Woman crying in church. cotonbro@pexels
“The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is one of the most vicious crimes conceivable, a violation of mankind’s most basic duty to protect the innocent.” James T. Walsh
In the next two weeks, we will be releasing a huge story about a well-known celebrity pastor of a megachurch who is very influential in a group of churches that have had many pastoral abuse allegations. The victim is intelligent, and her story is specific and accurate. The abuse happened when she was a minor. I expect the reaction of church leaders to fall along the lines of today’s story.
I am indebted to Julie Sale, who drew my attention to this matter and gave me all sorts of supporting documents. She is now an official member of the “Daughters of Stan.”
Update: Don Logan is on the sex offender registry list in South Carolina.
https://lexington.scor.sled.sc.gov/OffenderSearchResults.aspx
Who is Don Logan, and what did he do?
Don is the teaching pastor of Eternal Church, a reformed yet nondenominational church with no ties to the SBC or the PCA. By all accounts, he is a charismatic teacher and well-loved by his congregation. He and the church are tied to the ForCLT (Charlotte, NC.) and are part of the Fort Mill Network under that organization. Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina, and its network encompasses the Fort Mill area in South Carolina. Logan and his church are also tied to His Church Our City (HCOC), specifically for Fort Mill, SC.
Logan was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor (we believe the age range is 14-16), for which he served three years in prison.
Here is another link. In this document, the type of conviction is spelled out. It was a criminal felony!
Baptist Accountability indicates that he was a youth pastor at Grace Community Church in Noblesville, Indiana, at the time of his Sexual Misconduct. It is also of note that he was a missionary to Guatemala (Mission Frontier) before being a youth pastor.
And what do many pastors, youth, or otherwise, do after getting in trouble for sexual misconduct? Jump back into the pulpit because, as they know, Jesus forgives him. In other words, no sin excludes a pastor from his “calling.
Some of the leaders in the church know that he is a convicted sex offender and are just fine with it.
I spoke with Chad Hollowell, the Executive Pastor of Eternal Church. I give him kudos for taking my call. Here is what he told me.
- The leaders do not feel that sexual sin with a minor permanently disqualifies Logan from the pulpit.
- The leaders examined his life over the past 20 years and believes he is above reproach.
- They believe he is of proven character.
- His story is an example of the grace of God.
- He said he could not share with me the details of Logan’s conviction becasue that is his story to tell.
- He said his actions which lead to his prison sentence were not “serious” since there is a wide spectrum in this “sort of thing.”
- He believes the congregation was told about his criminal background when Logan was hired but was a bit vague on the extent of knowledge in the membership.(I suspect it is not widespread.)
A letter from a “nonperpetual” elder, Mark Sivak, indicates that some church leaders did not even know of Don Logan’s conviction.
(Digression: I was surprised to learn of the office of “perpetual elder.” Have others heard of this?)
I have highlighted some passages of the letter I found of note.
Hi Julie and Josh,
It was good to see you both after such a long time. Thank you for your heart in safeguarding the church. We agree with you that it’s important that our places of community are safe places, and places of grace at the same time. Our hearts are heavy for what you’ve been through as well, and we continue to pray trusting that God will redeem all of it.
I wanted to circle back with you after we had a chance to check into what you shared and sent. Aletha and I met with the elders and Don and his wife, Heather, (at their invitation) about the information in your email, and we talked about the information shared.
I think it’s important for me to share that Don is not in hiding about this event and how God has used it to bring Don to Himself and form him into the man he has now become. Don has faithfully shared this event with every employer before being hired. When Eternal Church invited Don to consider being our pastor, before the interview process began, he shared his story with full disclosure and how God has used it as catalyst and agent of grace and transformation in Christ. He has continued to share as it has seemed right and appropriate to do so, which the elders affirm.
I wasn’t aware of his story, but because we have perpetual Elders, there wasn’t a need for me to know. The original 8 elders (minus 1 who has passed away) are still leading our church today. It is a personal story of the humbling, redemptive work Christ did in his life, which has required discernment by Don in when and how to share it, always with the concern that it be used to show God’s faithfulness and redemption to others.
Since this event 27 years ago, Don has taken careful steps to safeguard himself including disclosure with elders and pastors on staff and never meeting privately with a female. Others, including his wife, have confirmed all of this as well.
Though this event was so long ago, Don still experiences great regret. His desire, and ours as church leaders, is to live in the present reality of who he is now. This current inquiry has been difficult for his family, one in which they take seriously.
As church leaders, we want you to know we have no concerns and stand by Don, having known about his past and with confidence knowing who he is now. We feel he has handled himself with great care and integrity since that event. We have full confidence in his leadership and pastoring over us, even more so because of how he has handled this and the message of grace that flows from him and a calling torighteousness.
I’m hopeful that this letter will provide assurance for you of Don’s character, heart, transparency and integrity. Aletha and I appreciate your discretion to come to us, as an elder, with your information.
Please let us know if there is something more that needs discussion. We, any elder, and/or our Executive Pastor would be happy to meet with you.
In Him, Mark and Aletha
Here are my perceptions of this letter from a “nonperpetual” elder.
- He did not know about Logan’s conviction for felony sexual misconduct with a minor (and a prison term), which would appear to mean that most in the congregation are unaware.
- If most do not know what happened, Logan would be hiding his conviction.
- The conviction is discussed on a “need to know” basis, meaning many do not know the details.
- Logan should experience “great regret” for what he did, which he darn well ought to.
- Why is everyone ignoring the victim in this? How is the victim doing today? No one mentioned her.
- This letter demonstrates the lack of understanding of the seriousness of sexual offenses against a MINOR by a youth pastor! He states that Logan never meets with a female alone in his office. It appears that this is understood as an offense against a female who is an adult. It is not!
- An offense against a minor is more serious. Not only are they not capable of consent, but the pastor is using his office to harm a minor. WWJD and all that. This demonstrates a far more serious problem. A youth pastor has the hots for a minor female? There seems to be something wrong with this man’s wiring.
- Why is everyone so convinced that he hasn’t done something similar in the last 20+ years? Why are they sure that he won’t do it again? He did it once.
I have a sneaking suspicion…
I’m going out on a limb to say that I think the leaders think he was a hot young pastor, and she was a hot teen girl, and what’s so wrong about that? This is for those elders and pastors…read Jules Woodson’s story. A youth pastor molested her. She was 16, and he was @22. His church covered it up. She has experienced serious issues in the years following this assault. She no longer trusts the church. The hot young pastor became the pastor of a megachurch. When Jules came forward with her story, it was picked up worldwide- NBC, NYT WAPO, and Daily Mail. His huge church imploded, and he stepped down from the pastorate.
You see, the world often takes sexual abuse more seriously than many in the church. This is far more serious than this church is taking it.
What does the Ft. Mill Network of ForCLT have to say about this?
I called and left a message for Nate Siemon, the volunteer leader of the Ft Mills Network. I wanted to know if they do background checks on their speakers who are part of the network. As you will see, they don’t do any background checks and “trust” the churches to do so.
It does not appear that they are concerned about having a convicted felon in their midst, but maybe I’m just a bit cynical at the moment.
Julie and her husband, Josh, who raised this issue with me, were asked to meet with the elders.
Dee has a rule in these circumstances. The elders are not looking to discuss the situation. They are looking to stop the flow of information. It is obvious that they believe that it is perfectly normal to have a convicted felon charged with sexual abuse of a minor as a pastor. Such meetings are to get those who disagree to stop talking about it. This issue must be discussed with the congregation and anyone attending rallies and meetings. The people have a right to know. They have a right to decide how to protect their minor children.
Don Logan lost the spiritual, moral, and ethical right to be a pastor when, as a pastor, he participated in sexual misconduct with a minor, which led to a prison stint.
It is incredible to me that in 2024, church leaders appear ignorant of the danger inherent with anyone who felt, at some point in his life, to victimize a minor; the church’s answer is to make sure he never meets with a female alone. Was this merely a violation of the Billy Graham rule? It is not normal for an adult male to pursue an underage victim for personal sexual gratification. In my opinion, he is a potential danger.
Elders said he is “living above reproach.” How do they know? These things are done in the dark. The fact that he wanted to be placed in a position of influence after what he did is enough for me. God forgave him, but that doesn’t mean he should get to jump back into the pulpit.
The saddest part of this story is that no one mentioned the victim.
I heard stories of how God (or the elders) restored Logan. I wish that one person had mentioned their concern for the victim. But mentioning the victim makes it messy. You see, it causes terrible memories to be dredged up for Logan.
Let me leave you with a sermon he preached, encouraging everyone not to dwell on the past.
In this sermon, he said one should repent, not grovel. He said one cannot undo the past, which pokes up and kills one’s heart. So why go to the past and relive it? It is Satan and his demons that call up the sins of the past.
I find the sermon interesting. He appears to have set a paradigm that encourages people not to bring up past sins. I would imagine that he has trained his people to believe that calling him into account for his past behavior is obeying Satan.
I wonder if that is a way to groom his people to overlook his past. However long it is ignored, it still lurks in the background. It is time to bring this into the light. Here is the link. Listen carefully to time stamp minutes 48-58.
Here is also a study looking at sexual abusers in the Protestant church.
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In my denomination and others like it, elders and deacons are recognized as having the biblical qualifications, and then they hold those offices for life. They can take sabbaticals if life circumstances encroach, and they can become emeritus if they’re elderly or ill and need to step down. But otherwise, they retain those offices. “Perpetual elder” isn’t the formal term, but in effect, that’s what it is.
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R,
Do they ever fail in their duties?
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In this sermon, he said one should repent, not grovel. He said one cannot undo the past, which pokes up and kills one’s heart. So why go to the past and relive it? It is Satan and his demons that call up the sins of the past.
….. Satan and his demons that call up sins of the past…….
I have a news flash for him: God is going to call up the sins of the past one of these days.
If he is a Christian, he might should be thinking about that.
I clicked a link on one of the links in the post. Found this:
…..
Parties appear for sentencing. ORDER: IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the defendant, Don R. Logan, is 30 years of age and guilty of the offense of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Class C felony. The Court accepts the plea agreement. The defendant is committed to the Department of Correction for classification and confinement for a period of 6 years. Three (3) years of said sentence shall be executed and 3 years suspended and the defendant placed on pro- bation for 3 years. Defendant is entitled to zero (0) credit for time spent in confinement. The defendant is assessed court costs in the amount of $125.00 and child abuse prevention fee of $50.00. Defendant is directed to register with the Sexual Abuse Registry upon his release from incarcertion. Special conditions of probation are that the defendant make restitution to the victim and her family for the cost of counseling, that he relinquish his minister’s license, that he have no contact with any minor without adult supervision, and his type of employment is approved by the Court and Probation Department……
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Looks like he’s breaking all kinds of conditions to me. Does his probation officer know? Maybe the conditions were confined to his probation period?
In any case, wisdom and common sense are gone from this church.
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Makes ya’ wonder if they even had it in the first place.
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From the main article up-top:
“Some of the leaders in the church know that he is a convicted sex offender and are just fine with it.”
So long as it’s not their kids, they probably are.
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” By all accounts, he is a charismatic teacher and well-loved by his congregation.”
So was Jim Jones.
“God forgave him, but that doesn’t mean he should get to jump back into the pulpit.”
Jule’s offender, Andy the Savage, did the same thing. He was out of the pulpit for a mere 19 months. I guess when the call of God is on your life you gotta preach! Maybe Andy the Savage is a “perpetual pastor!”
Thanks for the great article, Dee. There is no end to the conga line!
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I checked Logan’s criminal background. He was 30 and the girl he sexually abused was 14.
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I believe the standard response in this kind of situation is, “He made ONE mistake!” followed by blaming the girl for being irresistible.
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A 30 year old, in leadership, abusing a 14 year old….
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Meet the pastor : The youth pastor is picture with sunglasses on! Another J. Collin’s tells us he is a discipler. What does this means ? English is a foreign language to me!
We sure need to do our homework before attending somewhere.
Listen to the last message of Don. Long but well said. But why keep his papers while praying? He would not do it in front of the president of his country!
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Jeffrey Chalmers,
Apparently that is not a ‘serious’ issue per the Executive Pastor. Ugh.
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Stay home Sunday and save 10 percent!
The clown show that supports this guy won’t stop it and neither will god.
Sure, I might be going to heck, but it’ll a cosmic hypocrite who sends me there.
Fundamentalist churches have no sense of nuance when it comes to the bible. They literally (and I say that with no sense of irony) party like it’s 1999AD.
There’s no interpretation so all those patriarchal attitudes are boiled down to one nasty package. These churches are hate factories.
They focus on the old testament and Paul (not the loving passages but the submit to husband and head shaving ones). Jesus is far too namby pamby for them.
So yeah, if Jesus’ mom can be a teen bride then sure a 14 year old can Jezebel with the best of them, never mind that occurred in ancient times – god was cool with it then so must be cool with it now.
It’s bad religion and it is seriously messed up – perpetually.
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What do you mean — Make bad decisions? Stop exhibiting character worthy of office? Decide not to keep serving? I’m sure all of those things have happened. I know of an instance where someone was removed from office for his actions. That stuff all happens. But in general, I don’t think it’s a bad system. People go through rigorous training and sometimes remove themselves from consideration because they realize they don’t have what it takes. Congregations are asked to weigh carefully whether to vote a person in. There’s an emphasis on finding people who fit the actual biblical qualifications.
But I also recognize there are inherent drawbacks like concentration of power, which can be very bad if there’s a bad apple. I don’t think there’s any system that’s perfect in this world. The older I get, the more messed up everything seems, including the church.
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I’m assuming the conditions were only for the duration of the probation, sadly.
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Nancy2(aka Kevlar),
Looks like the courts thought it was pretty bad.
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Muff Potter,
What worries me is that they are so naive they would consider letting him care for their children.
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R,
He left Indiana. Perhaps there was too much bad press.
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In some of the papers I’ve read, more than a 5 year difference in age points to a far more seriou problem with the abuser.
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I think many of us would agree with you.
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Well said! Many abusers seek positions of influence. Hence, he is a pastor. If he was struggling, working in a half way house for drug addicts, I might think he was seeking a lifelong change. I wonder when he takes a position of influence as a pastor (and this church apparently loves him).
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I think that’s a key point. It seems as if a person who was truly convinced that he had done a terrible wrong would not, again, present himself for a role as a “spiritual leader.” He could get a job in retail, support his family, and do some kind of volunteer work if he felt called to serve.
The institutional response is very bad, too. “We think he’s ‘above reproach,’ but we keep him hedged about with rules like ‘not being alone with a woman in his office’.” That actually shows that they don’t believe he would act rightly if given the opportunity to act wrongly. As Pastor Sam Powell says, it’s as if he could “catch adultery” or “catch child molestation” if exposed to the “germ” of a potential victim.
They also, as your post explains, show that they don’t care about the congregation by hiding Mr. Logan’s history, depriving the congregation of information that could protect them.
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“WE THANK THEE, LOOOOOOOOOOOORD, THAT WE ARE NOTHING LIKE THOSE FILTHY ROMISH PEDO-PRIESTS OVER THERE…”
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More like 33AD.
The year they’re actually stuck in.
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CynthiaW.,
You speak wisely. “not being alone with a woman” makes it sound like women are the problem. How about “not being in a position of trust and influence” because he has already shown himself to be untrustworthy.
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With or without the Angel Encounter at the anonymous gas station in Wyoming, where the incognito Angel lays on hands, prophesied GOD’s command to return to Ministry, and disappears.
After all, Preaching the Word, Making Disciples, and Saving Souls is Far More Important in the Spiritual Realm(TM). Work for the Night is Coming(TM)!
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He was required to relinquish his Minister’s license as part of his probation. What is the procedure for re-licensing?
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Christian Monist reports in the Baptist church of his youth, one of the elders/worship leaders was a pedo and it was an open secret. Everybody knew it but it was never mentioned in Polite/Spiritual conversation – the guy could sing hymns like an angel from Heaven.
When a new family (with children meeting Elder Pedo’s target profile) would join, the Pillars of the Church would steer them to Elder Pedo so he would rape THEIR kids, not Mine.
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As in that’s the threshold for Short Eyes the ChoMo?
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dee,
If an adult has sex with a minor when the minor is a willing participant is statutory rape. This man was charged with sexual misconduct with a minor.
I am definitely not a legal expert, but I believe he should have been charged with rape.
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Hey dee, just an off-the -subject FYI:
We had a big storm come through Sunday morning – broke power poles and knocked out electricity in several counties. (Dawson Springs lost power at the water plant, so they didn’t have water!)
People came to help. Yesterday, I met 6 utility trucks that came here from Wilson, North Carolina to help.
There are good people in this world!
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They don’t even seem to realize that, by saying he can’t be alone with a woman, they’re saying women aren’t safe from him. “Don’t they teach them logic in these schools?” as Professor Kirke said in the Narnia books.
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Nancy2–been wondering how you were doing. Our area had a lot of twisters also. Closest to our house was about 20 miles away, an EF3. That town has organized a clean up, and yep, power poles went down. We are very thankful we missed all that and that power stayed on.
Just a couple of random thoughts on the comments on the post, and the post from Dee.
1. Dee you are so exactly right this guy should never ever hold a position in the church again. He forfeited it. Only takes one bad act to be scripturally disqualified from office.
2. No, all our sins will not be outed someday. When a person truly repents, we have God’s word on it our sins go into the sea of His forgetfulness, as far as the east is from the west. So if this youth pastor truly repented, and has no longer offended, he is perfectly clean on this matter in the eyes of God. However, that does not preclude earthly consequences such as disqualification from office and nobody ever trusting him again.
Sometimes we forget we have a Savior who atones for our sins. The Baptist/Lutheran in me rises up to remind us all once He deals with a sin we repent of it is GONE in the eyes of God and for all eternity.
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So much to discuss here: Perpetual elder? That is the first I have ever heard this term. Doesn’t sound wise. Also, it is Don’s story to tell? No, it is your duty to inform, especially is he is a registered sex offender. Not only does he get another job preaching, he gets to be in charge of the flow of information. And I thought leaders were suppose to be humble. And lastly, his sermon: repent not grovel. Many pastors like to compare themselves to King David, and it seems like in true repentance he was groveling. For days. And then we are not suppose to bring up the past? We tell the story of David and Bathsheba to this day. Testimonies are given all the time of being forgiven of great sins. Yet, we are not suppose to bring up past sins?
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It seems the church is conflating grace with wise accountability and protection of the congregation. Of course an abusive pastor can be forgiven and restored to relationship with God. But, it is unwise and an abuse of grace to risk the safety of the congregation by allowing a convicted felon with this type of crime to have spiritual authority & position. These elders should step down due to the inherent risk they subjected their congregation to.
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Logan is a registered sex offender in South Carolina.
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I wonder: If this guy had stolen all the money from his former church or had sex with an elder’s wife, would they have still hired him to pastor this church.
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nmgirl,
I should have checked that. i will add it to the post.
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Nancy2(aka Kevlar),
Wilson is a nice town with lots of nice people.
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The post was updated to include that Logan is on the sex offender registry in SC. It is somewhat awkward that he is a pastor at a church that has children.
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Nancy2(aka Kevlar),
Sadly, according to the other pastor, it’s his story to tell, and Logan ain’t talking!
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From what I understand, some church reordained him. And thats all he needs.
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CynthiaW.,
As to volunteer work, I worked with several non-profits over the years. They usually won’t take past sex offenders as volunteers, unless they can keep them totally away from potential target. Many non-profits use teen volunteers.
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Nope, that’s way too contaminated with Hellenic garbage like democratic ideas or social contract philosophy. These guys are all about the smiting!
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I don’t believe they are naive. I would call them complicit with empowering a known abuser.
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Like the mob that the religious elite inspired and pumped up so they would release Barabbas and execute Jesus?
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Naive is one thing, stupidity is quite another.
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I don’t think there’s any such thing as a minister’s license unless it’s a denominational thing.
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If this guy started this church, they may not have any choice, much like Harvest Bible.
I have the same question about “perpetual elders”–were they instituted with the founding of the church by this felon pastor or by members who carefully searched their hearts?
If I learned one thing from my many years in churches, it’s that there’s a lot of fudged truth in the stories of how things come to be.
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Linn,
Thanks, that’s reasonable. It’s also possible that he would take advantage of his position to have sex with people of all ages, not just teens and not just girls. Some abusers are simply opportunistic, rather than focused on a specific type of potential victim.
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Wannabe journalist with zero context as to what’s going on. This is worse than TMZ
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Ordination and licensing are two different things. Ordination is what a church or denomination does to call a person clergy. Licensing is what the state requires in order to perform weddings, and if I recall correctly in some states to do burials. Which is why many families choose “celebrations of life” or “memorial services” rather than pay a licensed minister.
Some churches will license without ordaining. Some will ordain a person to preach but not license them for weddings. Gets confusing.
But licensing is not a denominational thing, it is about being registered with the state and thereby able to say “and now by the powers vested in me.” Ordination does not confer governmental power. Licensing does.
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“I was surprised to learn of the office of “perpetual elder.” Have others heard of this?”
Probably means a “forever elder”, until an overlord pastor says you’re not and kicks you out of his inner ring of yes-men.
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And like I keep harpin’, sooner or later there’s gonna’ be a bombshell dropped, and those guys are gonna’ get charged with complicity.
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Daniel
Perhaps you are new to commenting on blogs. Do some background reading before you post. I am not a journalist. The opinions expressed here are just that-opinions. Context? Tell me why a registered sex offender in SC who is a convicted felon, having spent three years as a guest of the great state of Indiana for sexual misconduct with a minor, is your choice for a pastor?
He may be forgiven, but he should not be a pastor or around kids. There are kids at church. Let him be a pastor to convicts like himself. Let him minister in halfway houses.
Frankly, your comment disturbs me. There are so many people out there who blow off sex abuse.
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Muff-how right you are. I am shocked that people in 2024 would be so stupid to ignore the seriousness of his crime.
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“Don Logan lost the spiritual, moral, and ethical right to be a pastor when, as a pastor, he participated in sexual misconduct with a minor, which led to a prison stint.”
A right that should have been eternal, even at a place called Eternal Church. I have a feeling that eternity agrees. Such sin should be considered as an eternal disqualifier for ministry. Forgive him if he genuinely repents? Certainly. Restore him to ministry? NO! There are other church stints he could do, rather than church leadership.
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That’s the case within SBC. When a man is ordained, he is ordained for life to serve in that capacity. Some churches rotate “active” and “inactive” deacons/elders. In my 70+ years as a Southern Baptist (I’m done with them now), I knew several deacons/elders who should have never been ordained to those sacred offices – they didn’t have a spiritual bone in their bodies. They simply didn’t meet Biblical qualifications but held those positions because they were wealthy donors, prominent businessmen, member of a ruling family in the church, popular high school football star from prior decades, or some other ridiculous non-Biblical qualifier.
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There’s been an outbreak of that throughout the American church, reaching a pandemic level.
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And Eternal Church doesn’t have a problem with this?!! Good Lord, the fellow wasn’t a “youth” pastor, he was a grown man!!
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In charismatic churches, are these folks even licensed in the first place?
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Sounds more like North Korea’s Eternal President.
And this church’s official name IS Eternal Church.
Ego Much?
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I’m sure that Eternal Church has used this story several times in regard to Mr. Logan. For God’s sake … David was in the military, not the ministry! Kings are not Pastors.
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… as well as a pastor in a South Carolina church! Does the congregation really know this?
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… and being willingly ignorant is quite another!
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Nope … a well-established journalist with a decades-long experience in dealing with abusive ministers and ministries. Take some time to read other related posts on TWW.
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So enlighten us on the “context” as you understand it.
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Mary, Jesus’ mother, wasn’t a teen bride. Another fallacy in the church. In that culture they became adults at 20 years old and got married when they were adults.
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Headless Unicorn Guy,
This is not a charismatic church. It started as a church plant of Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA) in 2003 and left the PCA to become nondenominational in 2009. Their website does not share why there was this break.
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Sorry, that was supposed to be a response to Max.
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Dale Rudiger,
Sorry, I mistakenly took “he is a charismatic teacher” in the article as pastoring a charismatic church … rather than Mr. Logan having a touch of charisma. So he pastors a reformed church with charisma.
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“His story is an example of the grace of God.”
Herein, is an issue that troubles me most about the grace-this and grace-that movement which is sweeping through the American church, particularly the New Calvinist fringe of that.
While it is true that “love” covers a multitude of sins (repentant sin), Scripture doesn’t imply that the grace of God comes alongside His love to restore a pastor to the pulpit who failed morally by committing gross sin. I don’t think the church really understands Grace as it ought; we so flippantly toss that term around.
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Max,
Exactly…. There is consequences for actions…. Abusing a minor as a “spiritual leader” should be disqualifier for any “spiritual leadership” again..
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IMO, it still boils out to: (1) he was a pastor who people trusted, (2) he was 30 years old, (3) she was 14, (4) forgive him if he repents? yes, (5) restore him to ministry? no
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Ava Aaronson,
Yes. And we are seeing it in both church and politics, unfortunately. And the leaders of the mobs are other leaders in those realms. Quite discouraging. But I’m thinking that God won’t be mocked.
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… then he restored himself to ministry
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Jeffrey Chalmers,
Jeff& Max, EXACTLY. If the church was operating correctly, he’d be enduring the consequences of his actions while celebrating privately that God had forgiven him. He would recognize that he’d forfeited the trust placed in him by virtue of his sacred office. He’d then have to find a new job, leaving behind what his many years of study had prepared him for. Just as any doctor, psychologist, or attorney would have to endure having similarly abused a client.
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That clunking sound is my jaw hitting the floor.
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dee,
Your opinions hold no weight when the facts are blatantly incorrect. In fact, that just makes them slander. He was never a youth pastor. There was zero grooming. And the victim and her family have reconciled with the offender. One must remain on the offender registry for ten years with a clean record before they are taken off the list. This is true of every state in the US except SC. When he moved to SC, it wasn’t because he was running away from anything. He moved here because he believed in the calling, knowing that SC would require him to re-register. And when he did re register, even the police asked him why he came in to do so. He would’ve never been found out, but he has no intention of lying or misleading. He registered because he is a man of integrity, a man who has been transformed. But rather than doing any digging for yourself, you purposefully weigh in on a delicate and nuanced situation that has nothing to do with you. And if you knew this man, you’d know he would be nothing but forgiving of your lack of integrity.
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Great way to put it, Believer. I don’t understand why any churchgoer facing this about their pastor would rally to his side to support him … or why a pastor would not willingly step away from the pulpit.
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Daniel Mathewson,
The date on the SC Sex Offender Registry is April 16, 2024. Is this the date he registered?
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Daniel Mathewson,
Or was this a required re-registration?
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With the additional comment of it happened years ago.
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According to his probation, he was required to surrender his minister’s license. It makes no difference if he was not a youth pastor (although that was indeed stated in the Baptist Accountability page). He apparently was a minister and was convicted of a sex crime. He pled guilty. This offense is a public mark on his character that disqualifies him from future ministry based on reputation. He may indeed be a fine Christian, but this makes no difference.
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Max,
Oh really Max?
Psalm 77:70 -72
“He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob,of Israel His inheritance.
So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.”
Sounds more like a pastor to me.
“ God advanced him to the throne that he might feed them, not that he might feed himself, that he might do good, not that he might make his family great. It is the charge given to all the under-shepherds, both magistrates and ministers, that they feed the flock of God. (3.) The happiness of his management. David, having so great a trust put into his hands, obtained mercy of the Lord to be found both skilful and faithful in the discharge of it (v. 72): So he fed them; he ruled them and taught them, guided and protected them, [1.] Very honestly; he did it according to the integrity of his heart, aiming at nothing but the glory of God and the good of the people committed to his charge; the principles of his religion were the maxims of his government, which he administered, not with carnal policy, but with godly sincerity, by the grace of God. In every thing he did he meant well and had no by-end in view. [2.] Very discreetly; he did it by the skilfulness of his hands. He was not only very sincere in what he designed, but very prudent in what he did, and chose out the most proper means in pursuit of his end, for his God did instruct him to discretion. Happy the people that are under such a government! With good reason does the psalmist make this the finishing crowning instance of God’s favour to Israel, for David was a type of Christ the great and good Shepherd, who was humbled first and then exalted, and of whom it was foretold that he should be filled with the spirit of wisdom and understanding and should judge and reprove with equity, Isa. 11:3, 4. On the integrity of his heart and the skilfulness of his hands all his subjects may entirely rely, and of the increase of his government and people there shall be no end.”
(Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1706)
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Lowlandseer,
I just think we shouldn’t be dragging David into our church messes all the time. Let him rest.
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I do not find this argument convincing.
1) He was required to register under SC law,
2) Failure to register could subject him to a $1,000 fine and/or up to one year in prison.
Again, a minister convicted of a sex crime does not have a good reputation toward outsiders (1 Tim. 3:7). This leads to public disgrace and ensnarement by the devil. Hiring such a one tarnishes the reputation of the church and brings shame upon the unqualified pastor. Hiring such a one with the knowledge of the sex crime in his past was a huge mistake for the church.
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“The Elders Say He Is “Above Reproach.””
Some churches tolerate more reproach than others. We read about them all the time on TWW.
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She likely was
“In Palestine, men married at around thirty to women who were ten or fifteen years younger, while in Babylonia, the expectation was that men would marry at around twenty to women in their teens.”
But could have been older, people didn’t live that long either
https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2002/2002.07.37/#:~:text=In%20Palestine%2C%20men%20married%20at,to%20women%20in%20their%20teens.
My point is, they were younger than today where 15 will get you 20
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Matt took the ball and ran with it. Quite the analysis for a two sentence paragraph. I guess he had a lot of time on his hands.
Not sure why his conclusion is better than Max…
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Hey, Kool-Aid! “Oh yeah!”
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Daniel Mathewson,
“nuanced situation”
++++++++++++++++++++
everything has nuance at some level. and everything can be boiled down brass tacks:
30 year old male pastor and 14 year old girl
this can’t be nuanced away.
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Good point.
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Both Arminians and Calvinists claim Matthew Henry as their own. I figure he was sort of a theological moderate who floated back and forth between extremes. He certainly wasn’t a hyper-Calvinist, like some who comment on this blog. I’ve found his commentary helpful on occasion.
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True.
Just like a prime number can only have two divisors, itself and one.
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If he was a teacher, would anyone allow him to teach again? How about a principal? Imagine the outrage if parents found out their child’s principal or teacher or coach was imprisoned for multiple years for a sex crime against a minor. There would be outrage.
Why do we feel differently about a pastor?
Also, where do insurance companies stand in all this? Why would insurance companies ever provide coverage for a church who hires a convicted felon as a pastor?
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Not a nuance.
“‘Hebephilia” refers to adult sexual attraction to post-pubescent minors age 11-14.”
Not a nuance. Hebephilia.
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Actually that particular law does seem to be what Indiana uses for statutory rape though there are several different levels within it. Given his age it must have been at least a level 4 felony [prison sentence of between 2 to 12 years]. He pleaded guilty possibly to something lesser than he could have been charged with probably in order to avoid a trial and potentially a much longer sentence (some of the above mentions a plea bargain). The prosecutors may have agreed possibly in part to spare his victim from the ordeal of testifying. This might explain why the conditions included relinquishing his minister’s license which would normally be a purely religion internal matter; he probably offered to relinquish as part of the plea bargain (not mentioning that he might become a minister in different denomination/church after his probation had ended). If the victim had been under 14, it would have been a level 1 felony and a far heftier penalty.
I note that his former church, Grace Church Noblesville, has explicitly moved towards an egalitarian position in the years since. It also requires background checks for volunteers over 18 working with children. One hopes it has other checks in place to.
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From newspape in Carlisle, PA in March, 2001.
“Heather Renninger of Noblesville, and Don Logan of Carmel, are planning to marry. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Allan and Susan Renninger of Carlisle. She is a graduate of Carlisle High School and Shippensburg University. She is a teacher at Headstart in Noblesville. Her fiance, son of Donald and Cindy Logan of Geneva, Ohio, is a graduate of Jefferson High School in Jefferson, Ohio, and Cincinnati Bible College.
He is employed by Premium Surface Fabrication, in Westfield. Ind. The ceremony will be held April 21, 2001 at Grace Community Church in Noblesville. Ind.”
Announcement of hiring,The Herald, November 2014:
“Eternal Church of Fort Mill is celebrating the announcement that Don Logan has been called for service as the second pastor in the church’s history.
Don and his wife Heather will begin their transition to the Fort Mill area after Dec. 31. The Logans informed their church in Pennsylvania where Don is currently pastoring that they have accepted the call.”
Supported by Carlyle Brethren in Christ, from 2010 Way back Machine:
“We also support and contribute to missionaries who are not affiliated with Brethren in Christ World Missions. Currently we are supporting the following missionaries:
Don and Heather Logan, Commission To Every Nation, Chichicastenango, Guatemala
(Click here to view the video about their call to Guatemala)”
From Don and Heather’s personal website, March 2013:
“Don will be the Director of Pastoral Ministries, and will be serving as the Pastor to the Missionary Church as well as to incoming short-term teams, and overseeing the general pastoral ministry on-site for Missions Frontier.
Heather will be the Administrator of Education and her specific responsibilities will include teacher-training, standards achievement and record-keeping, as well as acting as a liaison for the three schools in Chichicastenango.”
I can find no record of Don Logan being a pastor in Pennsylvania, as per the Herald article.
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Erp,
His church in noblesville has continued clergy sexual abuse issues. The IndyStar ran a story about this back in November and Julie Roys covered it as well.
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Here is the announcement of Logan’s hiring, from The Herald November, 2014:
“Eternal Church of Fort Mill is celebrating the announcement that Don Logan has been called for service as the second pastor in the church’s history.
Don and his wife Heather will begin their transition to the Fort Mill area after Dec. 31. The Logans informed their church in Pennsylvania where Don is currently pastoring that they have accepted the call.”
I can find no record of Logan being a pastor in Pennsylvania. He was supported by a local Brethren in Christ church in Carlisle:
“We also support and contribute to missionaries who are not affiliated with Brethren in Christ World Missions. Currently we are supporting the following missionaries:
Don and Heather Logan, Commission To Every Nation, Chichicastenango, Guatemala”
From the CTEN website, October 2012:
“Don and Heather Logan, along with their children Aidan, Althea, and Olivia live in the Western Highlands town of Chichicastenango, Guatemala.
Don primarily serves as the pastor to the English-speaking missionaries in and around Chichicastenango. Each week, the Missionary Community Church hosts between 15 – 150 people in our Sunday morning services. These are all people who desire to worship, learn, and be renewed through services in their heart language. His sermons online also allow people all over the world to be fed through the teaching of the Scripture. Additionally, Don provides pastoral counsel, leads men’s Bible studies, and assists in the various organizations around town. Heather spends much of her time taking care of the family. This includes homeschooling the twins. She also leads the women’s Bible study and aids in the pastoral care of the congregation with Don. Our family’s hope is that as we serve as missionaries to the missionaries, they will feel encouragement to stay strong in their roles among the Guatemalans.
Home Church: Carlisle Brethren in Christ, Carlisle, PA”
Apparently, they left CTEN before December, 2012, since they are not listed as missionaries on the December, 2012 website. Based on Logan’s personal website dated March, 2013, they were with Missions Frontier. But by February, 2014 they were not listed as Missionaries at Missions Frontier (they were listed in March, 2013).
Logan was not listed as being on staff as a pastor at his home church in 2014.
https://web.archive.org/web/20141010173056/http://carlislebic.org/about/staff/
His Linked in shows him working for Missions Frontier from 2008:
Don Logan
Director of Pastoral Ministries
Mission Frontier
Aug 2008 – Present 15 yrs 11 mos
No mention of his time with CTEN. My conclusion is that Logan was not forthright about his pastoral experience.
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“Logan was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor (we believe the age range is 14-16), for which he served three years in prison.”
Actually, he was released from prison in March, 1998, and he was sentenced 8/28/97. If he indeed began with CTEN in August 2008, that would be 10 years and 5 months after his release from prison. My guess is he was no longer on the Indiana sex offender registry at the time he applied to be a missionary.
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I often wonder how the wife excuses this in her mind.
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The Protestant [predator] pastor is positioned on a pedestal. His wife is positioned on a Protestant [predator] pastor’s wife pedestal. Would she give that up? Her pedestal position? With/without regard as to what’s going on with her spouse’s pedestal position?
The pastor’s wife’s pedestal position may be “it” for her. Float her boat, fuel her engine, fly her flag.
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Not sure how it works in the states but how could he travel internationally with that kind of conviction on his record?
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A rubber stamp from a mission agency should not be enough, that’s for sure!
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Actually, I am not sure how much time was actually served.
“ORDER: Clinton County Sheriff directed to house defendant at the Clinton County Jail until such time as a hearing can be held on the Motion for Sentence Modification and Agreement to pay for the stay on the condition that defendant pay the County for his jail placement at the rate of $10.00 per day. Letter to Judge Pearson from defendant received. (RJO? N) | JTS Minute Entry Date: 03/23/1998”
07/28/1998
Converted Event
ORDER: The Court now denies defendant’s Motion for Sentence Modification. When defendant is released to begin probation, he is to complete a specialized sex offender treatment program. Termination from treatment for any reason other than satisfactory completion or contact with minors will constitute a violation of probation. (RJO? N) | JTS Minute Entry Date: 07/28/1998
03/26/1999
Converted Event
Defendant’s employment at Mallory Controls is APPROVED. (RJO? N) | JTS Minute Entry Date: 03/26/1999
08/23/2001
Converted Event
Letter to Kirsten Hasty from Grace Community Church filed. (RJO? N) | JTS Minute Entry Date: 08/23/2001
03/08/2002
Converted Event
Petition to Discharge from Probation filed, examined and approved. Copy to Probation Office. (RJO? N) | JTS Minute Entry Date: 03/05/2002
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Dale Rudiger,
Converted Event
Parties appear for sentencing. ORDER: IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the defendant, Don R. Logan, is 30 years of age and guilty of the offense of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Class C felony. The Court accepts the plea agreement. The defendant is committed to the Department of Correction for classification and confinement for a period of 6 years. Three (3) years of said sentence shall be executed and 3 years suspended and the defendant placed on pro- bation for 3 years. Defendant is entitled to zero (0) credit for time spent in confinement.
Looks like he was sentenced to 6 yrs and served 3 yrs
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Dale Rudiger,
Thank you for all of your information. I was under the impression that the judge sentenced him to 6 years, but then it was reduced to 3 years. Perhaps he got out of prison for good behavior?
Courts, in the past, were rather lenient in sentencing “boys will be boys even if they should be men.” In 2009, Goodrich, who molested many boys in my church was only given one year for every victim who testified. That was 13 years. Some parents wouldn’t let their boys testify. His abuse, to this day, is the worst abuse have ever heard.
I believe that courts are getting wiser. Also I think research is getting better. For example, if there is more than a five-year difference between a minor and their abuser, it is thought that there are serious psych issues with the abuser. In other words, an 18 year old boy and a 15 year old girl would not fit that paradigm.
In Logan’s case, there was that difference. I believe that he should not be a pastor and that the church put their congregation at unnecessary risk.
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Grace,
This is my understanding as well. The most important fact is that he is a convicted felon for sexual misconduct with a minor. A 30-year-old mature man doesn’t seek sexual favors from minors who can’t consent. He was a youth pastor at the time. The guy has, in my opinion, a serious psych issue that is being overlooked by his church, which put the congregation at risk by hiring him.
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dee,
Converted Event
Parties appear for sentencing. ORDER: IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the defendant, Don R. Logan, is 30 years of age and guilty of the offense of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Class C felony. The Court accepts the plea agreement. The defendant is committed to the Department of Correction for classification and confinement for a period of 6 years. Three (3) years of said sentence shall be executed and 3 years suspended and the defendant placed on pro- bation for 3 years. Defendant is entitled to zero (0) credit for time spent in confinement.
Looks like he was sentenced to 6 yrs and served 3 yrs
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Grace,
Dee
Oops. Didn’t see your above response!
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The same way Camille Cosby (AKA Mrs Bill Cosby) did her Celebrity husband’s “Antics(TM)”.
P.S. In a bio of Bill Cosby from the Sixties (when he first hit the big time), Cosby used the term “skills in Conmanship” in some direct quotes. I do not know if the term “conmanship” was a North Philadelphia idiom for being persuasive or a Freudian slip. But just the use of the term (and its extension to the subjects scrutinized on this blog) is interesting.
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When I first met Ann (only girlfriend I ever had) back in the early Eighties, she was 19 and I was 26. That’s a seven-year difference, but we were both over 18.
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The difference between Pedophilia and Hebephilia is the target profile; the dividing line is whether the target has gone through puberty or not:
Pedophiles are turned on by PRE-pubescent minors, i.e. actual/small children.
Hebephiles are turned on by POST-pubescent but still legally-underage minors, what used to be called “Jail Bait”.
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“Touch Not Mine Anointed”?
“Missionary Man, he got GOD on his side…”
— Eurythmics, “Missionary Man”, 1986
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I recently heard of a psych study that showed high Religiosity correlates with low Intelligence.
The exact correlation between the two (which of these causes the other) is unknown, but there definitely is some connection.
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I agree.
The king David thing has been used and abused for so long, it’s like the bald tires on a big-rig.
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Jack,
Well, when I wondered about her age because how could God give that kind of responsibility to such a young girl as I had always been told she was, this is what I found in Quora.com, under the question “How old was Mary, mother of Jesus when she gave birth to Jesus” — Quoting Robert Gibbs’s answer: “Many, supposed, Bible experts assert that Mary was only 14 or 15 years old when she gave birth to Jesus. However, there is absolutely no support for such an idea in the Bible.
Some Bible researchers argue that it was the custom of the Israelite parents in first century Israel to arrange marriages for their 13 or 14 year old daughters, based on the fact that they believe it was common among the surrounding pagan nations.
However Jehovah’s Law to Israel repeatedly encouraged them not to imitate the nations around them. So, what may have been practiced in the surrounding nations was likely not done in Israel.
Some also mistakenly imply that people married very young because they only lived to the age of 40 yrs or so, this is also not true.
The fact that many children died at birth or very young before modern medicine distorts the average age figure*, but a person who lived past the age of 20 yrs could expect to live to 70 or 80 yrs. much like today. Moses stated that fact more than a thousand years before Jesus day;
Psalms 90:10 – The span of our life is 70 years, Or 80 if one is especially strong. But they are filled with trouble and sorrow; They quickly pass by, and away we fly.
The Bible is full of references which indicate that God considered a young person to have reached the age of maturity when they were at least 20 years old.(Exodus 30:14 & 38:26) (Numbers 1:20 & 26:2)
Ask any father these questions:
Would you be happy if your daughter wanted to get married when she was only 13, 14, 15, or even 17 years old?
Would you want your 14 or 15 year old daughter to give birth to a baby?
Would you believe she was ready to start taking care of a husband and a family?
Of course not! No wise father would say that his very young daughter was physically nor psychologically prepared for such a burden and responsibility?
Would God have entrusted his only begotten son to a teenager just 13, 14, or 15 years old as some believe? Would you?
Are we to believe that God did what a sensible father would not do?
If every sensible father knows that a girl is not physically and psychologically mature enough until she is at least in her twenties, should we imagine that our, all wise, all knowing, Creator would be less knowledgeable about the maturity of a young girl than an imperfect human father?
It stands to reason that God would have given such a burden to Mary only at an age when she was mature enough, physically and psychologically, to shoulder her responsibilities as a mother and a wife perfectly.
*For example; If you have three people and two live to age 70; but one who dies when 1 year old. The average of those ages is only 47 years.”
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Except New Calvinism, of course … the highly intellectual new reformers have God all figured out … they alone hold truth because they alone are smart enough to know it.
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And what does the research say?
Research is good.
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Shannon H.,
I think we’re going have to agree to disagree on some points
I grew up in a small rural town and a number of girls from my highschool got married young.
My wife’s grandmother was 17, married a man significantly older. This was in the forties.
The only thing I can concede is that the bible doesn’t state Mary’s age.
So we can say whatever we want in regards that.
But the bible is undeniably patriarchal and unfortunately that’s where a lot of this abuse comes from. The idea that women are divinely mandated to be subservient.
Solomon had 900 concubines and god was cool with it so there’s the mindset.
We aren’t in ancient times anymore and the bible reflects a different culture than the one we currently live in.
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I noticed that the SC registry link is for Lexington County (around Columbia) whereas Logan lives in York County. When I go to the SC registry and try the geographical search, Logan does not appear on the listing. Therefore, if I am his next door neighbor and put in my address, I am not informed as to his being a sex offender.
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Ironically, nowhere does it (the Bible) say any such thing.
Female subservience is something that is manufactured from the thin air between the pages of Scripture.
Just because it says such and such here, and thus and thus over there, DOES NOT MEAN that such and such, and thus and thus, must be transported from that when and where into this here and now.
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As a survivor of the Gospel of Hal Lindsay and Jack Chick, I can attest it is not the only thing so manufactured by “the Plain Reading of SCRIPTURE(TM)”.
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Isn’t that called Arrogance?
Specifically, the Arrogance of the Intellectual Snob?
“You don’t need any intellect to be an Intellectual.”
— G.K.Chesterton, one of the Father Brown Mysteries
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Just like “If you have 1000 people and one of them is a Billionare while all the others are starving-in-the-street homeless, everybody averages out to be a millionaire.”
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That was the tail end of the period where such May-December marriages were common; the idea that everybody must marry those of similar age (‘.e. “The Girl Next Door”) didn’t really take hold until the Fifties.
Since a woman’s status was largely determined by her husband’s status, the prize catch was a man who had become established in his career or profession and had built a nest egg, which took some time. So the ideal marriageable age for men was higher than that for women (whose ideal age was young, newly-adult).
Mpney and prestige and position were a male mating display, while youth and beauty and domestic skills were a female mating display.
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I beg to differ. It’s a cultural affectation that biblical literalists use. Everything from Lot’s daughters being offered to the crowd in Sodom to Solomon’s concubine a go go to Paul invoking Annie Lennox – it’s all there. That’s why the bible should be used as a how to manual.
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Should NOT be used as a how to manual!
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before you go here and make a whole blog about this man, you should know that this is NOT true. y’all don’t know this man. y’all do not know his story. as someone who does, this is disgraceful and disgusting. this man was pressured BY this girl. do y’all truly think that if this man sexually abused a 14 YEAR OLD, he would only serve 3 years? whoever wrote this should be completely ashamed of themselves and try to find more proof than a sorry crazy woman who only wants to get back at local pastors because SHE couldn’t keep her affair in check. get a life.
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Dawn
In my former SBC church, Providence Baptist, Raleigh, Doug Goodrich, an SEBTS seminary student and volunteer, was put on trial for molesting 13 young teen boys 13-16. It was horrific, sickening abuse, some of the worst I have heard. The local judge, in 2008, only gave Goodrich 1 measly year for each of his victims.
So yeah, I do believe that the judge back in the 90s would have given him three measly years. Things are beginning to change because of those who say, “Enough.”
When it comes to a minor, the word “affair” should never be used. And a Youth pastor who messes with a minor is not having an affair.
Frankly, your comment sounds a little unhinged.
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Dale Rudiger,
There is too much of this think happening in these registries.
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Even to the point of The Handmaid’s Tale and/or The Turner Diaries becoming the how-to manual’s latest 67th book. (Like Late Great Planet Earth in the Seventies, Atlas Shrugged in 2009, and too many to count during the Satanic Panic; Left Behind was actually 67th to 88th in its heyday.)
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dawn holman,
I cannot tell if this one’s a Poe or a True Believer.
In an Age of Extremes like today, it is literally impossible to discern.
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This recent presentation by Metatron (on the actual history of latest gay icon Caesar Hadrian) deals with Power Differentials in “affairs”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvQVXIxwawc
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Followers of a trusted pastor go through a range of emotions when they learn of their past. Unhinged is one of them. Yet another reason why these guys should not find an avenue for going back into the ministry … there are other ways for the truly repentant/changed to serve in church.
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The NeoCals are known for their arrogance, not their love. Indeed, pride and arrogance are the primary identifiers of the New Calvinist movement.
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This is Don’s excuse? That a 30 year old Pastor was pressured by a 14 year old girl? I think you have kool-aid dripping off your chin. Wake up.
He used his power and authority as a pastor to abuse a child. He was charged, pled guilty and served time in prison. He has disqualified himself from returning to this position of power by his own actions. Eternal elders have put the church and the greater community at risk.
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He. Was. A. 30-Year Old. Grown Man.
She. Was. A. 14-Year Old. Child.
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I was a member when he was hired. This was not disclosed to the congregation, no way, no how. If the elders knew it, they did not share.
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dawn holman,
Normally I’d have some witty comeback but
…….. *Speechless*…..
Gotta be troll…..nobody would….
….oh yeah ol’ Donnie Logan did.
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Ava Aaronson,
Yes. And we are seeing it in both church and politics, unfortunately. And the leaders of the mobs are other leaders in those realms. Quite discouraging. But I’m thinking that God won’t be mocked.
Jack,
That was my first thought on that quote. I saw the same every Sunday. Two to six verses turned into a one hour sermon. One has to do a lot of editing for that to happen.
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I got this wrong. CTEN was the sending agency. He was indeed with Missions Frontier starting in 2008.
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Just like the Communists of a century ago.
That also appealed to Intellectual types who KNEW that Come The Revolution, their Superior Intellects would make THEM the Party Commissars in charge.
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R,
Headless Unicorn Guy,
It is an “Eternal” church after all, and they and the robot politicians they have given permission to ape them are ontologically changed to prove it.
No role should be permitted to us heathens in the pews or at the ballot boxes to exercise discernment by truthful criteria, because “God” has given us nothing.
The erastian evangelical industrial complex, by their compromise, abolished the Bible and is working to ban it.
Jesus and the prophets (the real ones) simply said “don’t oppress those smaller than yourself” and then left the authorities to it.
They never said, we’ll announce that “God” will let you off the hook if you pretend to get into such-and-such “spiritual” contorsions and patronisingly pander to official religious foibles.
By effectively stealing the pyjamas of the nations’ youth to focus the spotlight on the private parts of the young and substituting materialist moralising and less-than-zero sum wedge driving.
Our children are just used up.
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The good news is that Christ came so that the few (our hope-bestowing examples) may have not “new” life but an old one they might have had once if they hadn’t thrown it away.
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Church members should not be notified of such things via the blogosphere. Church elders should have had a “family meeting” to discuss this before Mr. Logan was hired. This should have been a corporate decision by the Body of Christ. Herein, lies a problem with elder-rule.
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Former Member,
Sadly, they did know. They chose not to tell the congregation for close to ten years. These elders should all step down.
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Meanwhile, on the SBC front:
“Southern Baptists Pledged to Launch an Online Database of Abusers. It’s Still Empty.”
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2024/june/southern-baptist-convention-sexual-abuse-reform-database-pa.html
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It was a six year sentence. Because he agreed to a plea guilty it was reduced to three years with an additional three years probation.
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POTEMKIN DATABASE.
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I’m curious if the victim supports drawing renewed attention to this incident.
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The victim was 14 years old! It was a crime, and that is why he went to prison, and that is why he is on a sex offender registry in SC. Oddly, you didn’t ask if she would “support” whim being on a sex offender list. This question is naive at best.
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I can answer that. No, the victim has no interest in opening up a wound that may still be healing. Being revictimized by the likes of Jonathan Poletti (or in this case the supporters of Logan at Eternal Church) is the unfortunate side effect of standing up against these wolves in sheep’s clothing.
2 John 11 warns about “taking part in his wicked works.” Logan should never have been restored to pastoral ministry (by I assume his home “Brethren in Christ” church in Carlisle PA). If it was the polity of Eternal Church to vote on the selection of the pastor, then a material truth was withheld from the congregation prior to the vote. The genie is out of the bottle, so to speak. There is no way to restore transparency without bringing shame to Logan, embarrassment to the elders and disgrace to the church.
Transparency would demand something like stating the facts on the church’s website, but this cannot be done without involving the victim. Satan already won this battle the moment Logan was restored.
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I googled “what is the purpose of the sex offender registry,” and found this result: “The primary objective of the sex offender registry is to provide accurate and timely information to the law enforcement community and the general public, ensuring transparency and promoting public safety.”
Conviction of a sex crime against a 14 year old by a 30 year old minister is publicized to the general public. The “general public” is by definition “outside the church.” It is impossible to restore Logan’s reputation in the eyes of outsiders (1 Tim. 3:7).
“Wake up, Church! We fell asleep, our goose is cooked, our reputation is shot.”
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Dale Rudiger,
What’s even worse is that Logan DID NOT register as a sex offender in SC for nearly a decade! He just registered a month ago bc the news of his felony was starting to get out. I believe the elders are complicit in keeping not only the church but the entire Fort Mill community in the dark about a sex offender in their midst. The elders and Logan risked the safety of a whole community for the sake of what? Image control?
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Not sure this is true. He could be re-registering. Is there a way to determine the original registration date?
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Evidently, he told the congregation that he didn’t know he needed to be registered until last month. Oops.
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Ignorance of the law is no excuse. He is lucky he didn’t go back to jail for failing to register.
Besides, I am sure that is bald-faced lie. The probation officers, etc. would have clearly told him (and presented documents, information) that he must register.
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And you wonder why the NONES and the DONES are increasing. And why more and more people think that Christianity (especially in the US), God, and the Bible are crocks of ****.
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Agreed. And I think the elders are complicit. Naive at best. But probably complicit.
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Just wanted to slide in here with Matthew 5:27-30:
Matthew 5:27-30
Lust
[27] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [28] But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [29] If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
And maybe also a little John 8:4-9.
John 8:4-9
[4] they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. [5] Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” [6] This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. [7] And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” [8] And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. [9] But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
So, you scribes and Pharisees who have never sinned “as bad” as Don Logan, have your day.
I believe in Christ, the one who turned to the sinner and said today you will be with me in paradise. As soon as you start with the judgments, you expose your hypocrisy and turn away those who might believe that God is alive and salvation is real and can change the HEART of a person.
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Ever heard of “Accessory After the Fact”?
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CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA?
There are a LOT of Anabaptist churches with “Brethren” in their official name (belonging to several separate Breathren denominations) in that part of Pennsylvania. Most of the ones in the rural areas south of Harrisburg are either small or dying congregations.
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And making one Example silences a hundred, if not a thousand.
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They’ve already anticipated you, Grace.
From John 9:34 – “YOU WERE BORN IN UTTER SIN, AND YOU DARE TO TEACH US?”
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Deron,
You are new to this blog or you wouldn’t have started off with a game of dueling Bible verses.Do you know there are just as many versus I can quote that would add depth and breadth to you understanding? For example, a pedophile can be forgiven but should never be around small children since, like Paul, they have a thorn in the side which means they have compulsions that make them unsafe to be around children. In your paradigm- Jesus forgives and all is well. But wha happens if it is not?
Your pastor molested a 14 year old girl. Refer to Timothy3 and Titus 1and requirements for a pastor. As a pastor, Logan violated much of what is in those verses. See, I can quote as well. He pastor violated his office and did so to go after a minor. Such a desire for a child is not normal and indicates some psychiatric problems beyond the act itself
Your pastor is forgiven if he has truly repented. That is Scriptural. However, he can be restored…to the church not to his office in the church. I’m sure his church excommunicated him for his act. He may now take communion with his brothers and sisters, if he repented, but he can no longer be a pastor. He traded that in years ago to play around with a 14 year old girl who was unable to consent to his despicable actions.
Your pastor pursued his sexual desires with a minor. Do not forget that. He destroyed a minor’s view of the sanctity of her relationship with a pastor. It is something that will affect her for the rest of her life. If you are unaware of this harm, you need to educate yourself.
You view of redemption is shallow. Logan was redeemed (if he truly respented) but he doesn’t get to play pastor any longer. The fact that he would take it upon himself to seek such a position may be an indication of the depth (shallow) or maybe the lack of his repentance.
As for making judgements, you do understand that Scripture tells you to make judgements on the actions and sins of your fellow believers. What you may not judge is their salvation. That is only in the hands of our Lord. You judge all the time. If a man assaults a minor, one can judge that such an action is wrong. What are you being taught in your church?
In fact, it is your easy absolution of a male pastor who caused a lifetime of harm to a minor girl that will turn away those who look to a church with thoughtful judgements of the ramifications of such actions. If you have the guts, go out into the world and ask what they think about you having an “awesome” pastor who molested a teen girl and spent time in prison.
And your Bible lite causes me to ask what is being taught in your church. Perhaps you have a pastor who is helping you all to look the other way. And you have no idea what is in the heart of any man. The nicest of men can have the darkest of hearts.
I am shocked that an intelligent man can attempt to justify a church’s decision to have a pastor who molested a young teen girl. It is so sad and even gut wrenching to someone like myself that spends her days helping many sexual abuse victims who were molested in a church. It is gut wrenching when I see churches take our Scriptures and morph them into something that justifies the sins of church leaders. May God have mercy.
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I find it hard to believe that the board of elders believed it only happened with one girl one time.
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Deron,
Deron,
Deron. Do you have daughters? Have you ever had a 14 year old daughter? Can you even fathom your pastor grooming her? Can you possibly stomach him whispering lies into her ear? Touching her? Making her feel special? Confusing her? Using her trust and faith to access parts of her never meant for him? Maybe you would judge then. But, if not, thank God for actual judges that did judge him. Thank God for court systems that protect better than churches. And, shame on churches for not being safe places bc of people like you.
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Correction, he only got CAUGHT one time.
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Velo,
If he had registered at the proper time you would have been deprived of your chance to target her with this meanness.
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Well said Dee. What I also see that this “pastor’s” ego/pride/narcissism/etc makes him incapable of doing the right thing and stepping down from the pulpit. God forbid he should actually have to go and work a job outside the church.
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What is sad is that so-called Godless and secular world understands qualifications for jobs, character, and ethical requirements for leaders better than the Church. Ask what happens when a CPA or Financial Advisor gets convicted or sanctioned for fraud. Ask what happens to the CO of a Navy ship that collides with something (even if he is asleep). In many real-world professions, you screw up ONCE, you are DONE and can never hold that type of job ever again.
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Perhaps this scene clearly makes my point:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocTKTk7oExk
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Sadly it is situations like this that make me weary of pastors. I start to see them as actors selling a story each week. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Lord. But after attending a church where this very thing happened, I don’t trust that we are informed of everything by the elders and board making the decision about the leaders that are chosen.
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And the Sock Puppets have arrived, with the opening barrage of Bible Bullets.
Question, Massmind: BOT OR NOT?
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Don’t pedos usually rack up a two- or three-digit body count before they slip up and get caught?
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To the turn of “Dueling Banjos”:
“QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE!”
(“QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE!”)
“QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE!”
(“QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE!”)
“QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE!”
(“QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE! QUOTE!”)
(runaway guitar riff where the Godly MP3 playbacks stop quoting and go at each other with fingernails and teeth…)
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I don’t think it is a bot. My guess a brain-addled Kool-Aid drinker who goes to this church, one of this “pastor’s” or one of his elder enforcer’s BFFs/minions/toadies. Could also be a paid social media influencer/PR flunky/church social media employee doing his best to do PR/damage control.
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Headless Unicorn Guy,
So do they reform or get better at covering it up?
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Your analysis consistently references Timothy 3, but let’s clarify a key point: Paul (formerly Saul), the author of Timothy, was fully redeemed and transformed. Despite his past as a persecutor and murderer of many Christians, his story exemplifies the scriptural foundation for the reformation of individuals in spiritual leadership. This transformation itself serves as compelling evidence of the potential for profound personal change and redemption within spiritual roles.
Interestingly, your viewpoints seem reminiscent of the Donatist perspective, which emerged in the early 4th century and emphasized uncompromising moral purity within the church. The Donatist conflict centered on the question of the church’s holiness and the legitimacy of its leaders, particularly those who had lapsed in their faith under persecution. The Donatists argued that the church must be pure and that any leaders who had committed serious sins, such as apostasy, could not administer sacraments validly. They believed that the holiness of the church was paramount and required uncompromising moral integrity from its members and leaders.
However, counterpoints to the Donatist perspective emphasize that the nature of sin and redemption in Christianity does not support the exclusionary practices they advocated. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most prominent opponents of Donatism, argued that the church is a mixed body of both saints and sinners and that the validity of the sacraments does not depend on the moral purity of the clergy. Augustine emphasized that all sin is equal in the sight of the Lord (James 2:10) and that no sin is beyond God’s forgiveness if there is true repentance. This belief underscores the idea that the church is not an assembly of perfect individuals but a community of sinners who continually seek God’s grace and strive for spiritual growth. Ultimately, the Donatists lost the argument, as the broader church rejected their exclusionary views in favor of a more inclusive understanding of grace and redemption.
In this specific case, we are talking about an individual who served time for their sin 27 years ago and, by all accounts, has atoned. This does not dismiss the nature of the crime or its impact on the individual. Sin always has consequences and a negative impact, which is why we need a savior. However bad the sin might be, I don’t think that God would be surprised by any new sin. I admire the pastor’s courage to admit the wrongdoing to the elder community when joining the church, and the fact that the church is confronting the issue head-on. It seems like your point of view is one of an outsider, who is basically serving to inform a broader community of something negative that has happened. I fail to see how this action does anything positive for the community of Christ. However, I do appreciate the work that you say you’re doing to help victims of abuse.
Additionally, the view that no individual or church is free from sin is central to Christian doctrine. Romans 3:23 states that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” emphasizing that everyone is in need of God’s saving grace. The church, therefore, is not an authority on holiness but a community of believers supporting each other on their spiritual journeys.
The Donatist conflict highlights the tension between the ideal of a pure church and the reality of human imperfection. It also underscores the importance of grace, forgiveness, and the communal aspect of faith, where believers uplift and support one another rather than impose rigid standards of holiness.
In conclusion, the story of Paul’s transformation and the broader Christian teachings on sin and redemption collectively argue against the rigid exclusionary practices of the Donatists. Instead, they advocate for a church that embodies grace, forgiveness, and mutual support, recognizing that every individual is on a journey of spiritual growth and in constant need of God’s grace. I am thankful to be saved by the grace of Christ alone, not by the actions of a church or the perfection of a specific spiritual leader. My faith rests in the grace of Christ, which allows us all to grow and redeem ourselves, rather than in the fallible nature of human beings.
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Also, can you expound on what you mean by this a bit?
Do you mean to suggest that the thorn in Paul’s side:
1) Was pedophilia? (or)
2) Impacted him from serving as a spiritual leader?
I am not convinced of either of those. Rather, the thorn in Paul’s side served as evidence of the grace of Christ, this is purely from the passage (2 Corinthians 12:1-10) where he references the thorn, and probably is better suited for emboldening my argument than yours. Because “in my (Paul’s) weakness (thorn), He is made strong”.
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Devon, a simple question: Is pastor Logan above reproach or not? Does he have a good reputation with outsiders? It is a simple yes or no question. Your long screed about Donatism and Augustine does not change the facts and looks to be an attempt at obfuscation.
It should be obvious to everyone that the answer is No. Therefore he is biblically disqualified from being a pastor. PERIOD.
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From the Eternal Church website:
“Can I be an elder if I have had some past moral failure?
God’s grace is real—no one deserves his favor—and his forgiveness is complete. A
person’s past sins and mistakes should not disqualify that person for a church office.
Consider the great Apostle Paul who, in his own words, was the ‘worst” sinner of all.”
https://eternalchurch.net/elders
My response:
While God forgives sin completely, He does not completely remove the temporal consequences of sin. The consequence to a minister who commits a sex crime with a minor is disqualification from ever being a pastor. Regarding Paul, his persecution of Christians occurred before he was a believer. He himself was an outsider. Logan was an “insider” when he committed his notorious sin.
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Obviously I am on the wrong side of the fence for this blog community, and I don’t think we will convince one another anyway on the topic. Therefore, I will say this last bit and we can agree to disagree…
We need explore what it means to be “above reproach.” A synonym for “reproach” is “criticism,” so being “above reproach” implies being “above criticism.”
In today’s world, criticism is often weaponized. Thus, it’s important to clarify Paul’s intent in this qualification.
Paul is not suggesting that Timothy should find leaders of perfect character, as no one is without sin. Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Instead, Paul is advising Timothy to find men who have to the best of their ability reconciled their sin and suffering with God and others, making them above criticism.
To understand this, look at Paul’s letter to Philemon. Paul instructed Onesimus, a runaway slave, to reconcile with his owner, Philemon. Onesimus did so and became a leader in the early church. This shows the spirit of the qualification: a leader should address and reconcile any issues that might lead to public criticism.
A church leader must do two things: receive God’s grace for their sins and work through any reproach their sins have caused others. This qualification describes not a perfect man, but one willing to do the hard work to deal with potential criticisms.
Paul himself is an example. Once a persecutor of the church, Paul received mercy and became its greatest leader. We have similar examples in that of Peter, who denied Christ while a disciple (apostasy), and yet was redeemed and was a formative leader and the rock on which the Church was built. David is also an example, though some say this predates the church. In scripture, we have too many examples to count where God seeks imperfect men indwelled by the Spirit who are committed to addressing their faults and striving to stay above criticism.
What I haven’t heard in this blog post or discussion is about a case where in the past 27 years someone has come forward with allegations against Logan. He’s also been preaching at Eternal for what… 10 years? To me it seems like within his church community, he is working to address the criticism and in spite of the grave sin of his past, is living a life that is above reproach.
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Deron, could you speak further on this? First, was the congregation informed of his being a sex offender before he was hired? Second, in what ways is he currently working to address the criticism? Has he explained to the congregation how he was originally restored to ministry after he was required to relinquish his credentials? How are prospective new members, some of whom were sexually abused as minors, made aware of his past? How can he have a good reputation with outsiders when his name is on sex offenders registries?
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1 in 5 girls is a victim of child sexual abuse.
https://victimsofcrime.org/child-sexual-abuse-statistics/
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Devon fails to understand that above reproach is a specific type of criticism.
The Greek word is ἀνέγκλητος (anegklētos). The root word κλητός (klētos) means called or summoned and in classical Greek has a legal connotation (e.g. being “summoned to court”). The related verb ἐγκαλέω (egkaleō) means to bring charges or press charge (see Acts 19:31)
The prefix ἀν- implies a negation, so that we can understand anegklētos as meaning something like cannot be charged with wrong doing. The NIV translates the word as “above reproach”. The King James and some other versions use the term “blameless”. Latin versions translated the word as irreprehēnsibilis, which we recognize as “irreprehensible”.
This ties into legal and criminal proceedings as well. All of this suggests that the word carries a meaning of being blameless or above approach in the sense of not being able to be accused of any wrongdoing by anyone. The fact that he failed to register, did not mention it until it was found out, etc. means he CAN be credibly accused of wrongdoing.
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Again, Paul’s action were BEFORE he became a Christian. Then there is your tired old trope of using David. For starters, David was a king, not a priest, a pastor, or elder. So you are comparing apples to oranges with regards to pastoral qualifications. It does not apply no matter how many times fanboys of unqualified pastors bring it up. As for Peter, please note that this was before Pentecost and before the pastoral epistles (and the entire NT for that matter) were written.
Try better next time.
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In all fairness, I would argue that the vast majority of pastors, elders, and deacons in the US (and elsewhere) are NOT biblically qualified for the position. TV weather forecasters with a success rate of 10% are better qualified for their job than most pastors. What other field can you have the majority of job holders not meet basic qualifications for the job?
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When you are Biblically qualified for those sacred positions, there will be fruit in your ministry to prove it. There will be evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and church. IMHO, if you were to lift the Holy Spirit out of the American church, 95% of the stuff would still go on … the work of our hands, without involvement of God and His Son. The institutional church is in desperate need of genuine revival and spiritual awakening, but I don’t see much movement in that direction.
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Exactly. A truly qualified church leader should walk in the Spirit not the flesh. When a leader is filled and overflowing with the Holy Spirit, there remains no room in his soul for error.
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Deron,
Deron,
You are not only on the wrong side of the fence. You cannot even pass the test of the logical man. Statutory rape of a child is a crime. These crimes are investigated by the F.B.I. and law enforcement task forces skilled in tracking down and dealing with child sexual predators.
I believe we need a new federal statute that if a church knowingly hires someone convicted of a sexual crime against a child or harbors and does not report out a staff member who has assaulted a child, the IRS should yank the tax exemption.
Our problem is not that we don’t understand Greek. Our problem is that we illogically believe evil has a restorative process. Nope. Evil utterly destroys. And it takes everyone down with it within its path. This is what we are seeing at Gateway Church right now. A take down of the righteous with the wicked. Evil doesn’t care. Evil does not have a conscience.
By sexually assaulting a child, the individual has forever lost the opportunity to serve in a paid staff position at a church. There are life time consequences. That any church would consider hiring an individual with a prior conviction for this type of offense merely demonstrates the church no longer has anything of value to offer the world.
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ed. note: We understand. You support child molesters who went to jail to be in the pulpit. You think you really know them. Bye
I have not read all the comments but I have read enough to compel me to leave a comment of my own. The author’s use of the terms “celebrity” pastor and “megachurch” are as biased and inaccurate as they are ridiculous. Smacks of sensationalism and click bait and an effort to unfairly bias the reader.
I was a member and Deacon at Eternal for over 15 years, holding various positions. I have personally known Don since he became the pastor as well as the founding elders mentioned above. I feel compelled to state that my experience with all of them is a relationship with genuine, sincere, earnest disciples of the Christ. I agree it was a grave mistake to not inform the entire leadership and, for that matter, the congregation when we voted on installing Don as Pastor. As I know and trusted these men for over 15 years, I can state without reservation there was no guile in them regarding the decision to install Don as pastor.
Don’t expect me to respond to any comments about mine as I will not come back to this site
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Ricky Bobby,
Clearly you’re not a 14 year old girl. Predators never act like predators around their deacons. They only show their true side to their prey.
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There may not have been guile on the part of the elders, but there was a lack of wisdom and there was bad theology. Now they have a mess on their hands.
I doubt that they would have called Logan if they knew his criminal past would be exposed and that he would be publicly humiliated when the mandatory SC reporting came into play.
I cannot help but think there was guile on the part of Logan. He was required to relinquish his Minister’s license in Indiana; he moved to his wife’s hometown in PA and returns to ministry as a missionary. He was apparently not on staff at his Brethren in Christ church there.
Bottom line, post “Spotlight” there is no way that a child sex offending minister can have a good reputation. Permanent disqualification is required — especially now that Morris and Gateway has exploded into the public consciousness.