Firm finds no signs of cover-up by pastor

An independent firm found “no convincing evidence” that a pastor recently hired by Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear’s church sought to conceal abuse allegations brought to him at another congregation years earlier, according to a review.

The third-party review of Bryan Loritts began in January, six months after he was hired at Greear’s Summit Church in Raleigh, N.C., and after criticism from sexual abuse survivors.

In 2010, the worship director at Loritts’ church in Memphis, Tenn., was accused of recording at least one person as they used the restroom. Rick Trotter, then Loritts’ brother-in-law and the announcer for the NBA’S Memphis Grizzlies, was terminated from that position soon after but moved to another nearby church.

After he was charged with multiple counts of voyeurism in 2016, the churches released a joint statement in which they said they “openly discussed Trotter’s prior sexual misconduct and the counseling he attended for sexual addiction,” according to media reports.

Sexual abuse survivors and advocates had been critical of the decision to hire Loritts, particularly given Greear’s role in the SBC’S response to widespread sex abuses detailed in a Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-news investigation, Abuse of Faith.

The 20-page report released Friday found “no convincing evidence that Loritts was involved in a coverup.”

As part of its investigation, Guidepost Solutions, a third-party firm that was recommended to the church by prominent abuse advocates, interviewed 21 people, including three of Trotter’s victims.

The firm additionally reviewed Memphis Police Department records, and Loritts provided access to “historic emails” from his time at Fellowship Memphis.

Additionally, Guidepost ob

tained a recording from 2010 in which one of Trotter’s victims discussed the allegations with Loritts and other Fellowship leaders.

The victims interviewed by Guidepost said Loritts encouraged and offered to support them if they sought criminal charges against Trotter. They declined, according to the report.

Loritts maintained as much in previous statements, although he has said he should have called police.

“I didn’t cover anything up,” Loritts told the Biblical Recorder last year. “If I had to do it now, I would have risked being sued by my now ex-brother-in-law if it meant being vocal. I would have thrown caution to the wind.”

“What I should have done immediately was call the cops,” Loritts said. “I didn’t do that.”

Summit has also said its handling of the criticism of Loritts’ hiring “fell short of the mark,” and the church apologized for “any confusion and hurt caused.”

The church said it hopes its decision to seek a thirdparty review and publish its findings will persuade other churches to do the same.

Abuse survivors and advocates have for years said churches need to consult outside firms to investigate abuse matters. Rachael Denhollander, a prominent lawyer who advises SBC leaders on abuse issues, applauded the church’s decision to publish the review Friday.

“Summit’s decision to pursue an independent review of this situation was a healthy and needed step,” said Denhollander, who was the first person to publicly accuse now-imprisoned USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. “The framework of bringing in a skilled, credible firm, fully waiving privilege and providing avenues for anonymous and confidential reporting is critical in making it possible to obtain all the information.”