Southern Baptist Officials Knew of Sexual Abuse Allegations before Top Sc Leader's Arrest

By Sarah Smith, McClatchy
Independent Mail
July 16, 2018

https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/2018/07/16/southern-carolina-southern-baptist-leaders-arrest-official-knew/787452002/

The missionary arm of the Southern Baptist Convention knew about allegations against Southern Baptist leader Mark Aderholt more than 10 years before he was arrested July 3 on charges that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl, according to police records, emails and an internal investigation from the organization.

Aderholt rose up to be the associate director and chief strategist of the South Carolina Baptist Convention in 2016.

In 2007, the International Mission Board conducted an investigation into allegations that Aderholt had a sexual relationship with the girl while he was a 25-year-old student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. At the time of the investigation, Aderholt was one of the more prolific missionaries with the Mission Board, which has sent Southern Baptists around the globe for more than a century.

The International Mission Board did not report the allegations to authorities.