New Database Tracks Over 2,700 Individuals Publicly Accused of Abuse Across Protestant Churches

A group of abuse survivors has launched what organisers describe as the first national searchable database covering publicly reported abuse allegations across multiple Protestant traditions.

ProtestantAccountability.org, contains more than 2,700 entries compiled from court records, government records, news reports and other publicly available sources. The database covers more than 100 denominations and church networks, according to its organisers.

The site went live on Wednesday, 19 August, during an online press conference attended by members of the project team and abuse advocates. Chellee Taylor, a founding member of the project and a survivor of Southern Baptist clergy abuse, said the initiative aims to protect vulnerable people, document allegations and support survivors.

The project was built by survivors and supporters, including Taylor and veteran archivist Terence McKiernan, founder of BishopAccountability.org, an online archive and research organisation documenting the Catholic clergy abuse crisis. Organisers say Protestant Accountability will continue to expand as additional cases and records emerge.

Survivor-Led Team Behind the Project

The project is led by Taylor alongside co-founder Dominique Benninger and a team of volunteers. Fellow founders Elisabeth Ingram and McKiernan also helped develop the site.

Benninger previously co-founded BishopAccountability.org, while McKiernan has more than two decades of experience documenting allegations of abuse and institutional responses.

Several dozen volunteers have worked on the project, compiling records and building the website. Benninger said some volunteers found the work difficult to sustain and stepped back because of its emotional impact.

Taylor said the basic database and website cost about $700 a year to operate. Larger expenses include insurance and potential legal costs.

Users must agree to the site's terms and conditions before searching its records. Organisers say the database remains a work in progress and will be updated as new information emerges.

What the Database Contains

The database categorises entries by Protestant tradition, including Episcopal, Presbyterian, Pentecostal and Charismatic, non-denominational and other churches. Protestantism encompasses numerous denominations and church networks, with no single central authority maintaining abuse records across them.

The database is not limited to senior clergy. Entries can include youth leaders, worship leaders, associate pastors and other church staff. It also includes information concerning people whose conduct has been publicly reported in connection with the handling or reporting of abuse allegations.

The site's disclaimer says the database relies on public news reports and other publicly available information. It also makes clear that inclusion should not be interpreted as an accusation of guilt.

Being listed does not necessarily mean that a person has been convicted or found liable for abuse. Cases may have different legal or investigative outcomes. The database says it does not conduct its own investigations or determine guilt, and cases may have different legal or investigative outcomes.

Filling a Gap in Protestant Accountability

ProtestantAccountability.org is modelled in part on BishopAccountability.org, which was founded in 2003 and documents the Catholic clergy abuse crisis.

Survivor-led and denomination-specific databases covering Protestant and Baptist cases have also existed. Organisers say Protestant Accountability is the first comparable national resource to bring information concerning multiple Protestant traditions together in one searchable database.

The Southern Baptist Convention had previously moved towards creating a database of its own. At its 2022 annual meeting, SBC messengers approved Ministry Check, which was intended to provide information about ministry personnel who had been convicted, found liable or confessed to abuse, as well as people facing credible allegations.

The project subsequently faced legal, funding, technological and logistical challenges. By February 2025, SBC Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg said Ministry Check was not a current focus for the organisation.

The new project has also presented challenges for its volunteers. Benninger said the process of entering records was emotionally difficult, while organisers said some volunteers had stepped back because of its impact on their wellbeing.

What It Means for Survivors and Churches

The database brings together information that can otherwise be scattered across news reports, lawsuits, court records and statements from individual denominations.

For survivors, it provides a searchable resource for researching allegations and institutional responses.

For churches conducting background research on prospective staff, it offers another source of publicly reported information, although its entries should not be treated as definitive findings of guilt.