Nashville, Tenn. | A June 17, 2025 trial date has been set for Johnny Hunt’s defamation lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention. Hunt, a former SBC president and executive vice president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) contends his reputation and earning capability were damaged by claims in a study on sexual abuse in the denomination that he had inappropriate, unwanted contact with another pastor’s wife at a beachside condo in 2010. The allegation, reported in the Guidepost Solutions study in 2022, said the incident came a week after Hunt concluded his term as SBC president. It also purported to document attempts by Hunt to cover up the encounter for several years.
Ironically, the jury trial for Hunt’s suit against the SBC will come one week after the 2025 SBC Annual meeting in Dallas.
Negotiations for a settlement failed in September, sending the suit to court. Lawyers for Hunt have claimed his misconduct was a private matter and the SBC ruined his reputation by making it public.
The SBC Executive Committee has spent about $3 million in legal fees on the case so far. A settlement is still possible. In setting the trial date, the judge said if the parties settle after June 12, they will still be responsible for certain court costs. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 9.
— IB staff, with info from TAB Media.