The 901: Southern Baptist Convention leaders publish list of accused abusive ministers

Ray Padilla, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·3 min read
Korin Reid holds up a sign while listening to Hannah-Kate Williams in front of the Southern Baptist Convention building in Nashville, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.
Korin Reid holds up a sign while listening to Hannah-Kate Williams in front of the Southern Baptist Convention building in Nashville, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.
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Good morning, Memphis, where the holiday weekend has arrived and we're looking forward to the July release of the "Elvis" movie, which is getting good reviews from the Presley family and some critics. 

But, first, Southern Baptist Convention leaders published a list of accused abusive ministers that previous staff maintained in secret for more than a decade, our Katherine Burgess and Liam Adams report.

The 205-page list is seen as an important first step in response to a historic report from investigative firm Guidepost Solutions into SBC leaders' failure to address sexual abuse for more than two decades.

“Each entry in this list reminds us of the devastation and destruction brought about by sexual abuse," said SBC Executive Committee members in a statement. "Our prayer is that the survivors of these heinous acts find hope and healing, and that churches will utilize this list proactively to protect and care for the most vulnerable among us.”

Memphis day care surrenders license amid investigation of child hot car death

Education is Key day care, where a child was left in a hot car and later died, closed after surrendering the center’s license, our Laura Testino reports. 

The Tennessee Department of Human Services launched an investigation which found the child died in a vehicle unapproved for transportation to the day care. The center was authorized to transport children and offered to do so free of charge to families, documents show.

Parents wait outside of White Station High School in East Memphis on May 26, 2022. The school went into a lockdown after officials found a student's gun on campus. No shots were fired or injuries reported, police said, and the district said there was no threat to the campus.
Parents wait outside of White Station High School in East Memphis on May 26, 2022. The school went into a lockdown after officials found a student's gun on campus. No shots were fired or injuries reported, police said, and the district said there was no threat to the campus.

Lockdown at White Station High carries weight of Uvalde mass shooting

A soft lockdown went in place at White Station High School after a gun was found on campus our Laura Testino and Lucas Finton report. 

Memphis-Shelby County Schools reported the student brought the gun to campus for protection going to and from school. The update illustrates the complicated ways community gun violence intersects with young people in Memphis and tangles with gun violence at America's schools.

The lockdown comes two days after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two teachers were shot and killed.

Terry 'T-Way' Holloway, who grew up in the Foote Homes public housing complex and later the Pine Hill neighborhood in South Memphis, councils youth in his old neighborhood in an attempt to keep them away from street violence. Holloway now sells T-shirts and urban gear with his uncle for the Black-owned label, Hatin Aint Healthy.
Terry 'T-Way' Holloway, who grew up in the Foote Homes public housing complex and later the Pine Hill neighborhood in South Memphis, councils youth in his old neighborhood in an attempt to keep them away from street violence. Holloway now sells T-shirts and urban gear with his uncle for the Black-owned label, Hatin Aint Healthy.

Gangs can lure Memphis youths to violence. What can prevent them from joining?

Forces like poverty and family instability offer one reason why more than 144 documented gangs exist in Memphis, which include members usually between the ages of 15 and 25, our Tonyaa Weathersbee writes in her latest subscribers-only column, a part of an occasional series on youth violence in Memphis.

Here’s an excerpt:

When Terry Holloway talks, he laces most of his conversation with, “You know what I’m saying?"

Well, many people may not know what he’s saying. But chances are the youths who he’s trying to steer away from gang violence in his South Memphis community do.

And that’s all that matters.

“I got affiliated [with a gang] when I was 19,” said Holloway, now 42. “It was just the love … it was just my family.”

Aside from a charge of aggravated assault that he caught when he beat up another gang member who was beating up his sister, Holloway avoided most of the violence that comes with gang life.

(Not a subscriber? Take advantage of our Memorial Day savings sale before it’s too late and get access to all the stories mentioned in our 901s.)

A map of the lane closures along I-55 Southbound starting June 6.
A map of the lane closures along I-55 Southbound starting June 6.

TDOT to begin construction on I-55 and Crump interchange

Construction on the I-55 and Crump Blvd. interchange toward the beginning of June with lane closures expected, Lucas reports.

"Anytime there's a traffic adjustment, we can expect some traffic," said Nichole Lawrence, Tennessee Department of Transportation community relations officer. "But we hope for people to manage their time, leave earlier, or look at a different route. But I know when you're crossing I-55, that is your route."

Lucas tells us what we can expect from the lane closures.

What critics and the Presleys are saying about ‘Elvis’

Praised by Priscilla, applauded by the audience and panned by some critics, director Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" movie premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, our John Beifuss reports.

The Presley family has unreservedly endorsed Luhrmann's effort, with Lisa Marie Presley, praising the movie as a "deeply profound" reckoning with her father's life and legacy.

Meanwhile, some reviewers were not impressed with the movie.

John provides us with what everyone is saying about the new “Elvis” movie that is set to open in theaters June 24.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) guard Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards (1) as he dribbles the ball during the first half of game three of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs Thursday, April 21, 2022, at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-95.

How Desmond Bane plans to unlock a new level of Ja Morant

Desmond Bane solidified himself as a franchise cornerstone in his second NBA season, helping the Memphis Grizzlies finish with the second-best record in the league.

Now the next step, in part, according to Bane, is to take more pressure off Ja Morant, our Damichael Cole reports.

“Taking another leap," Bane said. "Ball-handling, live-dribble passing, really being able to be a guy that can let Ja play off the ball at time. Just being a more well-rounded player.”

Damichael tells us what Bane has planned for the offseason.

There will not be a Monday edition of the 901. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and I’ll see you all back on Tuesday.

The 901 is written by Ray Padilla, digital producer for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at raymond.padilla@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter at @Ray_Padilla_.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: The 901: SBC leaders publish list of accused abusive ministers