A former Southern Baptist professor, Matthew Queen, has been accused by the Department of Justice of obstructing justice by falsifying records related to an alleged sexual misconduct incident at the Texas seminary where he taught. Queen, who currently serves as pastor of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in North Carolina, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The two unnamed Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary employees involved in the incident allegedly attempted to make a document detailing a sexual abuse allegation “go away.” The school disclosed the matter to the DOJ and took immediate action once they became aware of the situation, stating that all employees involved are no longer employed by the seminary.
The seminary, founded in 1908 by a Southern Baptist Convention leader and still affiliated with the Southern Baptist Church, received a grand jury subpoena in late 2022 as part of a wider investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct within a national religious denomination referred to as the “Denomination.” Queen, who was also serving as the interim provost of the seminary at the time, allegedly attended a meeting in January 2023 where attempts were made to suppress a November 2022 sexual abuse allegation involving a student and the lack of action taken by the seminary in response. When questioned by federal investigators, Queen initially denied hearing instructions to destroy the document but later provided notes supposedly corroborating his claim. However, the DOJ alleges that Queen eventually admitted to being present when the document was directed to be destroyed.
The FBI and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York have been investigating multiple allegations of clergy sex abuse within the unidentified religious denomination since 2022. Following a subpoena, the seminary was required to produce all documents related to allegations of sexual abuse involving individuals associated with the school. This led to the uncovering of the attempted cover-up of the sexual misconduct incident in which Queen was allegedly complicit. The seminary cooperated with the investigation and took swift action against those involved once the matter came to light, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations and the importance of upholding integrity and justice.
Queen’s lawyer maintains that his client testified truthfully before the grand jury and expects him to be exonerated of the charges. As a Christian, a former seminary professor, and a pastor, Queen has stated that his integrity is crucial to him and he will seek vindication in both divine and human courts. The incident shines a light on the complexities of addressing allegations of sexual abuse within religious organizations and the ethical obligations of individuals in positions of authority. The ongoing investigation into clergy sex abuse within the unnamed denomination underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to the law in addressing systemic issues of misconduct and abuse.
The indictment against Matthew Queen serves as a reminder of the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with positions of leadership within religious institutions. The efforts to obstruct justice and manipulate information in this case highlight the serious implications of failing to address allegations of sexual misconduct appropriately. The actions of Queen and his colleagues have delayed justice for the victims of sexual abuse and interfered with a federal investigation into allegations of clergy sex abuse within a religious organization. The case raises questions about the culture of silence and cover-up that can exist within religious institutions and the need for increased accountability and transparency to protect vulnerable individuals and uphold the principles of justice and integrity.
