RALEIGH, N.C. — Coy Privette resigned from his position as president of a Christian morality group after being arrested on prostitution-related charges in North Carolina.
Privette, the president of the Christian Action League in North Carolina and a former state legislator and Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leader, was charged July 19 with six counts of aiding and abetting prostitution.
According to arrest documents secured by the Biblical Recorder, North Carolina’s state Baptist paper, Privette’s alleged actions took place in Rowan County hotel rooms between May 4 and June 25. Tiffany Denise Summers, 32, of Salisbury, N.C., was charged with six counts of prostitution in connection with the investigation.
Privette, 74, is a former trustee of the Christian Life Commission (now Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission), the SBC’s moral-watchdog agency. He is a former trustee chair of the SBC’s Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.
Privette also resigned from his roles as member of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and its executive committee. He was a state representative from 1984–1992 and has been a strong opponent of liquor, gambling and illegal immigration.
Privette’s position as president of the Christian Action League was nonpaid but he was executive director of the league for 15 years, beginning in 1980. The league lobbies legislators to consider a Christian perspective in pending legislation, according to Executive Director Mark Creech. Creech said he was “shocked and dismayed” by the allegations against Privette.
In a press conference July 19 outside the league office, Creech expressed his love for Privette, whom he said mentored him in his Christian activism. He said Privette “has been a man of good reputation and excellent character. … We only know the charges. We haven’t heard from him and are reserving judgment until we do.” (TAB)
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