“It is easy to acknowledge, but almost impossible to realize for long, that we are mirrors whose brightness, if we are bright, is wholly derived from the sun that shines upon us.” ― The Four Loves.
What is a paraphilia? Isn’t it just another sin?
I have used this blog to expose pedophiles in the broader Protestant church. However, my goal in writing has little to do with exposing “one more pedophile.” There always seems to be more than one more pedophile. I have hoped that the reader will understand the complicated topic of paraphilias. Comprehending the difficulties inherent in such behavior is essential to protecting you and your family.
Here is a link at the National Institutes of Health: Paraphilia by Kristy A. Fisher and Raman Marwaha that explains this.
Paraphilias are persistent and recurrent sexual interests, urges, fantasies, or behaviors of marked intensity involving objects, activities, or even situations that are atypical in nature. Although not innately pathological, a paraphilic disorder can evolve if paraphilia invokes harm, distress, or functional impairment on the lives of the affected individual or others.
…The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for paraphilia states explicitly that the patient must have experienced intense and recurrent sexual arousal from deviant fantasies for at least six months and must have acted on these impulses. A paraphilia becomes a pathology, or a paraphilic disorder, only when this behavior causes significant distress and impairment of functioning to the individual or if the paraphilia involves personal harm or risk of harm to others
…However, due to the patient’s reluctance to seek treatment or the legal obligation to obtain treatment, psychiatrists are often forced to exceed the call of duty to the patient to reduce distress but rather focus efforts on protection against potential victimization.
Those with paraphilia are often reluctant to seek treatment. Even when they do, the counselor must focus on preventing harm to another victim.
Read the section called Prognosis. It appears that those with paraphilias are likely to reoffend.
Despite the psychological and pharmacological interventions designed to manage paraphilias and paraphilic disorders; an ultimate treatment or change has yet to be established. Existing interventions merely allow for increased voluntary control through self-management skills over sexual arousal and reduction in sexual drive, with the best-yielded prognosis only from those individuals who are actually motivated to change.[2] Those who do participate in either therapy alone or, ideally, the combined management of psychological and medicinal intervention show improvement with a marked reduction in the intensity and frequency of deviant sexual arousal and resultant behaviors.[18] However, the literature suggests that most sexual offenders are likely to re-offend.[2]
Takeaway point: Literature suggests that most sexual offenders will reoffend.
The fallacy: They repented, God forgave them, and they no longer have this problem, especially if demons have been expelled.
Sadly, many people have been fed a bunch of confusing lies. I’m sure some repent. However, there is no guarantee that when they do, their paraphilia is cured. If one reads the literature on paraphilia, one will find a long and sad history of pedophiles in the pulpit and in every phase of society. The church has not guaranteed cures for this dangerous problem. The point is relatively straightforward. Someone may wish to repent. God may forgive them, but they still battle with this thorn in their side, which is a painful and permanent part of their life. Some probably commit to never reoffending, but the urge is still present. Many do not seek long-term supportive care, and even those who do will reoffend.
Therefore, it is in the best interest of the community to help them stay away from children or the age group they prefer in their sexual crimes. Yes, folks, this is a crime. Police should be involved if there is any indication that they have a victim(s.)
Takeaway point: Maybe God has forgiven them. I don’t know. Maybe they have repented. Only God knows. Many will still reoffend. Be prepared for it.
The fallacy: My preacher is fantastic. I have grown as a Christian, and my kids love him. Therefore, my pastor has put this paraphilia behind him. I know he walks in purity.
First of all, you, as an individual, have no idea of the activities of your pastor 24/7. Those with paraphilias are usually charismatic. That is how they attract their victims. It is also how they groom parents and the congregation. I know this is hard for most people to understand.
In the case of Providence Baptist Church, my former church, a seminary student from Southeast Baptist Theological Seminary, molested untold numbers of young teen boys. Doug Goodrich was a charismatic individual. The parents loved him so much that they took him on vacations with the family, sadly increasing the amount of time their child was molested. When the church received a report of him getting boys to run around a camp, pulling down their pants, the pastors laughed it off, calling it typical boys behavior. Except it wasn’t. His abuse is some of the worst I have heard in 15 years. Yet, amazingly, mothers came to his trial, sitting on the side of the molester, not the side of the boys who were harmed. They were so deeply groomed that they asked the judge to release him into their care, and they would help him. Thankfully, the judge knew what was going on. I have heard such stories repeated repeatedly in these past 15 years. I shook my head at those parents and went out into the world to figure out what was happening.
Takeaway point: The congregation can be groomed along with the victim. No one knows if their pastor is living a lie. If you think you know how wonderful he is at all times, you are probably a victim of grooming.
Three current examples of pastors with abnormal and criminal behavior with a young person.
1. Jonathan Elwing: The police suspected they would find more, and they did
On 6/26/24, I wrote The SBC, Tom Ascol, the Founders, and the Conservative Baptist Network Question the Need for Sex Offenders Database. Then There Was Jonathan Elwing Who Also Agreed With Them…He was found with child porn images on his phone. The children were aged 4-12. The authorities took this pastor to jail, believing they would find more. Folks, stop and think about that. The authorities sensed they would find more, and they did. The Christian Post: Florida pastor charged with sexually abusing kids as young as 2, faces 18 felony counts.
A forensic search of Elwing’s cell phone found images of him sexually battering a child and the production and possession of 12 images of child pornography, reports the Sarasota-based WWSB ABC 7
They found out more about this monster. Or do you think he is not a monster? His parishioners had no idea. Some still can’t believe it.
“I can’t stress this enough, this is a monster,” Sheriff Rick Wells said during a press conference. “He went into that church professing to be a man of God. But really, he is nothing more than a liar and a sexual predator.”
“He would abuse anyone at anytime,” Wells added. “There doesn’t seem to be a limit to what he is capable of.”
Police say one of the photos shows Elwing abusing a 2-year-old, according to WWSB. Authorities also say they found eight to 10 hidden cameras in his home and his church office.
Takeaway point: This man is a criminal who sexually abused a 2-year-old and filmed himself doing it. He probably has done this for a very long time. The people of his church and the Founders and Conservative Baptist Network liked this guy. They didn’t know about his background either. So what makes you think you know your pastor is “walking in purity?’
2. Donald Logan: The elders didn’t think they should tell everybody about their beloved pastor’s time in prison for harming a 14-year-old.
On 5/30/24, I wrote {Update 5.30.24} Don Logan, Pastor of Eternal Church, SC, Is a Convicted Felon For Sexual Misconduct With a Minor. The Elders Say He Is “Above Reproach.” I Disagree.
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.
Everyone loves this charismatic leader who is a great teacher. What did I tell you about paraphiliacs? It is abnormal for any adult to have a sexual interest in a minor. It means something is wrong, and intelligent people who aren’t fooled by likable, good teachers know they can be likable AND dangerous.
Here is an elder who appears to have been effectively groomed. He likens the molestation of an underage girl to being sure that Logan is never in the room alone with a female. He doesn’t seem to understand that the victim’s age is the key.
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.
In fact, the pastor had a good sermon in which he said that it is Satan and his demons who bring up past sins. Note: he calls it a simple sin. It is not. It was abnormal for him to molest an underage girl when he was quite capable of finding a woman of consensual age to have sex with him. But, then again, he probably doesn’t like women of consensual age.
Takeaway point: It is possible that Logan will reoffend. No one follows him 24/7. He should not be a pastor, and the elders should ensure that there are no kids near this man. He may have repented, and God may have forgiven him, but he sure wanted to be the lead pastor. Humility? Hmm, you decide.
3. Robert Morris
I will assume the reader knows about this situation. Morris had a sexual interest in Cindy Cleminshire starting when she was 12 and then molested her over 4 1/2 years. This was not a one-time event, even though a one-time event is still a crime. This behavior was well-developed and occurred while he pretended to be a loyal husband and father. It is not normal for a man to have a sexual interest in a 12-year-old girl. Those who know him believe that a demon was involved and is now expelled as if anyone can really know that. Morris has focused on demons during his pastorate, even going so far as to say that the Apostle Paul had a demon. I wrote about this in 2014: ARC’s Robert Morris: Paul Preached “Under the Influence.” Could this be a way of grooming his church? How about his interest in generational incidents that cause descendants to do bad things?
Again, most people don’t know Morris and what he does in his off time. How does one know that he is “walking in purity?” You don’t, and that is how he deceives you. We know from the NIH that sexual offenders are likely to reoffend. I believe that is possible with Morris.
Takeaway point: Morris taught his people to believe that demons cause people to do things like sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl. He is in the “devil made me do it” mode. I will listen to those who study these things and believe it is possible that Morris will re-offend or has reoffended. Time will tell. I will revisit this prediction in the future.
Finally,
I write to tell the stories of those victimized by pastors and church leaders. I also write to educate Christians about the horrific number of pastors who abuse. When I started blogging, I thought there was little chance I would see anything as wrong as I saw in my Baptist church. I was wrong. Really, wrong, and my heart breaks for the church, which often turns its back on the victims and instead builds up the pastor abuser. Church: it’s time to grow up and realize that the evangelical church has allowed this problem to fester, all in the name of protecting the church. We got it wrong. Jesus protects His church. We are supposed to care for our victims. Stay tuned. There is more to come.
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The first one, Jonathan Elwing, does seem very egregious, and very much like someone using their position to actually give them opportunity to abuse.
The second, Don, is a case in which he was convicted of a crime, and PAID the penalty of it. And it appears he has not re-offended, and not only that, but also has put in place safeguards to prevent temptation. But, apparently, the author of this article feels the know better than God, because while God does forgive and redeem people, the author doesn’t really believe that can happen.
The 3rd case, Robert Morris, I think the jury is out on that TBH. If it was ONE case, decades ago, and he truly repented, then maybe the benefit of the doubt is in order. However, if we find more cases after that, then it would seem to lump him in with Jonathan.
I think everyone would do well to remember, that we were ALL wretched, only saved by grace of God. This is not give a free pass to child abuse, certainly not. However, let’s not elevate mental health and medical science above the power of God. God can certainly free people from their addictions and chains. But, based on what I see written, that isn’t really believe.
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CoolViper777,
Oops, you forgot the part about, “We don’t know what goes on with our pastors 24/7.”
Regarding science: Pilots, surgeons, pediatricians, and teachers, for example, are properly trained in the sciences of their careers, then licensed, with protocols for being able to serve. Faith in God doesn’t supersede or interfere with those sciences, licensures, and protocols.
Pedophiles have to register as sex offenders due to the science behind pedophilia.
There is science regarding addictions. Alcoholics acknowledge that just one drink won’t work. So they control their access … with no access.
Pastors generally have trust and access. Restoration of a pastor indicates restored trust and access.
Boundaries, and only boundaries (not background checks) prevent predators (often incognito) from violating the innocent which become a predator’s prey.
Have predators found their perfect career to endlessly reoffend with restoration, as pastors?
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I’m a survivor of decades long sexual abuse from infancy until age 28 and have been an RN for the last 14 years. Something I’ve learned through my personal and professional experiences, is that addiction is addiction is addition. It doesn’t matter what the addiction involves-chemical dependency, behavioral (ex: gambling, thrill-seeking, certain eating disorders), emotional/psychological (ex: certain drug dependencies), etc.-once it does develop and the brain changes how it processes stress/pleasure that person will have one of three outcomes: 1) addict never achieving remission, 2) recovering addict w/addiction in remission, or 3) recovering addiction w/relapse. With the right support, anyone can achieve remission from whatever they’ve become addicted. The reality is that addiction changes how our brains function which is why any addict who believes they’ve been “cured” is deceiving themselves and on the way to a relapse. Those with paraphilic disorders almost always relapse bc they live their lives in denial and based on lies. The rare cases that do achieve remission and don’t reoffended are almost 100% hands down minors who received appropriate mental health, emotional, and social support and counseling. Such success is just not seen in the adult population.
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One case, decades ago? 4.5 years of steady predatory behavior. Once case, still makes it a crime. It is a crime that society never had the opportunity to deal with in a court of law.
So “he repented” means the victim is ghosted from the necessary conversation.
The majority of pedophiles, re-offend. In this day, the pedophilia may continue in the form of possession of child porn, which in most cases, is distributed within networks of pedophiles. Legally, this is called “possession with intent”.
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CoolViper777,
Not cool. You obviously didn’t get the point of this post. No one ( and as an atheist, I mean not even your doG) can know what another person is doing.
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So, you know better than everyone that he has not reoffended. Hmmmm.
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I think you’re right Ava.
I think the ‘churches’ have only loose boundaries (if any), and fluid access permissions which make it easy for predators to go on safari (so to speak).
Stuff that would not be tolerated in the secular world, especially when it comes to the safety and protection of kids.
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CoolViper777,
You do not seem to understand the point of the post. You have no idea what these men have done. You take their words at face value. That is dangerous when it comes to predators, a point I made in the post and one you didn’t take the time to consider.
I have put all of your comments in moderation. That means I may approve them if you can show that you understand the post’s essential points.
Also, if you took the time to get to know me, you would understand how much I value God’s views on protecting those who are vulnerable, which we see throughout Scripture.
You are new, and I will take that into consideration. One thing I do know a lot about is predatory behavior, and I have spent a long time gaining that knowledge. So, sarcastic comments about me thinking I know more than God show you have not taken the time to learn about the history of this blog and the people who frequent this venue. You are gratuitous and uninformed in your sarcasm. I enjoy some sarcasm, but it should be well-informed.
So, for now, your comments will eventually be approved if they demonstrate that you have taken the time to ingest the points.
I find vipers decidedly uncool.
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CoolViper777,
Don, is a case in which he was convicted of a crime, and PAID the penalty of it. And it appears he has not re-offended
So, if a convicted arsonist had PAID the penalty of it, you would invite him to a 4th of July BBQ and fireworks display at your house, as long as it (ahem) ‘appeared’ that he had not reoffended?
I think everyone would do well to remember, that we were ALL wretched,
But, we are not all sexual abusers of teenagers. We are not all convicted felons who have served time for abusing teenagers.
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I am a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse with a Masters degree. I have worked for most of my career until five years ago in forensic mental health settings in Australia and New Zealand. The unit in New Zealand housed sexual offenders and individuals with deviant Paraphilia. We utilised a specialised service to help with treating these individuals. The results of intensive treatment was at best a small reduction in risk. Most retained their deviant thought processes and continued to present a high risk of reoffending.
Some of our patients regularly attended the church service run in the chapel. I don’t know if any repented, but even if they had, I believe that they still presented a risk that needed to be carefully managed.
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To balance things out…
I think everyone would do well to remember that Jesus cussing up a storm at religious leaders, NOT AT the poor and the weak. He used very very salty language aim specifically the religious leaders.
Need to consider the whole counsel of the Bible, no cherry picking.
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A number of years ago my church tried to help a very repentant man with a “I promise it will never happen again” porn addiction. He had an app on his phone and laptop, an accountability group, and a “responsibility” partner. He was welcomed into our congregation with open arms and hired by our local Christian school as a teacher. A month into his job, they found him looking at porn at work on a school computer. He was fired, the church put him on discipline, and he later left.
I often wonder what would have happened if we as a church had been more cautious instead of all the public attention regarding this man’s supposed cure. True addicts are always prone to relapse they need serious handling and constant monitoring, not applause from the congregation for their quick cure.
Most businesses won’t allow someone with a history of armed robbery to handle the cash and checks. Churches should be as careful regarding who is in the pulpit.
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Sin leveling at its finest!
He is a sinner because he abused a 12yo sexually for years, you’re a sinner for being grumpy with your kids, I’m a sinner because I was born in original sin. So we’re all the same.
Never mind that one is a horrible crime!
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Don Logan started his first sermon after being exposed by this blog with the following statement (June 23, 2024):
“Good morning, church. Do you ever have those dreams where like, uh, as a kid you go to school naked and everybody’s clothed and everybody else sees…That’s kind of how I feel when I’m coming to church this morning. Uh, and God helped me, and He said ‘No, no, Don, they’re naked too! You just don’t SEE them.’ And so let’s read our Scripture today — the holy Word of God from an unholy man.”
This church is guilty of SIN LEVELING. You also see it in their qualifications for elders at their website. God requires elders to have a “good reputation with outsiders.” 1 Tim. 3:7. And church leaders, especially those who teach, are held to a higher standard. The words of Jesus in Matthew 18 are in the context of church leadership. The “millstone narrative” and the abuse of “little ones” deserves harsh judgment. SA of a 14 year old by a 30 year old minister of the gospel is an especially heinous sin. Unfortunately, Don Logan is a “marked man.” Jesus does not want an “unholy man” like Don Logan to be leading His church.
A good friend of mine is an elder at Eternal Church. I have shared my concerns with him, and it has caused division in our relationship. Sorry for my shouting, but HAVING A REGISTERED CHILD SEX OFFENDER AS YOUR PASTOR IS UNACCEPTABLE. It brings dishonor to the body of Christ and is church-dividing.
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Church as Hunting Ground.
Predators welcome. Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection provide the Get Out of Jail Free Card for full access and acceptance for predatory offenders, in some theologies and churches.
“Come to church where you can serve, lead, and socialize as if nothing ever happened.”
Evangelicalism is the Gospel’s Good News for predatory offenders, providing full social access to unlimited opportunities with all ages in the “Family” of God.
In a community group of Christian families, while socializing, a older teen boy was physically overpowering the little ones: tripping, shoving, etc. A family asked that the older boy play with the boys of his own age and size. The Christian group leadership kicked that requesting family out of the group, for suggesting that the older boy have supervision with limited access to the younger ones. A few months later, that older boy gouged out an eye of his little younger brother, during unsupervised play. Full access without supervision for a predatory abusive teen resulted in a targeted younger boy losing an eye.
Full social access, as if nothing is going on and nothing bad will ever happen, never reforms a predatory offender. Rather, the vulnerable are targeted and violated by that very offender, within that full social access group.
Provide access and opportunities to a predatory offender? Then expect the vulnerable to be violated. Count on it.
Offer beer to an alcoholic? They will go off the wagon on a bender.
For an addict, access is key.
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Dale Rudiger,
And, it is a public safety issue!
As Dee clearly points out, no matter what you call it, being a pedo is a significant, “non-normal” behavior with SERIOUS consequences to the victim, and the data shows that is rarely “cured”. Why would one put a person in leadership, around potential victims, with this kind of “problem”? We are supposed to not let alcoholic pilots fly commercial airlines, why? PUBLIC SAFETY…. Apparently these churches do not really care about their children…. Just like the leadership in the RCC…. “Protecting” the church more important than protecting children….. disgusting…
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FBI profiler Roy Hazelwood’s research reveals that all sexual predation begins as a fantasy, a dream, ideation, projecting.
We hear of Christian leaders having porn habits, perhaps addictions. They are feeding that fantasy.
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CoolViper777,
Don Logan did not register as a sex offender in SC until news of his felony began to leak. For nearly a DECADE, courtesy of naive or complicit elders, Logan was not a registered sex offender AND was given a position of spiritual power and authority without the church or community’s awareness of his felony.
He was required to register and yet he positioned himself as a trusted leader – while living a lie.
This is not a man who is above reproach.
This is a man who believes himself to be above the law. This is a man who frequently “hears the voice of God “ to manipulate and groom the congregation. This is a man who had unfettered access to minors in his neighborhood, workplace, and online because he did not register as a sex offender.
Bottom line. Logan deceived the community of Fort Mill. Eternal Church risked the entire safely of the community and church by hiring a convicted felon and by hiding his dark secret.
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Then “men of God” need to stop acting like they are still totally depraved. All three of the pastors noted here committed their sex crimes against children after they were “saved by grace.”
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Oh, he’s hearing a voice alright … but it ain’t Holy.
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This is insightful and helpful! Thank you!
I would add an additional myth that fuels church trust in predators:
Sin levelling – We have all sinned. And all sin is equally damning.
This error arose in the 80s and 90s. It was a lazy apologetic response to the objection, “Why would God send both a murderer and a liar to hell?”
It is lazy because it misunderstands sin and is completely false on its face (and scripturally).
Sin is rebellion against God. So, yes , we’ve all rebelled, but that doesn’t mean our rebellions are equal.
There are CLEARLY different levels of sin. Jesus asked Pilot, “whose sin is the greater?”
I’ve been in ministry for two decades and I still have conversations with Christians who say, “all sin is equal.” When Christians believe this falsehood, it is easy to see how they accept the predator, amplify their own sins and minimize the pastor’s crimes.
i.e. “Well, when I was in high school I got super drunk, destroyed my friend’s house and cursed out my parents, so I guess Bob sleeping with a young lady is no different.”
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Interesting protests and goings on at Abundant Life church in Springfield Mo.
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Sinleveling is a chronic problem in the church. Some claim there is no difference between cussing at another driver and killing someone. This is due to a misunderstanding. All sin separates us from God. Not all sin is the same. People don’t know how to read their Bible.
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Private Revelation direct from God Himself?
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Don’t forget PIOUS and SPIRITUAL.
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“AND GOD HATES SIN WITH SUCH A PERFECT HATRED…”
— tract that messed up my head back in the Seventies
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Maybe Elwing and Josh Duggar could be cellmates; they could jack each other off reminiscing about their Appetites and Conquests.
DEMONS and WITCHES in every closet and under every bed, just like Greg Locke!
And these DEMONS Prove Pastor Pedo is TRULE a Might ManaGAWD; so Godly SATAN himself singles him out for Special PERSECUTION! And only the presence of such a Mighty ManaGAWD can protect his sheeple from SATAN! And his DEMONS! “PASTOR PEDO, PROTECT US WITH THY PRESENCE!”
AKA a RL Humbert from Lolita.
Textbook Geraldine Defense — “THE DEBBIL MADE ME DO IT!”
Once again, “DEMONS DEMONS DEMONS! SHEEKA-BOOM-BAH!! BAM!!!”
Morris-Humbert really has to team up with the guy who wrote Malleus Maleficarum.
Now imagine a CHRISTIAN Nation where these guys have Power of Life and Death over us all by Divine Right.
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CoolViper777,
Just because you can be forgiven does not mean you won’t reoffend. It is common knowledge that people that struggle with this issue have a very high likelihood of reoffending, even if they are a Christian. They also tend to be master manipulators. If your so confident in their rehabilitation, would you let them babysit your young child? I doubt it. There is a pastor named Jimmy Hinton, that has a lot of youtube video’s on this subject. He pastored a church along with his father would had been a pastor for decades. He found out that his dad had abused his sister as a child as well as others in their church for decades. He turned his dad into the police. His dad is now in prison. Mr Hinton has made it his life’s mission to understand predators and how they manipulate people to gain access to their victims. He has spent years now visiting with his dad in prison. What he has noted is that his dad gives him one story (God is working in his life, he is changing, he is sorry etc…), while at the same time sending letters to Mr. Hinton’s siblings indicating that he was unfairly convicted and that what he did was minor. Mr. Hinton has found that you cannot trust anything that these people say. They will do and say anything to get back in good standing.
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“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
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According to a survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research, about 10% of pastors think a child sex offender can return to ministry.
Not sure -7%
Withdraw permanently – 83%
Withdraw for at least 10 years – 2%
Withdraw for at least 5 years – 3%
Withdraw for at least 2 years – 3%
Withdraw for at least a year – 2%
Withdraw for at least 6 months -<1%
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/june/pastor-abuse-permanent-disqualification-ministry-lifeway.html
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I wonder what portion of the 10% are predator pastors themselves?
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In my humble but accurate opinion, 100% of pastors surveyed should have checked the “withdraw permanently” box. This is just another indication of how messed up church leadership is in America, when 17% would either return a child sex offender to the pulpit or they were not sure what to do. Jesus knew what to do … remember His millstone warning?
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The Agape Boarding School in your neck of the woods is also back in the news for child abuse.
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To truly repent doesn’t one have to honestly “fess up”. He called referred to his victim as a “young lady”. She was 12. So in matters of sex 12 yeas old is an adult?
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Kamp Kanakuk is also back in the news:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kanakuk-kamps-sex-abuse-accuser-says-camp-leadership-told-back-reporte-rcna158911
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Speaking of Robert Morris, where is he?!
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Perhaps a measure of the genuineness* of a paraphilia-sufferer’s protestations of repentance is the degree to which his behavior manifests a determination to flee away from future temptations rather than to linger in their vicinity.
(* by “genuineness”, I mean the extent to which the person’s desire to not harm others is stronger than his desire for whatever it is that he gets from gratification of the paraphilia.
If one insists on putting a “biblical framing” on this problem, the language of “bondage” seems appropriate, provided one does not facilely assume that ‘sound doctrine’, ‘confession of faith’, ‘verbalized repentance’, ‘tears of contrition’, etc. are reliable evidences of liberation from the bondage.)
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To “coolviper” theres nothing cool about your arrogance AND your incredible ignorance. Your blind trust can be deadly. Obviously you have no children to protect and if you do i am terrified for them. You are a fool. I suggest all reading this blog get on Jimmy Hintons site. He has hundreds of podcasts of exposing this sin in the church. He exposed his own dad.
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Probably in Jacksboro at his ranch.
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CoolViper777,
He never repented. How do I know?
He lowballed her request for reimbursement for counseling costs and tied it to an NDA.
His “young lady” reference was is a flat out LIE.
Neither of these behaviors speak to “repentence” but instead reveal an attempt to cover up and justify.
These actually added more wrongs to his initial depraved behavior. None of these actions are indicative of any type of repentance.
Whatever sorrow there might be is most likely sorrow that it has now come to light.
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Grace,
Thank you Grace, you added further clarifying information that underscores what a man of character would not do. You clarified those who would object.
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Max,
Well put.
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NC Now,
Similar to, “But officer, I wasn’t really stealing the Corvette. I was just borrowing it for a while.”
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Paid troll for Robert Morris…. I did get the point. And it is a psychotic, out of touch response.
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Too bad that someone does not have access to Robert Morris’ computer. It would be interesting to see if child porn is on there.
There is a video on another site and the interviewer is asking Robert Morris questions about his ministry and asks how old he is, which is 20. It literally makes you shiver knowing he has been sexually abusing Cindy all the while he’s been preaching.
Want to sexually abuse kids? Become a Youth Pastor!
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How is it possible for insurance companies to provide liability coverage for these churches? I wonder if ins. companies will follow in the footsteps of Meeting House insurance and drop their policies.
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They defend their idols to the last breath, fight to the bitter end, until the potato becomes too hot to handle. Cults of personality are hard to break free of; some of these characters can really get mean about defending “Pastor.” I suspect Dee has had her hands full with commenters from Gateway … she’s probably been called every name in the book by this mega-church bunch.
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Max,
Max, I now see why the United Methodist church could move it’s pastors every year to prevent this cult of personality. My church was so small that we either got the beginners on their way up or the near retirees on the way out. And money talks. There was a problem pastor long after I had left town, but my parents and other staunch churchgoers withheld money until the guy was gone.
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It’s sad, but starving them out is the only way to get rid of some of these bad actors. As TWW commenter Jack likes to say “Stay home next Sunday and save 10%.” Scripture exhorts us to pay a church leader who is “worthy of his hire” (1 Timothy 5:18) … the implication is clear if they are found to be ‘not’ worthy of their hire for whatever reason (child abusers being at the top of the list).
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However, they should never be passed to another church without church elders doing the right thing … disqualifying them from ministry and reporting crimes to the proper authorities, if that is the case.
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Out of respect for genuine pastors, should we stop putting pastor in front of these criminal’s names? Also, Max is right, stop giving $$$ to them. There is a big difference being worth 2mill vs. 117mill.
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Indeed, when you live like the church leaders in this blog post, you should be stripped of that sacred title permanently. IMO, it’s way too easy to be a “Pastor” in America … many hold that title, but few are called … there’s a vast difference between “going into ministry” vs. “being called into ministry.”
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Grace, I saw the article over at Roys Report too, about Bruxy Cavey’s Meeting House churches shutting down for lack of insurance coverage. This could become a big story if other insurance companies follow suit.
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Even the vindow viper?
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Pure fiction, not all were or are wretched.
A mass murderer is wretched, a jay-walker is not.
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Ava Aaronson,
That has been the common denominator with the sex offenders in the forensic mental health unit I worked in.
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“Missionay Man, he got GAWD on His Side…”
— Eurythmics, 1984
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Which these days gets mistaken for The Holy Spirit.
The more Psychtoic and Out of Touch, the more Spiritual and Godly.
“The wisdom of Men is foolishness to God” in reverse.
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Christians really like the term “ladies”, don’t they?
I’m reminded of some Christian woemn’s movement of the Eighties or Nineties which was described as “Ladies Against Women”.
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The movement from the past was “ladies against feminism.” Not the same thing as ladies against women would be. Not all women are feminists. One can be for equal treatment under the law, equal pay, equality in general and reject what might be termed political feminism. I have no idea if that is what “ladies against feminism” stood for or not.
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Love the pic up-top!
The Milky Way is magnificent!
It had to have been taken in an area far from heavy light-pollution.
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The spit has started hitting the fan in Fort Mill concerning Don Logan. The “discernment period” and “consulting Scripture” is happening. Better late than never I guess.
https://www.fortmillsun.com/2024/07/02/local-family-shocked-to-discover-their-pastor-is-on-sex-offender-registry/
“Since we entered this season, our church has undergone a discernment period which has involved prayer, quiet reflection, consulting Scripture, open dialogue as a church family, processing as individuals and in groups, and discussion among elders, pastors, and staff,” a church email said. “This discernment is ongoing.”
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Discernment should have happened ‘before’ Mr. Logan was called to be pastor. If the elders knew about his past, then we have another elder-failure … “sexual misconduct with a 14-year old girl” is a permanent disqualifier from ministry … and don’t drag David out again!
As far as “consulting Scripture”, Matthew 18:6 is so appropriate that it is written in red in the New Testament.
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Muff Potter,
Thanks Muff. since I am outside the bubble, I don’t believe in sin. however, I do believe in right and wrong.
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Muff Potter,
And thanks for making me snort my coffee!
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The American church needs to seriously reconsider its youth ministry model. Putting a 20-something youth “pastor” over young people is an accident waiting to happen. I suppose there are some spiritually mature youth pastors out there, but I never met one in my 70+ years of doing institutional church. They were mostly about entertaining youth so the adults wouldn’t have to put up with them in church … their ministry toolbox included pizza, skating parties, weekend fun events, shallow Bible studies etc. The Biblical model is for senior saints to mentor young people. The first job out of seminary for most pastors is to do a tour of duty as a youth pastor, often unsupervised. The Houston Chronicle chronicled numerous SBC youth pastors who had sexually abused children under their watch.
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Headless Unicorn Guy,
“Lady”, as defined in Merriam-Webster:
1. a woman having proprietary rights or authority especially as a feudal superior
2. a woman receiving the homage or devotion of a knight or lover
3. a woman of superior social position
4. a woman of refinement and gentle manners
I’m not a lady… never have been, never will be…..
definitely not when I was teaching math (grades 7-12) in a Christian school….not when I was sitting in a church pew….. and certainly not even when I was “kitchen team” leader church.
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Dale Rudiger,
Advanced christian obfuscation: ““Since we entered this season, our church has undergone a discernment period which has involved prayer, quiet reflection, consulting Scripture, open dialogue, etc: but not firing him for not being qualified.
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Since someone finally gound out what we have been hiding for a decade,
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nmgirl,
Blech.
Discernment: the ability to judge well; obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding.
How how much ‘discernment, prayer, and reflection’ does it take to determine whether or not it ‘might have been wrong’ to (1.) hire a convicted felon sex abuser to lead a church, and (the. 2.) hide that fact from the church members????
How would these elders react if they learned that a convicted bank robber was president of their bank, and the board tried to sell them the same drivel?
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I prefer Snickers or old-school Hershey Dark myself….
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I think their discernment right now is how to extract that flaming bag of dog poop from their shoe, how to extract themselves from the burning dumpster fire they are in now. And desperately trying to find one of these so they can head for the hills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyJzUuCmVEM
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Yeah. They closed the stable door after the horse bolted. A day late and a dollar short.
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R’as al Ghul,
Me toooooo!
Oh! Have you tried the Snickers ice cream bar??
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Yes. Actually, that is one of my standard go-tos for an ice cream snack.
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Until it was redefined as Private Revelations of “Seeing DEMONS and WITCHES in every closet, under every bed, and all after Your Children!”
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Must be because all demons have red glowing eyes, horns, a pitchfork, and a goatee (see my link to the TV trope about that).
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Good for you Cindy. I’m so supportive of you and I do hope that RM will be completely removed from ministry. Years ago I went above the church leadership with one other family and made a police report when a youth pastor was grooming our youth. Our son was 12 and allowed to attend youth functions the summer before being of age. Our denomination suggested they not enter the youth group until September. Thinking back it was the youth pastor who allowed this. The youth pastor would pull down the pants of the 12 year olds as a supposedly joke. Talking to other parents I found out that he would have sleep overs and showed the group pornography. He would spy on them to see their reaction. Out of 15 kids only two families made the report. Some families didn’t want to further embarrass their children and felt the leadership would handle it internally. The district church claimed we didn’t have proof of grooming. The children/teens were not taken at their word. The district superintendent claimed myself and others were gossiping that was tarnishing his reputation. Our pastor talked to each family and child and did see the grooming. He was moved to another church. That was their way of dealing with the youth pastor. That was what prompted me to make a report. I knew then that these predators could easily find their victims in churches. I knew in the future more would be exposed. Accountability needs to be taken.
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OK … let’s apply some good ole common sense to the length of the “discernment period.”
Mr. Logan is on both a “Sex Offender List” AND a “Pastor List” in South Carolina. How long should the discernment period last? Do the elders not see the incompatibility of these listings?
I truly hope that Mr. Logan has genuinely repented. If so, he is to be forgiven. Restored to ministry? Absolutely not! Discernment period over.
There are other places to serve in the Body of Christ than the sacred office of Pastor; but such service should be closely supervised. Child sexual abuse is a permanent disqualifier from Christian ministry. You will find no examples in the New Testament of a pastor who committed such transgression being restored to the pulpit.
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Headless Unicorn Guy,
“Christians really like the term “ladies”, don’t they?”
++++++++++++
goodness, yes. i cringe when i hear it. it is so belittling. a junior human.
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R’as al Ghul,
“The Milky Way is magnificent!”
“I prefer Snickers or old-school Hershey Dark myself”
++++++++++++++++
Uno, Abbazabba, Payday, Rockyroad….
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Max,
When someone has been preaching for a decade and the church has experienced growth and members personal growth, I imagine it feels like the rug was ripped out from under the congregation to find out something so serious about a pastor’s past. Because this information was not widely/fully shared from the outset and before relationships were built, members and leadership are engaging in cognitive dissonance to justify keeping the status quo and to defend someone members respect and care for.
The Elders knew of the conviction and decided he was fit to preach over a decade ago. While there are new elders who were not aware of Logan’s conviction, it seems leadership is not discerning whether to keep Logan as pastor but how to deal with the current upheaval of how this information becoming public will affect the church. They are too close to look at this objectively or even through a Biblical lens-the dialogue focuses on redemption when it should focus on qualification/restoration, even though he has been practically “restored” to the pulpit for nearly 2 decades.
As Christians, no one is beyond God’s redemption and there is no sin God can’t cover. I hope this was a one time incident, that was/is never repeated. However, it seems the wise and prudent course of action would be to proceed as if it could happen again-as statistically that is more likely.
So much of the current turmoil could have been avoided had there been transparency from the outset.
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… in addition to doing the right thing as a Board of Elders when they did become aware of Mr. Logan’s past.
Because it was kept under the rug for too many years. The church is experiencing a predictable outcome as a consequence of the Board of Elders not doing the right thing to protect the congregation, church reputation, and testimony of the Body of Christ.
We have seen this countless times on TWW … it’s just not worth the misery in the end and gives a lost world yet another reason to say “See, there’s nothing to it.” I’m sure Mr. Logan is a nice guy, a great Bible teacher, and church leader but the church shouldn’t have to make this agonizing walk through a mess made by the elders. I truly feel sorry for the congregation and Mr. Logan … the elders put them in this predicament.
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Happy 4th of July to everyone and happy election day to the Brits (good luck).
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So it’s okay to sexually abuse even just ONE child?????
Time makes it all ok???
No one but God can know if he truly repented, but I’d hazard a guess that his subsequent decades of lying about it and covering it up don’t indicate a true repentance. There is proof coming out now that shows he never actually stepped out of ministry for 2 years as was claimed.
In my opinion, people who are defending him with such statements (“one child”, “decades ago”) are part of the problem! And I always suspect the “WHY” they feel the need to defend any predator…although some people just like to argue and cause drama.
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Sure about that?
I was once told that I’m hell-bound because I reject the doctrine of PSA (penal substitutionary atonement).
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What makes me truly irate is that the whistleblowers are being attacked by Eternal Church for speaking the truth. Since they will not meet with the elders to discuss Logan’s “restoration,” they are being blamed. Anyone who has approached sinning elders with truth will experience DARVO (Deny, attack, reverse victim and offender). If the accuser is themselves a victim, it is even more unwise, as they will be triggered and re-experience their prior abuse.
There are so many actors that need to come forward in this sordid tale. Did “Grace” church in Indiana supply references? Did Carlisle BIC know that they were supporting a convicted child sex offender? How about the sending mission organization, CTEN? Was it their practice to send child sex offenders on to the mission field? What about Green Spring BIC church, where Logan was a pastor in 2013-2014? What did they know?
And in my opinion, the 14 year old victim has been re-victimized at each turn. A grave problem with restoring a child molesting pastor is that the “voice” of the victim is lost. It’s not like the church can ask the victim to come forward at this point and “meet with the elders” and be told what a great pastor Logan has become.
And all this is assuming the best of Don Logan. Assuming that he is not a narcissist who covered up his past; and that there were no other victims. I was struck by the comment that concluded the article in the Fort Mill Sun, that Logan “preaches on Sunday and then disappears into the mist.”
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Yes, in all these sad stories, the cries of victims are largely ignored while we are told “So what, if Pastor has a bad past, he’s a nice guy now.” … “Yeah, I know he did things he shouldn’t have, but he sure can preach!” … etc. etc. Whose side should Christian people run to … abuser or victim?
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Concerned Community Member,
“They are too close to look at this objectively or even through a Biblical lens-the dialogue focuses on redemption when it should focus on qualification/restoration, even though he has been practically “restored” to the pulpit for nearly 2 decades.”
++++++++++++++++++++
biblical…. the word and concept behind it mean too many different & contradictory things to have any meaning at all. it’s a silly weapon in what amounts to a petty squabble, anyway.
restoration… to what? being a pastor? being a leader? this doesn’t apply to crimes against the law of the land or all that is good and right and honorable.
that is, if high integrity standards, ‘above reproach’ or however you want to word it mean anything at all.
criminy, my agnostic, atheist, muslim, hindu and buddhist friends and family wouldn’t dream of even considering doing the things these restored pastors have done. but i say this all too often.
all this is far more complicated than it needs to be. you don’t behave with integrity? you don’t get to be a leader. you do rotten things, don’t even think of it. end of story.
my kids knew this when they were 6.
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Modus operandi of just about every bad-boy “pastor” who has been the subject of TWW posts, especially those in mega-mania-land. Elusive, evasive, shifty, mysterious, deceptive … a phantom of the church.
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Does anyone on TWW have a pastor who still stands at the door after a sermon to greet you, call you by name, say a kind word, ask how you are doing, etc.? Or has that practice faded into obscurity?
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Just a reminder that this very congenial practice is precisely the camouflage for some offenders. The frenemy pedophile or womanizer. Unless you are targeted, you have no idea, no knowledge, no evidence. Better to not make claims about what we don’t know … we being neither monster-hunter nor crown-maker. There’s a reason God Himself rewards and punishes on Judgment Day. God knows. We don’t.
Warm, winsome, and seemingly wholesome down to their very last cell in their body, with every breath they take, and every word spoken are the predatory in camou. Friendliest and completely dangerous are the camouflaged offenders.
They make the rounds to the needy and rescue the desperate, receiving great praise for their service to humankind. There are complete ministries, nonprofits, and leaderships organized as schemes for violation and entrapment.
Some predators disappear into the mist. While others schmooze before us all, their adoring public, to no end. The best schmoozers, and most dangerous predators, they are heavily into camouflage.
“It emerged in late 2012 that Jimmy Savile, a British media personality who had died the previous year, had sexually abused hundreds of people throughout his life, mostly children but some as old as 75, and mostly female. He had been well known in the UK for his image and was generally respected for his charitable work, which associated him with the British monarchy and other individuals of personal power.”
Savile did absolutely amazing charitable work with the disabled, with orphans, and with widows. These are exactly the ones that the Bible tells us to reach out to. In Savile’s work, the Devil got there first.
Jerry Sandusky ran a nonprofit to rescue boys.
These are the celebrated we see in the news. But then there’s the local pastor running his schemes with quiet subtle finesse on a local level. They are among us. No need to monster-hunt, but also no hubris “but I know better” crown-awarding that contributes to the problem; we don’t know, we are not gods. Some day God will set the record straight.
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The documentary “Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story” is absolutely mind-bending and heart-wrenching. Shock and Awe, or rather Awe and Shock, respectively: the cover of good works, and the horror it was hiding.
A documentary about RZ or RM would probably be equally or even more so, mind-bending and heart-wrenching.
The story of King David, in the end, is both mind-bending and heart-wrenching. How could a man so close to God’s heart be so utterly stupid, lustful, murderous, and evil?
Obviously, there are many who either don’t believe he did evil, or don’t believe the evil was that bad. Really? Murder? Violating a woman? Do tell, what could be worse?
And in King David’s day, who knew?
Imagine the folks claiming that they knew “the real David” that man being the one “after God’s own heart.”
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Every time I hear ‘biblical this, biblical that…’, I do a big eye-roll, cuz’ that’s all it merits in a majority of cases.
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Ava Aaronson,
Do you think there are any real-deal pastors in the American church?
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Max,
That’s not the point, is it?
Prevention requires: proper no hubris but total humility BOUNDARIES (not approval) in dealing with clergy. BOTH No accusations without evidence, AND No provision of approval since we don’t know the 24/7 (approval can serve as a predator’s camouflage), (especially the man-to-man type, brohood).
Who are the predators? They are mainly adult men. Who are the victims who will expose them? Mainly girls, boys, and women. Men approving of other men is irrelevant preemptive “but I know best” brohood.
In truth, no one but the victims know the – who, how, when, where – regarding the next covert clergy predator reveal.
So, neither monsterquest, nor kingmaker tomfoolery with regard to church leaders is best policy and practice.
Foolery hubris regarding church leaders is a major contributor to keeping predatory clergy in place. Foolery monster-hunting also does not help.
Those doing the reveals will mainly be girls, boys, and sometimes women.
All that brohood guy approval intimidates girls, boys, and women from their reveals. No need to falsely accuse, but also the guys saying “but I really know this guy” is false approval provided for a possible predator.
Wouldn’t it serve well if the men clamoring to become pastors would know that they don’t automatically get an all access abundance of approval from the community? How about the community holding that guy up to high standards and a bit of strict skepticism? How about: we may listen to your sermons and read your books but we are scrutinizing your behavior ‘cuz talk is cheap? And the pastor may seem to behave, but no one is with him 24/7, but God’s Holy Spirit?
Church people seem to want to clamor to be in the pastor’s Inner Circle. Boundaries wisely serve better.
Back in the day when all men agreed that churchmen are safe and great, the women are by and large silent, while the children were invisible, we now know that people like Christa Brown were being violated. That was the Golden Era of the Good Ole Boys when the Local Pastor warmly shook your hand and knew your name.
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The son of a founding elder in our church, who was also an elder by the way, brought a young high school girl into his home. We were told he “adopted” her. In reality, he was a manipulating sex offender who abused her for decades, even after she was married. We moved out of the area, but kept in touch with the people there. This young girl’s abuse was kept hidden and continued for decades.
Finally, the young woman’s husband caught them together. She repented, and they stayed married. Her husband went to the elders and told them what was going on. They didn’t believe him. His wife even produced letters proving that this elder had abused her. Instead, the elders were trying to “restore” this elder. Finally, the men of the church got together and made ALL the elders resign. This abusive elder never would confess or repent. His words were, “Against God and God only have I sinned.”
When I heard about it, I realized I had noticed something “off” in the relationship between this elder and his “adopted daughter.” Once when I was at the church, I left during the meeting and went down a hallway where I found the two of them sitting close together and talking in whispered tones. They stopped talking when I walked by. Another time when they sang a duet together, I thought he was standing uncomfortably close to her. But I justified it by thinking, “He’s like a father to her.” However, another woman who was new to the church and had the gift of discernment asked, “What is going on between these two people?” She knew right away something wasn’t right.
This abused woman has gone through a horrendous time trying to get her life back together. She’s gone through counseling and other avenues of trying to get this church to get training for the elders so that this never happens again. They have refused. Most of the people who were going there at the time have left. She is a friend of mine and somewhat related, so I know that she still suffers from this abuse.
I’m writing this because I used to believe something like this could never happen in “our” church. I know now that I was very naive. And I appreciate your blog because it has opened my eyes to that fact that it is more common than I thought. And also, I’ve realized how vulnerable our children and young people are to these predators when church leaders don’t take action or preventative measures.
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Agreed.
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It doesn’t have to take a “gift of discernment” to detect bad-boy church leaders. Much of discernment is just simple observation … if it doesn’t look or feel right, it usually isn’t … see something, say something.
Church folks just need to open their eyes and ears and stop blindly trusting pastors and elders. John warned believers “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1). Paul exhorted believers “to know the ones laboring among you and leading you in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:12). Keep your eyes open and children close … “the adversary is on the roam looking for anyone he ‘may’ devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
But, I do believe that there is definitely a spiritual gift of discernment. The institutional church would do well to be open to all 18 spiritual gifts that commenter Ava Aaronson often refers to. Until the church becomes more spiritually balanced by the hand of God, rather than following the teachings and traditions of men, we will continue to encounter unchecked wickedness in the church.
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And I was once told I had to be The Antichrist because I gave a measurement in meters and centimeters instead of feet and inches.
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Spiritually balanced: paraphrase of Rom. 12, all gifted by God (free), equally sharing, all respected, level ground, no Hierarchy with the gifts. (Sure, there are bishops, deacons, and elders, but these are not HS gifts.)
The lists (note the repeats)
Rom 12.6-8:
Prophesy
Serving
Teaching
Encouraging
Giving
Lead, govern, administration
Mercy
1 Cor 12.8-11:
Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith
Healing
Miracles
Prophesy
Discernment
Languages
Interpretation of languages
1 Cor 12.28-31:
Apostles
Prophets, prophesy
Teachers, teaching
Miracle workers, miracles
Healing
Helps or serving
Govern, lead, administration
Languages
Interpretation of languages
James 4.11:
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Shepherds or pastors
Teachers
Recommendation: The book “19 Gifts of the Spirit” by Leslie Flynn, with a chapter about each gift with many Bible quotes and stories, OT and NT, that describe each gift. (I forget why the discrepancy of 18 vs 19 gifts… no matter). The book is on Amazon. Been around a long time. No big moneymaker for the writer. Simple Bible truth. Find and know your gift, and other’s gifts. Empowering. News we can use
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You ain’t just a’whistlin’ dixie.
Churches are a prime hunting ground for molesters because they (churches) allow protocols and access permissions to kids that would never be tolerated in a secular venue.
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Mom to four daughters,
“However, another woman who was new to the church and had the gift of discernment asked, “What is going on between these two people?” She knew right away something wasn’t right.”
+++++++++++++++++++
in my observation, people on the outside perceive things in a church right away. church is a heady environment – over time we become desensitized and can’t help but end up somewhere on the brainwashed continuum.
yes.
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According to Grandpa Simpson, the metric system is a tool of the devil:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5-s-4KPtD8
BTW if you do the math on the mileage of his car, you will be shocked.
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R’as al Ghul,
And stuff like that happens for real in and around the Christianese Bubble.
(Don’t you know The Simpsons is a documentary?)
From the last chapter of that “Secrets of the Great Pyramid” book (Victorian Fringe Literature) I paged through once in an antique bookstore to the Birchers in my youth pegging it as a Communist Plot to Tucker Carlson going on about how The Metric System is a Plot by Global Radical Woke-ism to Destroy America (a couple years ago during COVID), it’s been going on for a LONG time.
And a lot more than the opposite, like that starry-eyed “Metric Now!” guy I had the misfortune to be stuck with in line at the DMV a few years ago. Captive audience for Witnessing.
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You nailed it!
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In general, it takes an Outsider to see the Blind Spots.
That’s why they’re called Bling Spots.
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Tucker must be conflicted, because his true lord and savior Putin and his paradise known as the Russian Federation use the metric system. Is it me, but do you see a Saruman – Grimka Wormtongue dynamic between Putin and Tucker (except their ending during the Scourge of the Shire that is)?
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Robert Morris was the subject of an NBC Nightly News (Lester Holt) segment tonight.
https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/woman-says-she-was-sexually-abused-as-child-by-evangelical-pastor-214518853829
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About paraphiliae in general:
In a culture as sexually-saturated as today’s, I’m not sure it’s possible to get past puberty WITHOUT developing some sort of Paraphilia. (Especailly when anything and everything is just one QR Code scan or tap-and-swipe away.) About the best you can hope for is that your paraphilia is just embarrassing and not truly destructive.
And I think Christianese Purity Culture sets Christians up for developing paraphiliae and gives them a strong push in that direction. Between the stifling “Thou Shalt Not”s and little else, generally Unrealistic Expectations, Guilt and Fear Manipulation, and total inability to ask or answer questions on the subject with the WRONG kind of DIY sex education is only a tap-and-swipe away, I can’t think of a better way to mess up someone’s sexual headspace. Like heavy Sexual Abuse, but in the opposite direction.
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R’as al Ghul,
“Roman Your Friendly Neighborhood Russian” (a Russian expat YouTuber now living in Lisbon whose channel name is “NFKRZ”) has done a couple parody videos as “Cucker Tarlson”, really tearing into TC’s simping for Putin.
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What I find interesting is that the elders were not concerned about Robert Morris having personal wealth of about 115 millions until the pedophilia allegations came to light.
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I see a LOT of Grima Wormtongues in general.
Same with Harley Quinns and their Jokers.
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That’s just Christianese for “BUT EVERYBODY’S DOING IT!”
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The thought process goes this way:
“I GOT AWAY WITH IT! I CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING! MORE AND MORE AND MORE!”
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“I CAN’T HEAR YOU OVER THE STANDING OVATION!”
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Because people are full of tricks and twistiness yet undreamed of.
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Max, to me the handle “Concerned Community Member” just screams “Pastor’s sock puppet or flying monkey”.
We’ve all seen this so many times on this and other church corruption whistleblower blogs.
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Whose side they SHOULD run to and whose side they DO run to are two very different (if not opposite) things.
Just ask Boz T about all his years as a prosecutor specializing in CA.
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Again, the name “Eternal Church”.
Ego Much?
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Ah yes, “The Beard of Evil”.
I’ve got a story along those lines, when many years ago my car broke down and I called AAA for a tow.
The tow truck driver looked like Anton LaVey. I kid you not — same shaved head, same exact Beard of Evil.
And it was a ride I remember to this day, with him telling me his war stories about what it was like to work graveyard-shift Impound and Repo in the worst parts of town (Crips & Bloods turf), where he had to pack heat and got the moniker of “The Psycho Tow-Truck Driver”. He even demonstrated his Psycho Tow Truck Driver “look” to me, a Predator Stare worthy of Charles Manson’s mug shots. (Remember he resembled Anton LaVey even without the “look”.) And that was before he told me about working with the cops in the middle of the Rodney King Riots…
All in all, one memorable tow truck ride, with Psycho Tow Truck Driver and his Beard of Evil.
Pingback: An SBC and 9 Marks Church, Edgefield Nashville, Appeared to Allow a Violent, Convicted Pedophile, Michael Brake, Considerable Freedom in the Church for Years. Could There Be Other Victims? | The Wartburg Watch 2024
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Afterburne,
Robert Morris was our family’s pastor for years. During services over the years, he was honest about his sin and preached what the Bible says about sin, which was refreshing. When he spoke of his past sin, we literally thought “young lady” was referring to someone 18-ish. And then I was disheartened and ANGRY when I heard Debbie Morris blame a child. So many feelings of anger and sadness for Cindy and all involved.