LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Two lawsuits have been filed against Immanuel Baptist Church on behalf of multiple victims who allege they were sexually abused while in the care of church leaders.
The lawsuits, filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court by Joseph Gates of the Gates Law Firm, detail years of alleged misconduct, including knowingly hiding details of abuse by a former children’s ministry leader, Patrick Miller.
Miller is currently facing felony kidnapping and sexual assault charges based on his actions alleged in the lawsuit, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
"We worked tirelessly to find a resolution that would spare the survivors from reliving their trauma in a courtroom against their old church, a place they once called home," said Joseph Gates. "Unfortunately, our efforts were not successful as the church leadership has refused to acknowledge and accept the full extent of their responsibility in allowing these heinous acts to take place. As a result, we have been left with no choice but to bring these lawsuits."
Gates also alleged in the lawsuits that the church hid information involving a second perpetrator, a youth ministry/music ministry leader named Reagan Gray. She is facing felony sexual assault charges.
“This continues a pattern with Immanuel dating back a year ago when I simply asked Immanuel to help me keep Patrick Miller from sealing his criminal record after he pled guilty to charges stemming from his abuse of another victim at Immanuel,” said Joseph Gates. “I pleaded with Immanuel pastors Steven Smith and Doug Pigg for help then, but those calls went unanswered. Despite Smith and Pigg no longer working for Immanuel, Immanuel continues to fail to answer the call.”
The lawsuits, which seek compensatory and punitive damages, claim that Immanuel failed to implement safeguards to prevent the abuse and failed to report and act when allegations first surfaced.
"Our top priority has been to resolve these matters in a way that honors and protects the healing process of the survivors,” Joseph Gates said. “Immanuel and its leadership have failed to meaningfully apologize, much less take responsibility for their actions, which continues to revictimize those who have endured years of trauma because of the church’s inaction. At the end of the day, accountability is paramount, and what’s done in the dark will be brought to the light (Luke 12:2-3). This lawsuit seeks to hold the church and its leadership team accountable for the abuse, the cover-ups, and the trauma these brave individuals have endured."
The plaintiffs allege that the church's inaction allowed the abuse to continue and caused deep emotional and psychological harm to the victims.
“I am extremely proud of these young people for standing up for themselves and using their voices to show the dangers of child sexual abuse inside of our churches, the places where they should be most safe. Along with informing law enforcement, these brave survivors and their families followed Matthew 18 by bringing these serious concerns of Immanuel’s failures to Immanuel's leaders. During those meetings, they were met with apathy forcing them to take this measure to seek justice and accountability from their former church,” Gates said.
