An Ex-Pawley’s Island SBC Pastor Appears to Try to Save His Job. He Didn’t. And So Much for the SBC’s Vaunted Caring Well Initiative.
Reprinted with permission from The Wartburg Watch.
“People tend to regret not listening more than listening and tend to regret things they said more than things they didn’t say.”
― You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters
The Roys Report posted a fascinating real-time video. On Wednesday, I posted Pawley’s Island Community Church (SBC) and School Leaders Criminally Charged With the “Reckless Disregard” to the Safety of Children by Knowingly Hiring a Sex Offender, Warren Perry.
In this SBC church, the pastor, his wife, and the head of the Christian school have been charged with criminally negligent actions in the alleged cover-up of the presence of a sexual abuse offender, Warren Perry, in the church and school. This offender was not supposed to be in the presence of children. The pastor appeared to change his tune after initially acting shocked that the offender was around children.
Here’s the problem. The pastor seemed so concerned about the offender’s “dignity” that he “protected” the predator from having his feelings hurt. He forgot how his church members’ feelings might be affected. Needless to say, they were not amused.
This is an interesting video from two perspectives.
- The pastor seems to be reading a carefully vetted, non-emotional defense of his actions, which seemed to border on stupid, in my opinion. It appears that he was more interested in preserving his (and his wife’s) jobs than in understanding how his actions caused much pain and turmoil in the church. Notice how he continues to read what is written in spite of the outcries from the audience. That performance alone helped to spell the end of his tenure.
- The concerned people who discovered their children were put at risk from the predator spoke out. I was relieved to hear some heartfelt outcries. In far too many of these circumstances, people are afraid to confront their spiritual leader.
After the meeting, at least four lawsuits have been brought against the church. The pastor finally woke up and realized that the folks weren’t going to give him another chance to review church policies surrounding the “protection of dignity” for abusers.
After all the mess in the SBC about child sex abuse, one would think that said SBC pastor would have been prepared to carefully vet a predator. He wasn’t. So much for the “Caring Well” materials bringing change .
Folks, take a clue from the folks at PICC. Check the backgrounds of church workers on your own, especially if it is an SBC church. Then speak truth to power. Speak strongly to leadership, involve police, and…gossip. Tell others. This sort of gossip can save the hearts, health, and minds of children.
The original video is here.