by many, including Jennifer herself, failed to make it absolutely clear that there was nothing consensual about the “relationship” between her and Dr. David Sills. Because of their failure to report the story accurately, many attacked Jennifer, asking why she was not disciplined for her “immorality.” (It was disgusting, to ask why a victim of sexual assault was not punished for being assaulted!). But the failure to accurately report the story led to Jennifer enduring much pain.
Jonathan made the following statement on the Baptist Press Twitter feed today.
This statement was not satisfying to Rachael Denhollander, who in her Twitter called for an investigation into Baptist Press and its failure to accurately report abuse allegations against Sills and against the abuser of Debbie Vasquez.
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. The BP trampled on a survivor and shielded a VIOLENT sexual predator who then sought new employment.”
She continued:
This isn’t the first time in recent history that @baptistpress has done this. They did the same thing to survivor Debbie Vasquez, who became pregnant at 17 through rape by her SBC pastor. Debbie also begged them to correct this, to no avail. He is still a pastor.
— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) October 5, 2019
You can read her feed for the rest of her very direct confrontation of the situation.
Here is what I believe, based on the facts I have.
1. Baptist Press reporting did, in fact, mislead people. I had discussions on our boards here with people who were convinced by the reporting that David Sills and Jennifer had an “affair” and that he was held responsible for it while she was not. That was not accurate. It was not consensual and it was not an affair and Baptist Press’ reporting allowed people to think that.
2. Jonathan Howe made a good start by admitting the fact that the reporting was inaccurate. I am grateful he has come aboard. I hope this will signal a new era in accurate, full, and truthful reporting at Baptist Press.
3. Rachael Denhollander is likely correct that a simple apology is insufficient at this point. Great damage was done to Jennifer and to others because of this reporting. Her idea of an independent investigation or at least a complete accounting of all that went on in the decision to NOT report the truth is fair.
If the SBC is going to “Care Well” then Baptist Press must be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
My chief reason for publishing this is that I remember having discussions with many people who spoke ill of Jennifer. I hope you will accept the truth. She did NOT have a consensual relationship with David Sills. She was a victim of his evil predatory acts. If you spoke ill of her, I hope you will realize your mistake.
This statement
Listen, folks, could we assume that this situation is a bit like an iceberg? We see some things, but we only see a fraction of what is going on. Maybe we can reserve our judgment until we see how everything unfolds in the days ahead. i am not saying that everything is fixed, but I think that it might take some time to fix it all.
Dave you comment is a good word. A rush to judgement will nearly always produce negative results. Your iceberg analogy is spot on…Thanks
Dave, you are right: A simple apology from BP is not enough. What would be wonderfully appropriate would be if everyone who repeated the false story, or who said anything negative to–or about–Ms. Lyell that was not supportive and helpful, would themselves tender an apology directly to her, by mail, or e-mail. What they did was wrong, and making it right with here would be a major gesture toward real healing and reconciliation. A public statement of apology by everyone who sinned in this way, in the venue where-in their offense occurred–twitter, FB, Pulpit, Blog, whatever–would be the next appropriate step. Again, this step would further heal the wound and in some small measure right the wrong that has been done.
I really like what you have written Fred. Kudos Dave. Excellent post.
I would think that Howe to be an ally when it comes to dealing with abuse and such.
We published about this back when it happened and specifically recommended people read the Biblical Recorder article rather than the BP article for this reason.
https://sbcvoices.com/lyell-statement-on-sexual-abuse-released-details-circumstances-of-sbts-professor-resignation/
Is it possible that that the Baptist Press is a good example of fake news that is currently in the headlines? Who do we trust anymore? Why was this article ever printed if the facts were not known correctly ? Does the gate keeper of facts and events that are to be reported slanted by a hidden agenda to advance a point of view or to protect an institution that fails to do slose its validity as a teller of facts. There is no way that this slanted reporting of the David Sills betrayal of a young persons trust and innocence as well as an horrible abuse of his position and his authoirty can be constructed as misleading people. It was a cover up and someone at a low level will get the blame but the real culpits will be left in the inner circle perhaps speaking at events lamenting the abuse. No excuse for this, none. The powers that allowed this just got caught and are playing cover up.
Fake news? No. But they have been PR more than reporters.
They butchered the story of the church that fired its pastor for inviting black kids to VBS. Made it sound like it wasn’t so bad. Total hack job.
They have often tried to spin things to make us look good. That’s PR. Hopefully things will b.c e better with Howe in charge.
Yeah. I do not think Howe was in leadership at BP at the time of either of those stories were ran.
I expect he will do a good job.
There was once a mindset that said Christian living must attract people through its perfection. Southern Gospel music was all about victories and warm fuzzies. Churches pushed scandals aside in order to protect the church. Accusations of misconduct were met with, “You shouldn’t talk about such things, or say stuff like that about people.”
While I do not know those who run Baptist Press, referring to Sills’ actions as being part of an inappropriate relationship certainly seems to fit the attitude of “don’t hurt the church, even if it means smoothing over the unpleasantness.” There’s that PR Mr Miller mentioned.
The fear of “hurting SBC work” by revealing the truth has driven much of the wrong things that have happened.
Amen Dave and Ethan
Sadly, BP has been untrustworthy for years. It has always been about deflection and denial on these types of issues
I have no confidence this will change given their history
There is a new sheriff and deputy in town at EC. Maybe things will get better. This seems to be a very good indication. And Howe has only been there a few weeks.
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From what I have read and followed about Jonathan Howe, the new VP over the Baptist Press, he will make big changes. I pray the constant positive PR spin will end and genuine, authentic articles with clear integrity will be the order of the day. Now with Jonathan Howe and Amy Whitfield in charge over for the past few weeks, I believe change is in the works.
We can be hopeful that new leadership will bring about change BUT this response is unacceptable. Baptist Press’ response is too little too late especially since it comes only after being called out publicly at the Caring Well conference. It is particularly sad since it appears that the SBC’s PR wing is still refusing to be open and honest. Why could they not have said “we got it wrong and we are sorry”? Why is genuine sorrow and repentance so difficult for those in power?
And to me it is not enough to say “well that happened under the old leadership”. The new leadership is there now and needs to address frankly and clearly what was done wrong in the past.
#CanWeJustGiveHoweAChance
Agreed.
Wasn’t this a chance? An opportunity to honestly and openly respond to BP’s intentional misreporting? Yet again no response came until there was very public attention drawn to wrongdoing. Shouldn’t Ms. Lyell’s repeated requests to BP to correct their misreport been the “chance” to correct their mistake. I agree that hopefully things will be different under new leadership but haven’t victims and survivors waited far too long and given way too many chances?
Simeone made a good point on Twitter, this piece was more of an oops we could do better than an apology. They could have done better on this piece.
Baptist Press has functioned as a vehicle to disseminate news from the SBC agencies. I think it should morph more to doing investigative journalism. They shouldn’t just print press releases from the agencies without doing some independent fact checking. What ever happened to investigative journalism?
In the specific case at hand they should invite op-eds from several different leaders in the #METOO movement as well as people from the seminaries and churches etc.
Also, it would help if Rachel Denhollander wrote a letter to the editor of BP and then BP published it on their website.
I thought the 3 day conference in Dallas was excellent. I was glued to my computer live streaming it. But I missed some of the sessions because the internet was overloaded. I will look at those I missed later since I believe that the sessions are going to be archived and available for viewing from the internet within a week or so.
it’s hard to fathom anyone in SBC leadership has enough honesty & integrity to pursue and present the full truth about anything. the abiding concern seems to be consolidation of power, and revenue. nothing must jeopardize either of those.
[…] time ago as the scandal of clergy sex abuse got to the place where it couldn’t be ignored. As evidenced by recent events, Baptist Press is changing. Part of the difficulty is with personnel and funding, […]
Baptist Press is owned by the SBC and operates under the same trustee and governance model as the rest of the SBC entities. It can’t ever be a neutral. impartial observer and reporter of news because being fair, impartial and neutral are almost always perceived as being “against” or on the “other side” when the truth doesn’t favor their own perspective. And like most entities in the SBC, there is little done to prevent nepotism, favoritism and influences used to get trustees appointed for the purpose of protecting specific leaders or entity heads, or to remove them if that becomes the agenda of the prominent and influential people who control denominational politics.
I watched a fair amount of the “Caring Well” conference last week. What I saw was done well. I gather that there are still a lot of Southern Baptists who think that much of what has come to light in their denomination is a lot of conspiracy connected to the “metoo” movement which is simply a deep state plot to undermine the evangelical movement and especially the conservative resurgence and they wouldn’t trust the ERLC because Moore doesn’t like Trump. In spite of all of that, one of the best points made in the conference was about what the SBC can actually do, by Boz Tchividjian who pointed out that the convention would have absolutely no problem with “local church autonomy” with a church that called an openly gay or lesbian, or female pastor and therefore should not have a problem with this.
Is it possible to have an independent, free Baptist Press? That’s the only way it will ever avoid being seen as a propaganda arm of the convention’s executive board. Otherwise, anything it reports will be evaluated as having a particular bias and controlled perspective.
It’s one thing to be the bought-and-paid-for PR arm of the SBC but quite another to publish things that are untrue and then to refuse to correct your error after many pleadings to do the right thing. Howe’s note is the smallest of steps in the right direction. The Lyell story does deserve much closer examination and, as Denhollander says, specific biblical repentance.
Jonathon Howe said, “As I understand it, this is not accurate.”
not accurate?? A report mistaking “30% chance of rain” for “80% chance of rain” would be not accurate.
Jonathon Howe, your publication lied. Willfully lied about Jennifer Lyell and Debbie Vasquez. The consequences for them were devastating, heaping abuse upon abuse.
These are the things i expect you to apologize for in a manner commensurate with the egregiousness of your organization’s ungodly actions and inactions.
Waiting to see conviction. Wondering if anyone there has the courage of your convictions. Or perhaps you all just company men.
[…] hope you will accept the truth,” wrote Miller, an Iowa pastor and blogger who was president of the 2017 SBC Pastors’ Conference. “She […]
[…] hope you will accept the truth,” wrote Miller, an Iowa pastor and blogger who was president of the 2017 SBC Pastors’ Conference. “She […]