Church Abuse Survivors Create Database to Protect the Vulnerable, Track Abusers

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No one wants to believe that abuse actually happens within the institution of the Church, and certainly not within their own denomination. Congregants want to believe that pastors are “the good guys” that God has placed in their path to help them grow as Christians and in their relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately, when abuse has occurred in the past, it has been covered up, and guilty leaders have been moved to another parish or church, only to be free to hurt others. Those who have been abused suffer for the rest of their life with feelings of shame, guilt and more, even though they aren’t to blame.

Survivors Sound the Alarm through the Database

A group of church abuse survivors has banded together and is aiming all the pain and negative emotion into creating a database designed to protect others from the pain and darkness they have experienced, while exposing alleged abusers so they are hindered from repeating the ugly cycle of abuse in a different congregation. The website is very clear that the information posted comes from news reports, court records, state attorneys general's reports, existing survivor-run archives and other publicly available information. It also notes that all the accused are innocent until proven guilty, according to Relevant.

Not only is information about lead pastors available, but the database also includes information about youth pastors, worship leaders, associate pastors and church staff.

“We started this group to protect the vulnerable, expose the wrongdoers, deter cover-ups and heal the wounded,” Chellee Taylor told Relevant.

The website is called ProtestantAccountability.org, and it lists 2,700 perpetrators across 100 denominations. These include clergy, lay staff, teachers and camp counselors, according to a statement at a press conference last week attended by BaptistNews.com.

“This is an effort to spread awareness, inform the public, protect potential victims and help heal those who’ve already been wounded,” Taylor said during the press conference. She was victimized as an adult by a campus pastor at Journey Church, a Southern Baptist Convention church in Orlando, and later won a settlement in 2022.

“This database has the potential to save others from the suffering I endured not just at the hands of my pastor, but by the institution who chose to protect him over honoring God with accountability, transparency and truth,” Taylor added.

Other Online Databases also Exist

This site is a newer one among several other online databases designed to warn and protect. A few other sites that are out there include StopBaptistPredators.org, Bishop-accountability.org, and SnapNetwork.org.

Not only are the sites intended for use by church parents and staff, but also by police and prosecutors. It’s possible that not every perpetrator will be on every site.

“This impact will be enhanced greatly by Protestant Accountability because lawmakers will see that this is not just a Catholic thing at all, this is something that affects all religious communities. I feel we will get significant legislative reform out of the effort that Chelle and Dom have started,” Terence McKiernan, President of BishopAccountability.org, told Baptist News.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Darwin Brandis

Elizabeth Delaney has been a freelance content writer for over 20 years and has enjoyed having her prose published in both the non-fiction and fiction markets. She has written various types of content, including Christian articles, healthy lifestyle, blog posts, business topics, news articles, product descriptions, and some fiction. She is also a singer-songwriter-musician. When she is not busy with writing or music, she enjoys spending time with friends or family and doing fun social activities such as hiking, swing dancing, concerts, and other activities.