Southern Baptist Convention to Sell Nashville Headquarters Amid Legal Costs from Sexual Abuse Cases

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the largest Protestant group in the U.S., has decided to sell its Nashville headquarters to cover legal expenses from recent sexual abuse cases.

The building, located at 901 Commerce St., is expected to bring much-needed funds to help the SBC executive committee manage growing costs. A report from news shared that these costs have increased due to legal fees connected to sexual abuse investigations. At the same time, the church has seen less income coming in.

Between 2020 and July 2024, $12.1 million was spent on legal fees, largely due to cases involving former SBC president Johnny Hunt and ex-Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor David Sills.

Philip Robertson, the chairman of the SBC executive committee, announced that the building would be put up for sale, and the president has been given the green light to secure a loan using the building as collateral to help cover the costs.

A report from news found that allegations against Johnny Hunt, who was accused of sexually assaulting a pastor's wife in 2010, were credible. His lawsuit cost the SBC $3.1 million. Meanwhile, David Sills faced a defamation lawsuit in Alabama related to sexual abuse accusations from a former student, although it is unclear how much the SBC spent on that case.

Though the idea of selling the building had been discussed for years, the decision was publicly confirmed at the recent executive committee meeting. The building's value is listed at $31.7 million in public records.