Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

3 hours ago

Clovis Unified Mourns Passing of Former Superintendent Terry Bradley

9 hours ago

Clovis At-Risk Missing Person Found Dead in Fresno Canal

10 hours ago

DOJ Asks California Sheriffs for Names of Inmates Who Aren’t Citizens

11 hours ago

Israel Agrees to Allow Syrian Troops Limited Access to Sweida

11 hours ago

Border Patrol Agents Raid a Home Depot in Northern California

11 hours ago

Man Admits to Killing Missing Bass Lake Resident, Madera County Authorities Say

1 day ago

Trump Diagnosed With Vein Condition Causing Leg Swelling, White House Says

1 day ago

US Seeks One-Day Sentence for Police Officer Convicted in Breonna Taylor Case

1 day ago

Manhattan Prosecutor Who Handled Epstein Cases Is Fired

1 day ago
Longtime Southern Baptist Leader Paul Pressler, Accused of Sexual Abuse, Dies at 94
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 year ago on
June 17, 2024

Paul Pressler, a key figure in the Southern Baptist Convention and accused of sexual abuse, passes away at 94. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

HOUSTON — Paul Pressler, a leading figure of the Southern Baptist Convention who was accused of sexually abusing boys and young men and later settled a lawsuit over the allegations, has died. He was 94.

Pressler’s death, which happened on June 7, was announced in an obituary posted online by Geo. H. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home in Houston. A funeral service for Pressler was held on Saturday. A cause of death was not disclosed.

The news of Pressler’s death was first reported by Baptist News Global.

Pressler was one of the co-architects of the Southern Baptist Convention’s “conservative resurgence,” an effort in the 1980s that reshaped the direction of America’s largest Protestant denomination. Pressler and others pushed out more liberal leaders, helped forge an alliance between white evangelicals and Republican conservatism and focused on electing GOP candidates to public office.

Allegations of Sexual Abuse

But Pressler’s religious legacy was stained after he was accused by a former assistant, Gareld Duane Rollins, of sexual assault. In a lawsuit filed in 2017 in Harris County, where Houston is located, Rollins alleged that Pressler raped him when he was 14 years old after the two met at a Bible study group led by Pressler, according to court records. Rollins alleged that Pressler continued to periodically sexually assault him over the next 24 years.

Rollins also sued the Southern Baptist Convention and others whom he alleged covered up or enabled Pressler’s behavior. As part of the lawsuit, at least seven other men also came forward with their own accusations against Pressler of sexual abuse.

Investigation and Settlement

The claims by Rollins prompted a major investigation by the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News of allegations of sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention. The series of stories revealed that top leaders had ignored or downplayed warnings about a sexual abuse crisis within the Protestant denomination and it led to significant reforms.

In December, Pressler, the Southern Baptist Convention and others reached a confidential agreement to settle the lawsuit.

Pressler denied the accusations against him and was never criminally charged.

The Southern Baptist Convention held its annual meeting last week but did not appear to acknowledge Pressler’s death during the event. A spokesperson for the Southern Baptist Convention did not immediately return emails on Sunday seeking comment.

Pressler’s Political Career

Pressler also served in the Texas House, representing the Houston area in the late 1950s. In 1970, he was appointed as a state district judge. Eight years later, he was appointed as a state appeals court judge and served in that position until retiring in 1993, according to his obituary posted online.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

DON'T MISS

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

DON'T MISS

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

DON'T MISS

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

DON'T MISS

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

DON'T MISS

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

DON'T MISS

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

DON'T MISS

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

UP NEXT

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

UP NEXT

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

UP NEXT

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

UP NEXT

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

UP NEXT

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

UP NEXT

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

UP NEXT

What You Need to Know About Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Controversy

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

3 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

4 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

4 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

6 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

7 hours ago

More than Severance: Fresno Unified Wants to Give $162K to Nikki Henry to End ‘Dispute’

7 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man Accused of Chasing, Shooting Victim

7 hours ago

What You Need to Know About Trump, Epstein and the MAGA Controversy

7 hours ago

How Many Millions of Dollars Will Fresno Get From Airport Car Rentals?

7 hours ago

DOJ Wants California Jail Data on Noncitizen Inmates. Fresno Sheriff Reviews Request.

8 hours ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot were placed on leave following a viral “kiss cam” moment at a Coldplay conc...

2 hours ago

2 hours ago

Astronomer CEO, HR Chief on Leave After Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Sparks Scandal

2 hours ago

Sanger Man Arrested in Child Exploitation Investigation

President Donald Trump speaks during the White House Faith Office Luncheon at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
3 hours ago

Trump Sues Wall Street Journal Over Epstein Report, Seeks $10 Billion

A Fresno man has been arrested on felony charges after allegedly breaking into a home, groping a sleeping woman, and fleeing with stolen items. (Fresno County SO)
3 hours ago

Fresno Man Arrested for Home Invasion, Groping Sleeping Woman

4 hours ago

Who is the Future US Attorney for Fresno? Two Big Names Say They’re Not Interested

A juvenile girl was rescued early Thursday, July 17, 2025, after becoming trapped inside a chimney at a Fresno home and was hospitalized with minor injuries. (Fresno FD)
4 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Rescue Girl Trapped in Chimney

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a nuclear cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani (not pictured), at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. (Reuters/Umit Bektas)
6 hours ago

Rubio Says 10 Americans Detained in Venezuela Have Been Released

Men work at a makeshift oil refinery site in Marchmarin town, southern countryside of Idlib, Syria December 16, 2015. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

US Firms to Develop Syria Energy Masterplan After Trump Lifts Sanctions

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend