Paul Pressler, a prominent figure in the Southern Baptist Convention, has died at the age of 94. His passing was announced by Geo. H. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home in Houston, with a funeral service held on Saturday. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Pressler played a significant role in the conservative resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1980s, which led to a shift in the denomination's direction. This movement involved the removal of more liberal leaders, the alignment of white evangelicals with Republican conservatism, and a focus on supporting GOP candidates.
The Southern Baptist Convention, with over 47,000 churches and nearly 13 million members, is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. While some churches are considered mega-churches, the majority have smaller congregations of less than 200 attendees weekly, primarily located in the southern U.S.
In a 2015 video endorsing U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Pressler expressed his dedication to conservative principles and the importance of electing good leaders to save the nation.
However, Pressler's religious legacy was marred by allegations of sexual abuse. A lawsuit filed in 2017 by Gareld Duane Rollins accused Pressler of assaulting him when he was 14 years old, with further allegations of ongoing abuse over 24 years. Additional men also came forward with similar accusations.
Following these claims, a comprehensive investigation by the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News uncovered a sexual abuse crisis within the Southern Baptist Convention, prompting significant reforms. Pressler, the Southern Baptist Convention, and others reached a confidential settlement agreement in December to resolve the lawsuit.
Pressler, who denied the allegations and was never criminally charged, had a long career in public service, including serving as a Texas state district judge and appeals court judge until his retirement in 1993.
