Survivors Launch First Database of Accused Protestant Church Abusers

Survivors and archivists launched a searchable national database on August 20 listing more than 2,700 individuals publicly accused of abuse within Protestant churches. The project, organized by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), represents the first comprehensive effort to catalog accused abusers across Protestant denominations.

This database exists because churches haven't consistently tracked and shared abuse allegations. Your congregation's credibility—and your members' safety—depends on proactive screening, transparency, and accountability. The existence of this public record means your hiring practices, background checks, and abuse prevention policies will increasingly face scrutiny from both congregation members and the broader community.

Audit your current screening protocols for volunteers and staff, and ensure your abuse prevention policy is documented and accessible to your congregation.