liamsadams.bsky.social
Liam Adams
@liamsadams.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.3K following 1.7K posts
Religion reporter at The Tennessean. From New England to D.C. to Colorado to Tennessee.
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · Mar 19
With the feds' inquiry into in the SBC ending and the denomination’s administrative arm moving forward on reforms with little emphasis on oversight, it’s not just another setback for survivors. It’s time to step away.
Based on recent talks with survivors: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Abuse survivors retreat from advocacy for SBC reform after feds close case: A 'hard death'
With feds closing inquiry into abuse in Southern Baptist Convention and collapse of oversight-related reforms, survivors grieve an end to advocacy.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 8d
Also, ICYMI we published an explainer earlier this month on what this voucher law has meant to religious conservatives' historical fight to shape schooling in America during this Scopes centennial anniversary moment: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
A century after Scopes, vouchers and Supreme Court deliver wins for religious right
Religious conservatives' fight over schooling in America has seen recent, rare gains in a shift for the movement.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 9d
A lot of information about who's benefitting from Tennessee's new school voucher law isn't available, but @rachelannwegner.bsky.social has found many of the participating schools are religious and concentrated in populous counties: www.tennessean.com/story/news/e...
Tennessee school vouchers benefit mostly religious schools in high-population counties
Around 80% of Tennessee private schools taking students with publicly-funded vouchers are religious, a Tennessean analysis shows.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 9d
ICYMI: On Friday morning, I witnessed a demonstration at Lipscomb Academy, a private Christian school for grades Kindergarten through 12th grade, over a decision to change the head of high school's job in a controversy related to dress code, Charlie Kirk: tennessean.com/story/news/e...
Protest at Nashville's Lipscomb Academy after dress code incident tied to Charlie Kirk
Demonstration at Lipscomb Academy raises concerns about head of high school job change following dress code and Kirk-related controversy.
tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 12d
The Museum of Christian and Gospel Music in Nashville opens Oct. 3 after four years of planning and a capital campaign for the 11,000-square-foot space. Melonee Hurt walks readers through the biggest exhibits and what it says about the story of CCM: www.tennessean.com/story/entert...
First-of-its-kind Christian and Gospel Music Museum to open in Nashville. What unearthed treasures to expect
The Gospel Music Association is set to open its first-ever Museum of Christian and Gospel Music and the Mike Curb GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
Voddie Baucham Jr., a leader within Calvinist Baptist spaces in the SBC who was known for critiquing what he saw as “woke” influence on Christianity, died yesterday at 56. He recently had been tapped to lead the new Founders Seminary.
From @bmietana.bsky.social: religionnews.com/2025/09/25/v...
Voddie Baucham Jr., conservative Black pastor and seminary leader, dies at 56
(RNS)— Baucham, who had a history of health issues, had recently started a new role as president of a startup seminary.
religionnews.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
Meanwhile, Iorg said that since June there have been 14 other lawsuits in NC and OK that have been dismissed. Those lawsuits dealt with cases of abuse in local churches in which a victim of alleged abuse has sought to hold the denomination responsible. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Southern Baptists fight 2nd major defamation case as other abuse-related lawsuits conclude
New revelations emerge in David Sills' lawsuit against SBC as denomination hopes to defeat second major defamation case involving abuse allegations.
www.tennessean.com
liamsadams.bsky.social
Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
Jeff Iorg, chief executive of the SBC Executive Committee, said in a Sept. 22 address that the committee is preparing for trial in the Sills case beginning in early 2026, though the judge could rule on motions for a summary judgment beforehand. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Southern Baptists fight 2nd major defamation case as other abuse-related lawsuits conclude
New revelations emerge in David Sills' lawsuit against SBC as denomination hopes to defeat second major defamation case involving abuse allegations.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
"He is not a sexual abuser as he was wrongly labelled," Sills' lawyers told me in a Sept. 23 email. "A fair review of the evidence will show that. We will respond to the motions with truth and with evidence that rebuts the defendants’ select arguments."
www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Southern Baptists fight 2nd major defamation case as other abuse-related lawsuits conclude
New revelations emerge in David Sills' lawsuit against SBC as denomination hopes to defeat second major defamation case involving abuse allegations.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
Other court filings reference additional evidence that supports details reported by @bmietana.bsky.social in June that cited an unsealed transcript from Lyell's deposition (religionnews.com/2025/06/10/j...).
In deposition, Jennifer Lyell revealed details of alleged abuse by SBC leader
(RNS) — The SBC’s Executive Committee has spent millions defending itself against former leaders accused of abuse.
religionnews.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
The SBC and other defendants in the Sills lawsuit have sought to prove in a series of recent filings that Guidepost’s report in May 2022 did not damage Sills’ reputation or career and that Sills did not dispute Lyell’s allegations until recently. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Southern Baptists fight 2nd major defamation case as other abuse-related lawsuits conclude
New revelations emerge in David Sills' lawsuit against SBC as denomination hopes to defeat second major defamation case involving abuse allegations.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
Mohler confronted Sills in May 2018 and “advised Sills that he had two choices: dispute Lyell’s account of nonconsensual contact and face an investigation at SBTS or resign his position,” Guidepost said in a Sept. 19 filing. “The same day, Sills resigned.” www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Southern Baptists fight 2nd major defamation case as other abuse-related lawsuits conclude
New revelations emerge in David Sills' lawsuit against SBC as denomination hopes to defeat second major defamation case involving abuse allegations.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
A series of new filings in the Sills case outlined in greater detail the process by which Southern Baptist Theological Seminary confronted Sills after learning about Lyell’s allegations of abuse. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Southern Baptists fight 2nd major defamation case as other abuse-related lawsuits conclude
New revelations emerge in David Sills' lawsuit against SBC as denomination hopes to defeat second major defamation case involving abuse allegations.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
In April, U.S. District Judge William Campbell dismissed most of Hunt’s claims against the SBC and Guidepost, citing inconsistencies in Hunt’s account & his inability to show Guidepost didn’t do its due diligence. Campbell is also presiding in Sills' case. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Judge’s decision in SBC case a vindication for third-party firm, woman who reported abuse
Alissa Womack, who reported abuse allegations against Southern Baptist Convention ex-president, comes forward after judge endorses third-party report.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
The revelations are part of a larger strategy by the SBC and Guidepost to dismantle Sills’ complaint as it had with another defamation case from former SBC President Johnny Hunt. www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Southern Baptists fight 2nd major defamation case as other abuse-related lawsuits conclude
New revelations emerge in David Sills' lawsuit against SBC as denomination hopes to defeat second major defamation case involving abuse allegations.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
New revelations that emerged from the Sills case support and add to previous publicly available information about Jennifer Lyell’s claims. This comes months after Lyell's passing, who died at the age of 47 (www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...).
Former evangelical Christian publishing exec Jen Lyell remembered for her pursuit of truth
Jen Lyell, a former Christian publishing head who became known for advocating for SBC abuse reform, memorialized by survivors and former SBC leaders.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 13d
There were important updates this week on abuse-related court battles facing the SBC, right as new revelations from the Sills defamation case emerged. A summary of some of those revelations and the SBC's argument to defeat Sills' case like it did Hunt's: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
Southern Baptists fight 2nd major defamation case as other abuse-related lawsuits conclude
New revelations emerge in David Sills' lawsuit against SBC as denomination hopes to defeat second major defamation case involving abuse allegations.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 15d
The meeting ended very quickly and anticlimactically with an announcement the EC disfellowshipped Fountain of Praise in Houston for "lack of reported financial for at least the last 10 years and its lack of intent to cooperate to resolve a question of faith and practice."
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 15d
ICYMI: The National Baptist Convention, USA annual session was a window into the Nashville-based denomination's shifting direction under new leadership, including on women's role in the convention and new partnerships (sometimes causing controversy). www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...
With new leadership, top Black Protestant group address women in pulpit and gerrymandering
Under the leadership of a new president, the National Baptist Convention, USA unveils new partnerships and addresses Trump policies at annual session.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 16d
After, EC members vote to create a special needs ministry task force. This new task force is something Iorg mentioned last night, saying a chairperson has already been selected. This also arose from a referred motion from the SBC annual meeting.
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 16d
Pautienus advised the EC members against supporting a motion to countersue Hunt.

The EC members voted after some additional debate and affirmed the original recommendation to decline to countersue Hunt. Two nays per a voice vote. No Hunt countersuit.
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 16d
That new lawsuit is only eligible to be filed once the original lawsuit is fully over, Pautienus added. Also, "it is a malicious prosecution claim, which generally are not easy to maintain. You have to show zero merit," the lawyer said.
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 16d
Iorg steps in and advises the EC members against supporting a motion to countersue Hunt. He then brings up EC counsel Robert Pautienus, who says that per TN law you technically can't countersue. It would be a new lawsuit, Pautienus said.
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 16d
"I think there is a moral cost benefit in standing up for what is right and I think that has merit here," Bryson added. She also said that countersuing Hunt "discourages" future lawsuits the SBC thinks is meritless.
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 16d
"But if we are willing to spend money toward an amicus brief, which is an offensive move, I think we should look at the cost benefit of countersuing here," Bryson, also an attorney, said from the floor.
(The "amicus brief" she's referring to: www.tennessean.com/story/news/r...).
SBC legal brief sparks crisis of confidence in denomination over abuse response
The SBC filed a legal brief in a Kentucky Supreme Court case related to abuse claims in April. Six months later, Southern Baptists are outraged.
www.tennessean.com
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Liam Adams @liamsadams.bsky.social · 16d
Starting off the day pretty eventful! EC members are discussing a motion referred from the SBC annual meeting about filing a countersuit against Johnny Hunt. The action they're debating is to decline that motion, but EC member Dani Bryson has asked otherwise.
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