Hunt sues SBC for defamation

Nashville, Tenn. | Former SBC President Johnny Hunt filed suit March 17 against the Southern Baptist Convention, the SBC Executive Committee (EC), and Guidepost Solutions. The suit seeks damages related to defamation and the invasion of privacy based on accusations made against Hunt in the 2022 Guidepost investigation into alleged mishandling of sexual abuse claims by the EC.

In the report, Guidepost stated, “During our investigation, an SBC pastor and his wife came forward to report that SBC President Johnny Hunt (2008-2010) had sexually assaulted the wife on July 25, 2010.” Guidepost says their report “was corroborated in part by a counseling minister and three other credible witnesses; and our investigators did not find Dr. Hunt’s statements related to the sexual assault allegation to be credible.”

Hunt contends he was made a scapegoat. “The encounter involving [Hunt] had nothing to do with the types of reports that led to Guidepost’s engagement. It should not have been included in Guidepost’s report. Indeed, it should not have been published at all,” the lawsuit says.

Messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting overwhelmingly approved a motion calling for a task force to oversee a third-party investigation into allegations of the EC’s mishandling of abuse claims. Guidepost Solutions interviewed hundreds of people connected to the claims.

The suit states Hunt “lost his job; he lost income from speaking engagements and… publishing opportunities. His losses are substantial.”

Hunt resigned from his vice president position with the North American Mission Board shortly before the release of the Guidepost report. Hunt has resumed preaching engagements after a group of four pastors declared his restoration complete. The church he served for more than 30 years, FBC Woodstock, Georgia, was not one of them.

– excerpted from Baptist Press

Many employees worry about workplace repercussions for expressing deeply held views both at work and even while off the clock, according to the new Ipsos Freedom at Work survey commissioned by Alliance Defending Freedom. While 3 out of 5 respondents say that respectfully expressing religious or political viewpoints would “likely or somewhat likely” carry negative consequences at work, another 1-in-4 say they know someone who has experienced such negative consequences. More than half of all employees (54%) say they fear that sharing political content on their own social media accounts.

Data collected on Fortune 1000 companies’ policies shows employees have good reason to fear: Of 50 benchmarked companies, only one— Paychex—confirms that it respects employees’ civil rights outside of work.

Teen depression rises

The Centers for Disease Control reports 57% of high school girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, a nearly 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade. And 30% seriously considered suicide. In comparison, 29% of boys the same age reported the same feelings. “These data show our kids need far more support to cope, hope, and thrive,” CDC’s Debra Houry said.

– USA Today

Rising gay tide slows

After climbing steadily for almost a decade, the percentage of Americans who identify as LGBTQ remained steady at 7.2% in 2022, according to the latest Gallup survey. The percentage is more than double Gallup’s first measurement in 2012 (3.5%). Most say they are bisexual (4.2%). Fewer say they are gay (1.4%), lesbian (1%), or transgender (0.6%). Approximately 0.1% claim some other sexuality label.

LGBTQ identification is higher among younger generations. Almost 1-in-5 adult members of Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2004, identify in that way (19.7%), with the overwhelming majority claiming to be bisexual (13.1%). More than 1-in-10 millennials (11.2%) say they are LGBTQ. Among older generations, the percentages are much smaller: 3.3% of Generation X, 2.7% of baby boomers, and 1.7% of the silent generation.

– Baptist Press