Southern Baptist Convention sued over South Carolina church case

A federal class‑action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina naming the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and its Executive Committee as defendants, along with Pawleys Island Community Church, Pawleys Island Christian Academy, former senior pastor Donald James Williams, his wife Ginny Williams, former academy director Niki Howard, unnamed church elders, and registered sex offender Warren Spencer Perry. The parents, identified as John and Jane Doe, allege that Perry was placed in a volunteer, custodial or maintenance role that gave him unrestricted daily access to children at the church and academy, despite his criminal history, and that church leaders concealed this information and ignored a teacher’s concerns.

The complaint seeks class‑action status for potentially more than 100 children and damages under the Class Action Fairness Act. SBC President and CEO Dr. Jeff Iorg said, “The Southern Baptist Convention does not comment on ongoing litigation… We will review it and respond appropriately.”