Prosecutors are not pursuing charges in connection with that accusation.
Cunningham’s Case Highlights Incomplete Work of Abuse Reforms in SBC
Cunningham’s arrests came amid ongoing controversy within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) regarding a database of pastors, leaders, and volunteers who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse.
While the denomination overwhelmingly voted to establish the database in 2022, it has still not been implemented. In a statement following Cunningham’s arrest, Lakeside Baptist Church indicated that if such a database existed, “we would likely have never been exposed to Mr. Cunningham.”
“We plan to do everything possible to encourage national leaders to exercise their spiritual responsibility, identify perpetrators in the churches, and stop this from happening again,” the church said. “Until then, we plan to re-evaluate and institute our own even more rigorous processes.”
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Nevertheless, the database has been put on ice indefinitely. In February 2025, Dr. Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, said, “At this point, it’s not a focus for us.”
