Church Abuse Survivors Launch Protestant Database to Track Misconduct
A group of church abuse survivors has launched a new database to track misconduct cases across Protestant denominations. The tool aims to help congregations identify patterns and prevent repeat offenders from moving between churches.
A coalition of church abuse survivors launched a publicly accessible database on September 2, 2026, designed to track misconduct cases across Protestant denominations in the United States.
The database allows users to search by name, denomination, and location. Organizers say it fills a gap left by the absence of a centralized reporting system in most Protestant traditions, unlike the Catholic Church's diocesan-level reporting structures.
Survivors who built the tool say repeat offenders have long exploited the lack of information sharing between congregations. A pastor removed from one church for misconduct can often move to another denomination without any record following them.
The project is modeled in part on similar databases used in Catholic and Southern Baptist contexts. Organizers say they have already catalogued hundreds of cases drawn from court records, news reports, and survivor testimonies.
Church leaders and denominational officials have responded with mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the transparency tool, while others have raised concerns about due process and the accuracy of unverified submissions.
Organizers say they have a review process in place and will remove entries that cannot be substantiated. They are calling on denominations to adopt formal reporting requirements and share data with the database voluntarily.
