Kenneth Daniel was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Chalkville, Alabama. After the Southern Baptist Convention released the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force report in May 2022, he wrote, “I have served on staff in churches within the SBC over 38 years. I agree … this is tragic to victims and heartbreaking. Cases needed to be investigated. My question is about … releasing more information than necessary. … There is sexual misconduct in every profession, even churches. How do churches benefit from over exposure of poor leadership? Churches are struggling to keep doors open. How are we to evangelize and bring people to Christ?”
Perhaps he had more self-interested opposition to the release of information. In October 2022, he was arrested and charged with facilitating solicitation of unlawful sexual conduct with a child. The child was seven years old when she told her grandfather in Blount County, who had been taking her to see the pastor, about the abuse. She had been molested by Daniel several times over the course of two years.
When he was released from Blount County jail after his arrest, he was taken to Shelby County where he was charged with four counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Then he was charged in Jefferson County. All charges involve the same victim.
- Al.com: Alabama pastor now charged in 3 counties on child sex allegations involving 7-year-old girl
- The Alabama Baptist: Pastor’s recent arrest reminder for churches to ‘protect the vulnerable’
October 23, 2022