A coalition of clergy abuse survivors has launched ProtestantAccountability.org, a national database that compiles public information on more than 2,700 Protestant pastors and church workers who have been publicly accused of sexual abuse or of mishandling allegations in their ministries. The project, announced in an online press conference organized by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), is modeled directly on the long-running Catholic resource BishopAccountability.org.
Organizers say the new site is survivor-led and based in Florida, drawing on the experience of local survivors alongside a veteran archivist who helped build BishopAccountability’s Catholic database. In statements reported by Catholic and Christian outlets, founding spokesperson Charlie Taylor said the group’s goal is to “protect the vulnerable, expose the wrongdoers, deter coverups and heal the wounded,” reflecting a mission shaped by years of advocacy across denominational lines. SNAP’s involvement in the launch underscores the way Catholic survivor networks are now partnering with Protestants to support independent documentation efforts beyond any single denomination’s official structures.
ProtestantAccountability.org currently lists names from more than 100 denominations, including clergy, youth leaders, worship leaders, camp counselors, teachers and other staff who held some form of spiritual authority. Each entry pulls together publicly available information such as criminal indictments, lawsuits, attorney general reports, news coverage and survivor-run archives, often including photos and a record of churches or institutions where the person has served. The organizers stress that they “collect already public information and put it all in one place for easy searchability” and that they do not claim guilt, but instead present documentation so users “can form their own opinions.” The database also tracks leaders who are alleged to have enabled abuse or mishandled reports, not only those personally accused of misconduct.
The launch comes amid a broader reckoning in U.S. Protestant churches, especially within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), over decades of clergy sexual abuse and institutional failures. After a 2022 independent investigation detailed how SBC leaders maintained a secret list of accused pastors and staff while often failing to intervene, SBC executives pledged to release a redacted version of that internal database, which contained more than 700 names. Survivors and advocates have since voiced frustration over the pace and scope of denominational reforms, and recent Christian commentary has noted that the new ProtestantAccountability project arrives years after Southern Baptist messengers voted to create their own public database but did not fully implement it.
One of the survivors whose story illustrates the need for independent documentation is Chellee Taylor, who alleges she was sexually assaulted by a campus pastor at Journey Church, a Southern Baptist megachurch in Orange City, Florida. According to BishopAccountability.org’s reporting, Taylor reached an undisclosed settlement with Journey Church, which she says initially silenced her and protected the pastor she accused, former campus pastor Tom Wycuff, while lead pastor James Hilton also came under scrutiny because of his role on Cedarville University’s board. Taylor later chose to go public with her story and participated in a breakout session on “Understanding Adult Sexual Abuse” at the 2023 SBC annual meeting alongside trauma expert Heather Evans and pastor Todd Benkert, emphasizing how adult survivors can be groomed and harmed within church settings. Her case, documented in detail by survivor archives, is one of many that advocates hope will be easier for congregants and leaders to research through centralized databases.
Legal and advocacy organizations are already pointing survivors and churches toward ProtestantAccountability as a practical tool for due diligence. A recent guide for Southern Baptist sexual abuse survivors notes that the database may help identify patterns of alleged misconduct across networks and highlights its use of court records, government documents and news reports to corroborate entries. Organizers told reporters that the site is a work in progress, maintained by a small team of volunteers who are continually adding new names, photos and source documents and expect the number of entries to grow significantly in the coming months. As denominational task forces continue to debate their own transparency measures, survivor-led projects like ProtestantAccountability are likely to play an increasingly prominent role in how churches, journalists and victims navigate the history of alleged abuse in Protestant ministries.