The Summit Church expresses “regret for where we fell short of the mark and for any confusion and hurt caused.” It also states desires to follow best practices, “to provide a healthy example of churches handling abuse allegations with integrity,” and “to do everything possible to foster a culture in churches that are safe from abuse and safe for survivors.” Guidepost’s investigation will result in a “fully public report,” according to Greear’s church.
Victims, Advocates Have Expressed Concerns
In June, investigative journalist Julie Roys reported on allegations that Loritts was part of a cover-up. Jennifer Baker, a victim who was videotaped, and Greg Selby, a former lay leader at Fellowship Memphis, described missing evidence, pressure to stay silent, and financial assistance provided to Trotter.
While Loritts says elders at Fellowship Memphis removed him from the case due to his relationship with Trotter, Baker tells Roys, “There is no way (Loritts) was hands-off with anything.” Both Baker and Selby say the pastor was told by a church attorney to throw his brother-in-law’s phone in the Mississippi River. Baker says Loritts told her the videos had been “destroyed” and the membership covenant she signed when joining the church prevented her from discussing the matter.
Baker and Selby also implicate elders and two other pastors at Fellowship Memphis in the cover-up. One pastor, Baker alleges, told her not to file a police report because the video of her might go public through court proceedings. In 2016, Fellowship Memphis and Downtown Church, where Trotter later served, issued a joint statement indicating that no victims pressed charges against him.
In June, when The Summit Church hired Loritts, Greear stated, “We would not…bring any pastor here whom we were not convinced was fully supportive of the direction we believe churches need to go on the prevention of and reporting of abuse and care for survivors.”
Advocates Challenge Greear’s Stance
Abuse survivor and advocate Rachael Denhollander tweeted on June 12 that she was “deeply discouraged by this hire as how things stand right now.” In a lengthy thread, she added that “serious questions remain” about The Summit Church’s initial investigation of Loritts.
Roys, in an October open letter to Greear, reminds the SBC president of the respect, power, and responsibility he has. “The investigation The Summit Church conducted of Loritts was deeply flawed and you know it,” she writes.
In October, The Immigration Coalition removed Loritts as a speaker at an upcoming conference due to a complaint. The coalition said it had initially put the pastor on the lineup because Greear and Summit vouched for him.
In a podcast about the case, Roys interviewed survivor advocate Dr. Julia Dahl. According to Dahl, in Loritts’ interview with the Biblical Recorder, he painted himself as a victim and hero rather than as a “villain.”
