Former SBC Executive Jennifer Lyell Dies at 47

The former executive whose allegations of sexual abuse rocked the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has died at the age of 47.

Jennifer Lyell passed away on June 7, just days before the 2025 Annual Meeting in Dallas. Her friend and fellow advocate, Rachel Denhollander, shared on social media that Lyell suffered a severe stroke earlier in the week and was found in her hometown.

Her death loomed over the two-day convention, which took place on Tuesday. While there was a report highlighting an increase in worship and baptisms, the atmosphere felt heavy with mourning and reflection. Outside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, two individuals vigilantly displayed photos of Lyell and another survivor, Garred Duane Rollins.

Lyell emerged as a leading voice addressing sexual abuse within the sect. Her journey began with a mission trip in 2004, during which she was sexually abused by Professor David Sills of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2022, Sills filed a defamation lawsuit against Lyell and various SBC entities, claiming her allegations were false and part of a wider effort to improve the sect’s image following recent scandals.

Her advocacy played a crucial role in initiating a third-party investigation, resulting in a notable report by GuidePost Solutions in 2022. The findings indicated that SBC leaders often minimized or dismissed survivors’ allegations. That same year, the SBC Executive Committee publicly apologized, acknowledging their failure to adequately support Lyell and mischaracterizing her experience.

The 2022 convention also approved a plan for a new database to track church leaders accused of abuse, but recent comments from SBC Executive Committee Chairman Jeff Iord suggest that the initiative has lost priority. Instead, the committee is shifting focus towards utilizing existing sex offender registries and enhancing abuse prevention education. This change has drawn criticism from many advocates pushing for reform.

Notably, survivors and reform advocates who had actively participated in previous SBC meetings were noticeably absent from this year’s gathering.

Lyell held a master’s degree in divinity from a Southern Baptist seminary and worked at Lifeway Christian Resources throughout her career. Friends noted that the backlash she faced upon coming forward deeply affected her well-being.