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How to get promoted in the Southern Baptist Convention

April 21, 2014, 9:25 am
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Step 1: Cover for an admitted child sex offender.

Step 2: Refuse to speak with police and prosecutors about private meetings with said admitted child sex offender, claiming priest-penitent privilege, forcing prosecutors to issue subpoenas to obtain said information.

Step 3: Exert political influence and put pressure on the admitted sex offender to take the plea deal so you don't have to comply with the subpoena to testify at the trial about the information shared with you by said admitted child sex offender.

Step 4: Remain silent on sexual abuse.

Exhibit A: Greg Belser and Philip Gunn

What Philip Gunn Did In Child Sex Case
According to Hinds County prosecutors, Gunn would not allow spiritual leaders at Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton to discuss with the District Attorney's office what former music minister John Langworthy told them about his alleged child sex abuse.
We asked Gunn: Should you of done that? "What I'm telling you is that the elders are bound by privilege under the law there's a legal privilege that attaches. Are there no exceptions to that. No there are no exceptions to that, " Gunn said in an interview Tuesday.
Gunn cited Mississippi rules of evidence #505 about priest-penitent privilege.      
Don't you have a higher calling to God than to just hide behind the blanket letter of the law? "The letter of the law prevents us from divulging what Mr. Langworthy may have told us. That's the law. I didn't make the law that's just the way it is."
Associated Baptist Press: Church leader questioned about handling of abuse allegation
Amy Smith, a victims’ advocate, worked for a year behind to scenes to make public that Langworthy was accused of sexual abuse of young males in 1989 while serving on the staff of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas. She says leaders at the Texas church including future Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham took the allegations seriously enough to fire Langworthy but did not report him to the police.
Smith, who worked at Prestonwood as an intern at the time and now is Houston representative for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said one thing that bothers her most about Morrison Heights Baptist Church’s handling of Langworthy was an e-mail she received from Gunn offering to “discuss a resolution” to the case.
“It is very troubling that Philip Gunn as the legal representative for Morrison Heights Baptist Church is trying to keep information from Hinds County prosecutors about a recently arrested and indicted child molester on whose behalf Gunn attempted to ‘discuss a resolution’ with me last May,” Smith said Nov. 30.
“It certainly seems that Mr. Gunn has some explaining to do about why he, as an elder and attorney, participated in an internal church investigation into child sex crimes without going to the police,” she said. “It raises the question of what he and the church leadership are trying to hide that could help effectively prosecute a confessed child molester.”
In addition to involvement in his local church, Gunn is a trustee of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He was re-elected in June to a second term that expires in 2016.
Email Shows Gunn's Role in Abuse Case

Last week, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville announced that Philip Gunn was elected chairman of the board of trustees for the seminary.

The Wartburg Watch covered this announcement in detail, referencing Gunn's role in covering for convicted child sex offender, John Langworthy at Morrison Heights Baptist Church.

Speaker Philip Gunn, Child Abuse, and Irony

Last year, Morrison Heights Baptist Church pastor Greg Belser was appointed to the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Leadership Council.
The ERLC Leadership Network Council is a collection of SBC pastors and leaders who serve as an advisory council for the Network and receive intentional investment from the ERLC team. During their annual term, these council members enjoy equipping through conference calls and events while providing direction for the Network and occasional content for erlc.com.
Beginning today in Nashville, the ERLC is hosting a Leadership Summit.
The ERLC Leadership Summit will address the gospel and human sexuality to equip pastors and church leaders to speak to these critical issues in their own congregations. This event will be held April 21-23, 2014, at the Southern Baptist Convention building in Nashville, TN. 
From broken marriages to pornography to homosexuality, sexual confusion and sexual brokenness has ravaged our culture and can deteriorate the integrity of our churches.
Greg Belser who protected convicted child sex offender Langworthy is a featured panelist speaking tonight on "The Gospel and Homosexuality." Noticeably absent from the entire summit is the topic of sexual abuse. Here are some of the topics covered:
• The Talk: How to Discuss Sexuality with Teens in Your Home and Church -Jimmy Scroggins
Keynote: J.D. Greear “Mending Fences: The Gospel and Pastoral Care for Sexual Sin”
Panel: The Gospel and Homosexuality
Moderator: Andrew Walker, Greg Belser, Jimmy Scroggins, J.D. Greear, Mark Regnerus
Keynote: David Prince “The Birds and the Bees: The Gospel and Your Childrens’ Sexuality”
Breakout Session
• Traffic Stop: How the Gospel Can Overcome Sex Trafficking - Tony Merida
• The Man, the Myth, the Legend: Embracing Gospel-Shaped Manhood (for men only) - Robby Gallaty
• Resisting Lips that Drip Honey: Wisdom on Sexuality from Proverbs - Jon Akin
• Biblical Womanhood: June Cleaver, Clair Huxtable, or the Proverbs 31 Woman (for women only) - Trillia Newbell
Keynote: Russell D. Moore “Walking the Line: The Gospel and Moral Purity”
Panel: Ministering in a Sex-saturated Society
The topic of sexual abuse is nowhere to be found. It's See No Evil. Hear No Evil. Speak No Evil.

The Southern Baptist Convention of churches is a very dangerous place for kids today and a very wounding place for survivors of abuse.
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Morrison Heights Baptist Church Attempts to Whitewash Abysmal Conduct in Clergy Sex Abuse Case

May 1, 2014, 9:03 am
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Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, MS hosted a sex abuse awareness training on Tuesday. I planned to attend but wasn't able to make it. Thanks to our Jackson SNAP leader, Mark Belenchia, for attending and providing some feedback.

Mark was impressed by the presentation of Ministry Safe founder and director, Greg Love. According to the bio on his website, Mr. Love litigates sexual abuse cases across the country, and consults with entities regarding the design and implementation of sexual abuse safety systems. Mark highlighted the section of Love's presentation on the "train wrecks" of gross mishandling of child sex abuse allegations within churches. Is Mr. Love aware of the train wreck in the building he was speaking in at Morrison Heights Baptist Church? 

Throughout the entire conference John Langworthy's name was never mentioned, not even by Morrison Heights pastor Greg Belser. If he refuses to acknowledge and address the train wreck of the past, how can we expect him to behave differently in the future? Morrison Heights cannot whitewash its abysmal conduct in the Langworthy scandal by simply hosting an awareness training.

In early March, I found the link to the abuse conference at the Baptist Children's Village website. I was excited to see them partnering with Morrison Heights to host such an important event. I immediately tweeted the link to promote this conference. Later that day, I received a call from someone affiliated with the conference who had received a call from Celeste Cade in the public relations office at the Baptist Children's Village. I'm told that Celeste is a long time member of Morrison Heights Baptist Church. Apparently, Celeste and Morrison Heights were bothered by my promotion of this abuse awareness event, not wanting any connection made whatsoever to the train wreck of the Morrison Heights/Langworthy child sex crimes debaucle.

Last Sunday morning, SNAP sent a letter to Morrison Heights pastors and elders on the eve of the "sexual abuse awareness training,” urging them to take a hard look at their own failures in connection with their own clergy sex abuse and cover-up scandal. Here is a portion of that letter:
Before you engage in any training, we urge you to take a hard look at your own church’s failures in connection with a clergy sex abuse scandal.
While we applaud efforts to raise awareness about child sex abuse, we also know from experience that awareness programs are never enough. Talk about proactive prevention is nice, but such talk rings hollow unless it is combined with responsible action, transparency and accountability.
We know how your church leaders failed when accusations first arose against former music minister and convicted child sex offender John Langworthy. But there are still many unanswered questions about continued secrecy, mishandling of abuse reports, your failure protect kids, and your refusal to turn over important evidence to prosecutors.
...
Morrison Heights has failed its children for decades. We are asking you to honestly acknowledge that failure and to do something about it. Until then, we cannot be assured that the crimes of the past are not continuing and thriving within your church's walls.

Someone mentioned to me that one impression of this Morrison Heights abuse conference by someone in the Clinton community is that it is an attempt to begin the process of restoring convicted child sex offender John Langworthy. The just redemption would be for John Langworthy to go to prison for a very long time for his crimes to keep kids safe from him. Kids are safest when predators are in jail. My impression is that this conference is an attempt to whitewash the train wreck Morrison Heights refuses to face. Perhaps it is their own image they hope to redeem. No concern has been expressed by Morrison Heights for the victims or a plea for them to call police, heal and protect other kids. There may be many more victims.

We hope that anyone else who has seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes by Langworthy will come forward to law enforcement, no longer be silent, heal, and protect other kids. Below are some helpful contact numbers. 


Clinton, Mississippi – Detective Josh Frazier Clinton police 601-925-6106.
Hinds County Assistant DA in Jackson, Mississippi – Jamie McBride 601-968-6568 (prosecuted John Langworthy’s case recently for crimes in 1980-84).
Dallas, Texas – Police Child Exploitation unit 214-671-4211 (answered by a trained counselor with many years of experience doing this)
Mark Belenchia, SNAP Mississippi leader, msbelenchia@gmail.com, 601-953-2535
Amy Smith, SNAP leader Texas, 281-748-4050, watchkeepamy@gmail.com

Victims seek apology from top Baptist official Frank Page

SNAP is also asking the head of the Southern Baptist Convention to apologize for his "very hurtful comment" about the organization and for a chance to speak at the annual SBC meeting in Baltimore this summer. Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are writing Frank Page hoping to talk about preventing clergy sex crimes before thousands of Baptist who will gather in Baltimore this summer. And they want Page to publicly apologize for what they call his "hurtful comment” in 2007 when he wrote that their group was “nothing more than opportunistic persons motivated by personal gain.” 
The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids.

CNN: Child sex abuse is a taboo topic for some parents





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Denying and Enabling Child Sex Abuse

May 2, 2014, 11:36 am
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As abuse advocates, we receive calls and emails from survivors that we keep confidential. That confidentiality is very important and must be respected. Survivors of abuse have suffered much, and in no way would we ever want to cause further harm by abusing the trust instilled in us as they seek to heal.

Communications, however, from people criticizing my efforts to shine the light of truth on child sex abuse, I do not feel should be afforded the same level of confidentiality. Many times, it is these communications, that can serve to shine the light of truth even more, without the criticizing party's intent to do that. Last summer, I received an email from an anonymous source criticizing me at length for my post on a former Second Baptist Church of Houston minister, Eddie Struble, containing reports from 2 police departments detailing allegations of stalking a minor and "criminal solicitation of a child."

SNAP held a media event about 2 former Second Baptist Houston ministers in January, both accused of child sex crimes, Chad Foster and Eddie Struble.
SNAP is worried about more possible victims of two former Second Baptist ministers, both accused of crimes.
The first is Chad Foster, a young minister who was sentenced in April to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to raping a 16-year-old girl in 2011 and soliciting another teen online.
The second is Eddie Struble, a music minister who faces no civil or criminal charges but is the subject of a Spring Valley police report accusing him of stalking a boy in 2009.
SNAP says that Struble abused a boy (roughly from ages 14-17) who Struble met at the church.
Struble now helps lead worship at Birchman Baptist church in Fort Worth, TX. He has also taught private voice lessons and worked as a vocal coach at Hits Theatre in Houston.
Struble plays an active role in Southern Baptist Convention events. He was the worship leader for the NACBA (National Association of Church Business Administration) National Conference Planning Team in Houston in 2012. 
Last July, he led a session on “saving ministry dollars” at NACBA conference in Charlotte. 
SNAP believes that church officials have a moral and civic duty, when confronted with proof or credible allegations of wrongdoing, to aggressively seek out victims, witnesses and whistleblowers and beg them to call police and prosecuted so that those who commit or conceal crimes – especially against children – will be charged, convicted and jailed which prevents future crimes and cover ups.
 Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston



I'll highlight the most startling admission in that email:
Based on rumors and the fact that he's a terrible role model, I wouldn't let my kids be alone with him. But I can't say with any reasonable certainty that he is a predator.
When it comes to kids, we believe that we should we always err on the side of caution. This week an article by Michael Reagan and Jerome Elam on Fox News highlights "The Staggering Cost of Silence: child abuse victims and stolen innocence."
The CDC estimates that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.
According to the Journal for the American Medical Association only 1 in 20 cases of child abuse are reported. 
Child sex abuse fact sheet

CNN highlights child abuse awareness month:
Too many parents also think strangers are the biggest threat to their children, and so if they teach their kids about stranger danger, they're protected. But 93% of the time in sexual abuse cases, the perpetrator is not a stranger but someone the child knows, according to the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center.
 Mandatory reporting:
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have laws and policies that specify procedures for making and responding to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. Mandated reporters are required by most States to make an immediate report when they suspect or know of abusive or neglectful situations.
Texas is a state in which it is mandatory for any citizen to report known or suspected cases of child abuse. Texas is also a state in which it is a crime for clergy to have sexual relations with a congregant.

The Wartburg Watch- Bikers vs. Neo-Calvinist Leaders: The Gospel and Child Sex Abuse
The very first part in healing is shattering the silence.
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I Stand with SGM Victims

May 16, 2014, 12:33 pm
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Megachurch Pastor Confesses to Protecting Child Molester for Years

Covenant Life Church former pastor Grant Layman admitted on Tuesday while testifying about allegations against Nathaniel Morales that he withheld incriminating information from the police about the abuse.
Public defender Alan Drew asked Layman if had an "obligation to report the alleged abuse?"
"I believe so," he replied.
"And you didn't?" asked Drew, to which Layman responded "no."
















































































The Criminal Trial of Nathaniel Morales: Report on Day 1 and 2

Critics question support of former ministry head accused of covering up abuse

The Gospel Coalition Connection to SGM victim advocacy

Some Questions for Organizations Close to the SGM Case

Brad Sargent: My "Slate of Eight" Restitution Suggestions for SGM & CLC

Brad Sargent also did an amazing job compiling the site Prestonwood Baptist Church Silent No More

What Kind of Hard Heart?




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A Response from the Southern Baptist Convention to SNAP: we stand by our silence and do-nothingness on sex abuse in our churches

May 27, 2014, 11:00 am
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Last month, SNAP sent a letter to the President and CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, Frank Page:
Abuse victims seek apology 
Top Baptist official attacked them
He called support group "opportunistic"
Group wants to speak at SBC annual meeting 
Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are writing Frank Page hoping to talk about preventing clergy sex crimes before thousands of Baptist who will gather in Baltimore this summer. And they want Page to publicly apologize for what they call his "hurtful comment” in 2007 when he wrote that their group was “nothing more than opportunistic persons motivated by personal gain.” 
"Publicly castigating brave clergy sex abuse survivors effectively demonizes and hurts already wounded men and women who were traumatized as kids," said David Clohessy, executive director of SNAP. “We hope that, over the past few years, [Page will] have reflected on [his] words and realized the extraordinary harm he has caused," Clohessy added. 
Today we received a response from Page who decided to double down on his hurtful comments:



Page says he has "great compassion" for "suffering victims." Where is the action to back that up?

Page says:
I regret having a delayed response, but as I said, I wanted to think through this again [calling sex abuse victims "opportunistic"]. As I have done so, I have found there to be no new or different factors, and therefore, no better course to take than the one we have taken to address the terrible threat and harm of sexual abuse in church settings.
Page admits that the SBC stands by the status quo course of dealing with sex abuse within Baptist churches which has been a refusal to address the pervasive problem.

Last month, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC held a summit on sexuality without any mention of sex abuse on the program:
A victims’ advocate says there is a glaring omission at this week’s summit for Southern Baptist pastors on sexual issues — any mention on the program about the church’s response to sexual abuse.
Amy Smith, a lifelong Southern Baptist who works with Catholics and people from other denominations in an advocacy organization called the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, found the subject “noticeably absent” among topics being covered in the April 21-23 “leadership summit” sponsored by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
“How can a summit on ‘The Gospel and Human Sexuality’ not include a topic on the pervasive, devastating, destructive issue of sexual abuse?” Smith asked April 22. “Sexual abuse ravages the lives and souls of people that we hope that churches would be trying to minister to, yet the ERLC doesn’t devote a session, or even a breakout session or panel, to cover how pastors and churches should properly respond to abuse allegations to pursue justice, heal the wounded and protect kids in their midst.”
 Smith said the “accepted, unspoken method” of handling abuse allegations internally has the effect of silencing victims and putting the reputation of the institution ahead of the protection of kids.
“Sex abuse is all around them, in their churches, perpetuated and enabled by their own, yet their silence is deafening,” Smith said of Baptist leaders.
How to Get Promoted in the Southern Baptist Convention

Over 3 years ago I received this email from Prestonwood Baptist Church executive pastor Mike Buster saying that he and senior pastor Jack Graham would "cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies concerning this matter" referring to now convicted (in Mississippi) child sex offender, John Langworthy. Have they? I know that 2 victims of Langworthy child sex abuse from Prestonwood have come forward in the last year. One made a report to Dallas police and one to Plano police. Where is the cooperation with law enforcement, Prestonwood? Why is there no investigation into Langworthy's alleged child sex crimes in Texas?

Prestonwood Baptist Church and the Cone of Silence











In stark contrast to Frank Page's cruel words to victims, here is child sex abuse survivor, an amazing author and speaker, Mary DeMuth with her post "To the Brave Ones."




Update to my story:

I continue to be so grateful to the good people of SNAP who do so much every day to heal the wounded, protect the vulnerable and prevent abuse, more than has ever been said of churches and pastors throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. The likes of Frank Page and Albert Mohler have hardened their hearts, expressing outrage, not at the rape of children by their own and perpetuated by their own, but at victim advocates like SNAP.

I have been disowned and threatened by my parents on behalf of Prestonwood Baptist Church and pastors Jack Graham and Neal Jeffrey, because I reported and exposed child sex crimes by John Langworthy, now a convicted sex offender in Mississippi. Even after Langworthy's guilty plea and conviction, my dad screamed at my husband that, "He [Langworthy] didn't molest anybody!"

This is what Langworthy did to 5 boys, ages 6-13: State of Mississippi vs. John Langworthy [warning: graphic]

Last November, my husband and I made attempts again to speak with my parents over the phone to request a meeting to resolve this conflict. The response by my dad was to scream that he and my mom never want to see me or my family again. He also threatened to "go on the offensive."

The depths of the darkness and evil of child sexual abuse within churches is real. It's disgusting. It's horrific.

The backlash, intimidation, threats and silencing of victims and abuse advocates is real. It's disgusting. It's horrific.

But still, I will not be silent anymore.

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Standing together for victims of abuse in the SBC and SGM

June 10, 2014, 1:27 pm
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Photo courtesy of SNAP
June 11, 2014

Thank you to these amazing survivors and supporters pictured above for taking the time to stand together outside the SBC annual meeting urging action to protect kids.

*Updated with media coverage of our event at the SBC 2014 annual meeting:

*Washington Times- Southern Baptists urged to review abuse reports

*Washington Post:
As the Southern Baptist meeting concluded Wednesday, representatives of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests passed out fliers outside urging the denomination to take stronger steps to safeguard children from abuse and prevent cover-ups of clergy sexual offenders.
*Associated Baptist Press:
The mother of a child sex abuse victim who is suing a Maryland ministry with ties to leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention said June 11 that a “good-old-boy” network among evangelical preachers is just as effective in covering up clergy predators as the Catholic hierarchy.


Clergy abuse victims to leaflet outside the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Baltimore
   Statement from Pam Palmer of the SGM Civil Lawsuit
 On Monday, June 9, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals heard our Appeal. We are hopeful but must now await the release of the Judges’ ruling, which should come in a few months. Whether we have a favorable ruling or not, the plaintiffs and their attorneys are committed to going forward with civil litigation for the cover-up of sex abuse in Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM). These concerns were outlined in our Legal Complaint (2nd Amended Complaint,5-14-2013) as well as testified about, under oath, in the criminal case of the now convicted sex predator, Nate Morales.
The alleged cover-up of sex abuse by now convicted sex predator John Langworthy, a former youth Music Minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano Texas  is eerily similar to the case of Morales, Youth and Worship Leader from Covenant Life Church.
SBC President Rejects Requests to Strengthen Child Abuse Prevention Measures
Two weeks ago Frank Page, President and CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention sent a response to David Clohessy, Executive Director of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) and Amy Smith, SNAP Leader - Texas, refusing their requests and recommendations for protecting children within the ranks of the Southern Baptist churches.
 Here are those requests:
·       Clergy abuse victims ask to speak at Baptist annual meeting 
·       Request independent review of clergy abuses & cover-ups 
·       Requests SBC’s top official to apologize for insulting child sex abuse advocates
You can read more about why SNAP made these specific requests and what we consider to be Frank Page’s unsympathetic response toward victims of sex abuse here.
Page stands by his claim that clergy sex abuse victims, who have had the strength to come forward, including those allegedly abused at Prestonwood Baptist Church are “opportunistic.” He refuses to allow G.R.A.C.E. (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) - Boz Tchividjian’s organization - to conduct an independent review of the circumstances of the alleged sex abuse at Prestonwood Baptist Church in TX.
 Read here for further information.
Also, please read documentation by Christa Brown of StopBaptistPredators.org on specific incidents of alleged collusion by SBC leaders in cover-up of sex abuse. (sidebar “Collusion and Cover-ups” here)
SBC and SGM Sex Abuse Link and Why I Am Involved
 Major leaders within the SBC have publicly supported CJ Mahaney, my former Senior Pastor, now in the midst of what has been called by some in the media as the largest sex abuse scandal in the Evangelical church. My daughter is just one of the many sex abuse victims from SGM under Mahaney’s watch. In recent years Southern Baptist seminaries and related conferences, such as T4G (Together for the Gospel have invited Mahaney to come and teach, while his denomination (SGM) has become embroiled in multiple court cases related to cover-up of sex abuse. Such actions appear to be a direct violation of the historic resolution On Sexual Abuse of Children passed by last year’s SBC Annual Meeting:
“…RESOLVED, That we encourage all denominational leaders and employees of the Southern Baptist Convention to utilize the highest sense of discernment in affiliating with groups and or individuals that possess questionable policies and practices in protecting our children from criminal abuse…”
Sex abuse victims want more than just words!
On Wednesday, June 11th from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm SNAP will be hosting a Media Event outside the Baltimore Convention Center (where the SBC is convening). We will be handing out leaflets to SBC attendees to raise awareness about child sex abuse and the lack of response and tangible cooperation by the SBC.
If you are in the D.C./Baltimore area, come and raise awareness about how to handle child sex abuse in our churches. For more information, you can contact me [Pam Palmer] or SNAP.





 
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A comparison of responses to allegations of child sex abuse- Prestonwood Baptist Church and Morrison Heights Baptist vs. Believers Church: image over child protection

July 22, 2014, 11:36 am
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WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather

AUBURN, AL (WTVM)
A longtime associate pastor at Believers Church in Auburn has been arrested on child sex abuse charges.
His arrest in May got him kicked out of the church where he had been for 30 years.  Lee County Sheriff's detectives say the two adult victims came forward in April to report they were abused in the early 1990's.
Every Sunday, for nearly 30 years at Believers Church on Moore's Mill Road, 53-year-old John Sluder, an associate pastor, would play guitar during services.
"People have shed tears because of what he appeared to be, a gentle old man.  So yes, we were very shocked," said attorney Ben Hand.
Hand represents Believers Church where his father is the pastor. Hand says the church was stunned, then angry, when Sluder was arrested by Lee County, after two adult victims revealed Sluder had molested them on several occasions in the early 1990's when they were 8 and 9 years old.
"Every child, including my own daughter that has had contact with him has been questioned to make sure there are no other potential victims out there," said Hand.
Sheriff Jay Jones would not comment on if Sluder had confessed to the crime. He did say during the course of the investigation, evidence was obtained that supported the issuance of warrants charging Sluder with two counts of Sexual Abuse First Degree.
"We do have evidence that leads us to believe this type of crime did take place," said Sheriff Jones.
Hand said his church takes the allegations very seriously and decided to remove Sluder from Believers.
"He was told if he came on church property, he would be arrested from trespassing and was forbidden from every returning to Believers Church. His bond was lowered from $100,000 to $25,000 and that is a nominal bond, and we have recommended that nobody make that bond. He needs to be there," said Hand.    
Sheriff Jones stated church leaders have been more than helpful, working with investigators to identify every possible victim.
"It's just disappointing to consider the aspect that someone in a position of trust, would abuse that trusts especially involving children victims," said Sheriff Jones.   
Sheriff Jones said if you do know of any child who has had contact with John Sluder, you are encouraged to speak with them.
"The full extent of the law needs to be handed down. And we have to do everything we can to protect these kids and they need to know they are safe and that society will come to their defense," said Hand.
Sluder has not made bond since his May arrest. The case will go to a grand jury soon.
The church says it is doing everything it can to help the victims while cooperating with investigators. 
Tears for the victims. Anger at the perpetrator. This is a refreshing response from a church who gets it. It's not about them. It's about the kids harmed by one of their own. But they don't protect their own image and shun and silence these kids, now adults, who though it took a long time, bravely came forward to report the harm done to them. Kids will be safer now, and other possible victims of Sluder will know they are not alone and perhaps have the courage to come forward as well, begin to heal and protect others.

Prestonwood Baptist Church, where are the tears for the victims? Where is the anger at one of your own former ministers, John Langworthy, who confessed publicly to sexually abusing kids at your church? The only public anger we have seen from Prestonwood staff is at those who have dared to ask simple questions of the executive staff like why Langworthy wasn't reported to police in 1989?
“In their attempts to silence and intimidate those who dare ask questions seeking answers and accountability, Prestonwood continues to wound victims, enable predators like Langworthy and endanger more kids,” she said. “Secrecy and silence helps only the predators. It’s the light of truth and knowledge that protects kids.”
Morrison Heights Baptist Church, where are the tears for the victims? Where is the anger at one of your own, John Langworthy, who stood in your pulpit on Sunday morning, August 7, 2011 and confessed to child sex crimes for which he was ultimately convicted? The only sorrow and support we saw on the video from that morning at Morrison Heights was on behalf of Langworthy. Pastor Greg Belser has publicly supported Langworthy and even refused, along with the church elders, to cooperate with the prosecution of Langworthy.

We fear there are more victims that happened on Morrison Heights' and Clinton Public Schools' watch since 1989 after Langworthy was fired by Prestonwood but not reported to the police. We have received specific concerns that Langworthy's predatory behavior continued in Clinton, MS. We hope anyone else in TX or MS harmed by him will come forward to law enforcement, heal and protect other kids. Langworthy is a convicted child sex offender, but he is not in jail. Kids are safest when predators are in jail.

I am aware that Dallas police and Plano police have each received calls in the last year from victims of Langworthy from his time on staff at Prestonwood Baptist Church in the mid to late 1980s. Has there been an investigation? Has Prestonwood ever contacted the police to report all known and suspected child sex crimes?

Privately, I have experienced anger and threats from my parents that I am "going to pay a big price"for exposing the abuse by Langworthy that led to his arrest and conviction in Mississippi. My dad still maintains that Langworthy "didn't molest anybody." My parents have repeatedly stated that they never want to see me again. Late last fall my dad said in a voice mail at our home that he was "going on the offensive."

Mary DeMuth- The 2nd anonymous letter sent to my home: a rant
Away on vacation, I came home to a pile of mail, one of which had no return address, and my own name and address typed on a piece of paper that had been cut and pasted to the envelope. I opened it. My heart sunk.
The letter had to do with this sexual offender and one church’s handling of the situation. It was a letter “proving” that the church did everything right (although from my limited perspective…I don’t know a lot about this case…it seems like the fact that the abuser wasn’t reported is a problem.)
...
The whole thing makes me angry, and this is why: Only cowards send anonymous letters in the mail. If this person feels so strongly about the rightness of the situation, why not dialog here? Why not address me in a public setting? To send “evidence” to my home address is underhanded and bordering on harassment.
If you wrote it, my request is this: show yourself and share your views in public. And by all means, STOP sending me anonymous diatribes.
I have been informed that, in addition to Mary, someone else received this same letter at a home address.

Ever heard of the Streisand effect? If Langworthy and Prestonwood's handling of Langworthy is in the clear, why keep bringing it up, doing so in creepy, cowardly, harassing forms of communication?

You can read in detail below the child sex crimes of 5 boys ages 6-13 that Langworthy pleaded guilty to on January 22, 2013 in Jackson, Mississippi [warning-graphic]:


SNAP seeks independent review handling by prominent SBC churches

Cover-up unravels from the inside
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A Joint Open Letter to the Super Hero Victim of Greg Kelley: One with Courage

July 25, 2014, 8:25 am
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#onewithcourage#prayforgkvictims

Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime. Herbert Ward

Preface to our open letter:
Last week, a former popular high school football star, Greg Kelley, was convicted and sentenced (as part of a sentencing agreement) to 25 years in prison with no opportunity of appeal for super aggravated sexual assault on a 4 year old child in Texas. He will serve out the full sentence and will be on the sexual offender list for the rest of his life: link and link.
There is a large group of teenagers in the town, along with some adults, who refuse to believe that he is guilty. They have a vocal social media presence and are conducting fund raisers to support Kelley. Unfortunately, some of his supporters have been verbally negative to all who do not support their beliefs. They have cast doubts on the child, the child's family and even on the jury and the police.
It has so concerned Dee Parsons at The Wartburg Watch and myself that we decided to reach out in an open letter to the child and his family. 
Due to the nature of this open letter, we will not allow any negative comments to the post. This post is meant to serve as a support to the child and his family. We hope that they may read it. All negative comments will not be approved and/or trashed. Although we know that our  regular readers would not do such a thing, we are less certain about friends of Greg.
This post is also an opportunity for readers to send their love to this family. We do not know for sure that they will see it but we think it is a very real possibility due to the high profile nature of this situation.
Dear Super Hero David (and David's family)
Miss Amy and Miss Dee don't know your name. However, you (and your family) have been so very brave, just like the shepherd David who bravely fought a giant named Goliath and won!  So, because you were just as brave as David, we have decided to call you by his name.
We want you to know that you and your family are not alone in this battle. None of this is your fault. You are not to blame now and will never be to blame for any of this bad stuff that has happened. Although it is just the two us writing this letter, there are many, many people throughout the world who have heard about your bravery. You have become a super hero in their eyes.
Your abuser was convicted of "super aggravated sexual assault" against you. Those are really big words that mean he hurt you very badly and that the adults know that he needed to be seriously punished. His actions brought you and your family much pain.
Even though you were scared, you told your family, the police and the people in the court what had happened to you. You did such a good job in telling them what happened that all of the grownups in the jury believed you! You did the right thing even though it was hard. In fact you are a super hero. You are as brave as Spiderman and Batman and that is awesome! People all over the world are so proud of you.
Your abuser did things to you that no normal adult would ever do to a kid.  He was wrong. In fact, he was so wrong that he will be in prison for 25 years. That means he will be probably be older than your mom and dad when he gets out of jail. Even then, as an older man, the police and the people will still watch him in his community for the rest of his life. He will never be trusted again. And that is very good because it will prevent other kids from being hurt by him. This all happened because you were brave and told your story. You are a super hero.
You will never forget what has happened to you. It is OK to feel scared or sad. Never be afraid to tell your family or other grownups if you feel that way. Those are normal feelings and those who love you can help you during those times. In fact, it is super hero brave to tell them that you are sad or scared but you already know that because you have done it.
And guess what? Someday, when you are a little bigger, you may be able to help other kids who have been hurt in the same way because that is what super heroes do.
We understand that some teenagers do not believe that a popular football player could do such a thing to a kid. But you are smarter than them. You know that people who look cool on the outside can be rotten on the inside. We think that they will change their minds as they grow up and learn more about bad people who hurt kids.
Remember this always. Miss Amy and Miss Dee think you are the most awesome super hero that we have ever heard about. We are so proud of you and so are many other people. We hope that your family and you will hear of this letter and know that we care about you. We believe you and are available to your family if we can ever be of help."
Amy Smith
Mom and SNAP leader in Dallas/Fort Worth
http://www.watchkeep.blogspot.com/
Dee Parsons
Mom and Blogger
http://thewartburgwatch.com
919-792-8632
Helpful resources:

Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas

Williamson County Children's Advocacy Center

One With Courage

G.R.A.C.E.: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment

SNAP: Survivors Network of Those Abuse by Priests (and other clergy)

Darkness to Light

Child Help

RAINN

So I'm not alone? I'm not the only one?





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One with Courage

July 29, 2014, 5:31 am
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This post is a follow up to my previous post A Joint Open Letter to the Super Hero Victim of Greg Kelley.
Photo by Michaela Myers

Last night outside the Williamson County jail in Georgetown, Texas, a group of supporters gathered, dressed in teal, the color representing sexual assault awareness, to stand up and speak out for the little boys in the Greg Kelley child sexual assault criminal case. Greg Kelley supporters also gathered across the lawn in front of the jail, many dressed in jailhouse orange shirts and tape across their mouths.






















Greg Kelley protests draw more attention and scrutiny
Across the parking lot, people dressed in teal were supporting the victim in the case.
Janet Heimlich is the director of the Child-Friendly Faith Project, a group that advocates for victims of such abuse. She did not go to the demonstration Monday night, but says demonstrations like that of the Kelley’s supporters, especially when members of a church or faith community are involved, are harmful to victims.
“I think that maybe they don’t have a full appreciation of what kind of impact that can have when you have very public rallies in support of someone who has been convicted of sexually abusing a small child,” said Heimlich.



Supporters of child sex assault victim rally in support
"I am a victim of sexual abuse myself, and I feel that no child should be ignored," said Michaela Myers, another victim supporter.








SNAP statement on the church holding a "Justice for GK" rally
Discrediting victims and publicly supporting predators, especially convicted ones, not only hurts the innocent victims who have already suffered too much, but it also hurts other victims who suffer in silence and self-blame.
It creates a hostile environment and does not encourage victims to speak up and help protect other innocent people.
We urge officials at Generations Church to cancel this hurtful event. If congregants really must support a convicted predator, we ask that they do so privately. 
The church is run by pastors Bob & Tammy Brydon (1461 E. Woodview Dr. in Leander, TX (512-616-7000, info@generationschurch.net). According to the church website, the Brydons have been “actively involved in local church ministry, in both lay and pastoral staff positions, in several large Austin-area churches.”
I received a phone call yesterday afternoon from Pastor Bob Brydon of Generations Church who is helping lead the effort to "fight for GK," the man convicted of super aggravated sexual assault of a 4 year-old boy, in prison for 25 years after accepting a sentencing deal waiving his right to appeal. Bob immediately let me know how offended he was at our statement, saying he considered it "slander." I asked what was slanderous about it, but he did not answer. He just began a rant about how the "real perp" is still out there on the streets.










Sex offenders in our midst
Monsters behave like monsters. It isn’t a choice they make. But offenders who behave monstrously are people, not monsters, people who have chosen to behave abusively and who need to be held responsible for their choices.
Plus, it promotes the myth that sex offenders are not the regular people we know and love. And as author Amy K. Sorrells asserts, “It’s not the people you don’t know who will hurt your daughter, girlfriend, wife. It’s the people you do know.”  
"Mom of a Super Hero"commented at The Wartburg Watch:
1. Child sex abusers are almost always nice, beloved members of their community (in this case a church). This is how they ingratiate themselves into a community and gain access to children. 2. Children this young do not lie. 3. If you believe he is innocent, support him privately. Do not hold rallies, or bully the family. 4. If you need to resort to making up scenarios to support the abuser, you don’t have much to stand on.
I’ve read the comments sections of the news stories on this (I have also read everything on that ridiculous freegk site). The family is being attacked because a group of people can’t believe someone they like, a “nice guy”, would do something like this. They should educate themselves on child sex abusers, especially if they have, or plan on having, children themselves.
The main insane rationalization I’ve read so far from supporters on the boards is that it was probably actually a family member of the victim who was the abuser, and the whole case is a “cover up”. First of all, I don’t understand how that would work. Secondly, as someone who went through what this family is going through last year (daughter abused at a church daycare, abuser convicted and sentenced, church people showing abnormal amounts of support for someone with a criminal background, creepy behavior he actually admitted to on stand, and other stuff I won’t get into), I can tell you that the victim’s family is thoroughly vetted in these cases. In our case, we went to the police at 8 pm at night. CPS was at our house by 10 am the next morning for a surprise visit/interview. Thirdly, how sick and cruel, to say something like that on a public forum.
The family is often maligned in these situations, when, in reality, it is a child from a supportive, loving family who will actually have the ability to testify.
So my point is yes, this family is being bullied. I was bullied too, called all sorts of ridiculous things, including Bored Housewife like the ladies who run this site, even though I wasn’t a housewife (why do housewives get such a bad rap, anyway?) The bullies said I must have concocted the whole thing and gotten my daughter to lie for my own “entertainment” (whoever would even think of that – a child sex abuse trial as entertainment – is a sick, sick person). My husband, for whatever reason, was mostly spared. Perhaps because I was seen as weaker, or more vulnerable, by the church folk, who sat in the courtroom and snickered when I broke down during my testimony. These sheeple have no decency. They will stretch to any length to conjure up reasons why the child sex abuser could not possibly have done this, no matter who they hurt in the process. They do not know how ridiculous they sound to any sane person capable of independent thought, but, sadly, I suspect they do know the damage they are doing to the victim and the victim’s family, at least deep down. They know the truth deep down.
The young ages of the sex abuser’s supporters disturbs me. In our case, several supporters were young women, just like in this case, although my daughter’s abuser was not a young man. Have we failed our young women this badly? They do not know what is inappropriate, perverted, or just plain mean, especially on a public forum? Are these women going to have children some day? Would they side with a grown man over their own four-year-old son, because the man was a “good guy”? How many of them were abused themselves, and perhaps have not dealt with it? Statistically, some of them. These questions have kept me up at night.
I related very much to the commenter who pointed out that these things said on the internet will last forever. I have thought about the day when my daughter will search for her story, and read the awful things people said, even though of course they’re not true. But how horrible for her. Pain on top of pain. People can be so cruel.
As for the commenter who said there is no benefit to writing an open letter, that the family would not want it, he is absolutely wrong. He said he knows this from experience, but did not cite the experience. I suspect he is stretching the truth or lying. I would have loved for a letter like this to be penned for my family. I had tears streaming down my face reading it tonight. This family needs to know there are people out there who support them. They need to hear a little sanity and compassion, because they are facing a lot of insanity and brutality right now, on top of their already insurmountable suffering.
The David and Goliath story is so appropriate for this situation. My daughter drew the comparison herself before she testified (yes, our family is Christian, for those of you to whom it matters for whatever reason. What we are not is Pharisees, or sheeple). People know that story, including non Christians, so cut the garbage, whoever commented on that.
I wish I could travel to Leander on Aug 10th to stand in support of this brave young boy and his family. I can’t, so I will pray for them, Christian or not (that comment made me sick. God loves all). Dee, Amy, I don’t know who you are, or understand everything you do, but keep doing it!
I firmly believe there are two types of people. Those who can deal with situations of child sex abuse, and those who can’t. I firmly believe this man is guilty, and his supporters can’t deal with it. I am so thankful for that first category of people, those who can face the truth head on, shine the light on it, and get these monsters out of society. The police (the ones in our case were maligned, too, guess what, it’s called building a defense!), prosecutors, jury members, parents/guardians, family and other support people, social workers, mental health professionals, those who run support centers, doctors. But mostly, the brave young Super Heroes who stand up before their abusers, in a room full of strangers, and tell the truth.
(sorry to make this post a lot about our story, but I wanted to give the perspective from someone who has been through it, and I believe the more light we shine, the better)
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Blaming, shaming and revictimizing kids by Generations Church and the Fight for GK

August 11, 2014, 10:56 am
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MyFoxAustin.com | KTBC Fox 7 | News, Weather, Sports
They called it "Freedom Fest."
Among the crowd, Greg Kelley's high school sweetheart, Gaebri Anderson -- speaking on television about Greg for the first time.
She says there's no way her boyfriend is guilty of this crime.
"From my perspective, I have known him for so long, I know his heart.  I know he's not capable of such terrible things," she said. 
...
But there is a big outcry, especially on social media from those who feel justice was done in the Greg Kelley case.

Amy Smith is with a group called SNAP that supports victims of abuse.

"Some of those that I have connected with on Twitter and through Facebook and then some have reached out to me privately through social media saying 'we live here, we live in Leander, we live in Austin.  And we're very disturbed by such a public outpouring.'  And some of them are sexual abuse victims themselves and that really touched a nerve with them," Smith said.

Smith says there are better, more private ways to show support for Kelley.  She says many are upset Sunday's Freedom Fest was held at a church.

"To a child, that says 'They're against me.'  And to even question 'Is God against me because I spoke up?'  And so it's the public way of showing support...and I don't think you need to have a public festival with dancing and games and food and a party with a slip and slide to show support for an imprisoned friend or family member," she said.

Myth 1:  Normal-appearing, well educated, middle-class people don't molest children.

One of the public's most dangerous assumptions is the belief that a person who both appears and acts normal could not be a child molester. Sex offenders are well aware of our propensity for making assumptions about private behavior from one's public presentation. In fact, as recent reports of abuse by priests have shown, child molesters rely on our misassumptions to deliberately and carefully set and gain access to child victims.
 According to Dr. Anna Salter, Ph.D., a foremost expert in sex offenders, "a double life is prevalent among all types of sex offenders . . . . The front that offenders typically offer to the outside world is usually a 'good person,' someone who the community believes has a good character and would never do such a thing" (Salter, 2003, p. 34).
In her years of work with sex offenders, Dr. Salter has found they commonly employ a variety of tactics which allow them to gain access to children while concealing their activities. For instance, many seek responsible positions that place them in close proximity with children. They also tend to adopt a pattern of socially responsible and caring behavior in public. Many have practiced and perfected their ability to charm, to be likeable and to radiate a facade of sincerity and truthfulness. This causes parents and others to drop their guard, allowing the sex offender easy and recurring access to children.

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Last night after the Fox Austin story aired with my interview, I received the following email. I will keep the sender's name confidential, but he gave me permission to post his letter saying, "Yes, you may use my letter.  Anything that lets the victims know they are not alone in this dark time is fine by me."
Dear Ms. Smith,

I was absolutely shocked to discover that a church is blindly supporting a convicted child molester and smearing the victim and his family.  But my faith in the world was restored slightly as soon as I learned that you and others are taking action to expose this so-called "support group" and to raise awareness for the true victim of this case: the abused child.  Please know that you're doing wonderful work, and I wish you all the success in the world with this and any future tasks you take on.  God bless.

All the best,

Generations Church in Leander, Texas is led by Pastors Bob and Tammy Brydon. A member of the Brydon Family, Jake Brydon, is an "organizer for the #FightforGK and #PrayforGK campaigns" along with Bob Brydon who called me expressing anger at our SNAP statement urging him to cancel the "Freedom Fest." Jake is also a spokesman for the Greg Kelley family.
The No. 1 reason that we're fighting is because there was absolutely zero evidence in this case other than the testimony of a 4-year-old boy,” said Brydon, who also serves as a family spokesman.
This kid is such a top-notch kid. He's not just innocent, he's special. He is a unique human being.
Prosecutors appeared to have a much different take.
“What parent would possibly program their kid to make that statement?” Assistant District Attorney Sunday Austin asked jurors during the trial's closing arguments, according to coverage by Austin's KVUE-TV. “What parent could possibly want this child to know about oral sex at the age of 4?” 












pic.twitter.com/ck8Xj3geI2












Bikers vs. Neo-Calvinist Leaders: The Gospel and Child Sexual Abuse


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Cedar Park Police Chief on the Greg Kelley Case

August 12, 2014, 6:58 am
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I am posting with permission of the Cedar Park, Texas Chief of Police Sean Mannix, his statement on the Greg Kelley child sexual assault case emailed on July 30, 2014 to his police department, a matter of public record.

All,

As you are all aware, on July 15, 2014, Greg Kelley was convicted of two counts of Super Aggravated Sexual Assault of a small child and sentenced to 25 years in prison with no eligibility for parole or appeal, through a plea agreement.  In most cases the next step would be a quiet departure to a state prison with little fanfare.  Not in this case.  I know that you are all in tune with the fact that Mr. Kelley has garnered much support from his old classmates and others and a movement was established called “Fight for GK”.  This group has been very vocal in their support of Mr. Kelley and very critical of the police department and the DA’s office.  The Fight for GK movement has taken on a cult-like appearance, as it is mostly high school kids that have only been exposed to the news reports and what fellow supporters have told them, with no interest in seeking the truth.  This movement, in my opinion, has been fueled by what I can only characterize as some of the most biased news coverage of a trial that I have ever encountered in three decades of doing this work.  In this case there was tremendous coverage of the defense case and Mr. Kelley’s support group and very little coverage of the substance of the trial itself.  I have not been able to figure out if the bias was intended or just lazy reporting.

You all saw Detective Dailey take a beating by the Defense with no coverage of his testimony to the Prosecution.  A picture was painted that he did something improper by entering the interview room and asking the child to tell them what the child had told his mother.  This was irregular, but not improper.  In a perfect world the child would have been subject to a deep forensic interview, but at the time the CAC had lost their only staff member qualified for such interviews.  We have a luxury of having a child advocacy center available to us.  Many investigators around the country do not have access to these resources and are forced to do the child interviews themselves.  While that is not ideal, it is anything but improper.

I have been asked by many of you, why we have not taken a more public stance on setting the record straight while this cult-like group drones on.  It is as simple as this; we are in the business of keeping our community safe, enforcing the law, and developing prosecutable criminal investigations.  We did all three of those things resulting in a solid conviction, so we move on to safeguarding the next potential victims of crime instead of entering the tent of the circus they are trying to create.  We do not spike the ball and do a victory dance every time we get a conviction on a violent criminal and we will not start now.  In fact, I find this case to be particularly sad because so much of it could have been avoided if Mr. Kelley had the character to do the right thing on several occasions.  Pedophilia like alcoholism is a disease.  It is not having a desire for young children that got Mr. Kelley into trouble, it was acting on that desire.  Mr. Kelley let his demons get the better of him and has signaled that he has no desire to treat the disease, as the first step is recognition and personal accountability.  Instead he chooses to claim innocence, con his friend and family,  and blame the system and others for his actions.

The Fight for GK movement is largely based on the following position that is posted on their web-site.  “The problem is, he was convicted based solely on the testimony of a 4 year old boy. Not to discredit the words of a 4 year old, but no other supporting evidence was given. Kelley was never interrogated by the police, no other suspects were sought out, and the police department kept their investigation focused only on Kelley without admitting there could be other explanations… We believe he was wrongly charged, by not allowing more evidence in support of Kelley's innocence to be brought forward.”

As you may be aware, Kelley was not interviewed because he exercised his constitutional protection against self-incrimination by invoking his right to remain silent through his attorney, Patricia Cummings.  In other words, he lawyered up. At that point we are not allowed to interview a suspect.  You don’t get it both ways, refuse to give a statement and then whine that the police did not get your side of a story.  He did get to tell his story on the stand and was caught lying to the court, about a lie of stolen honor when he told somebody he was a Marine Sniper returning from Afghanistan.  As an old Marine I am disgusted with this lack of honor.  No evidence of Kelley’s innocence has ever been brought forward by him or his defense team, other than claiming innocence. 

No other suspects were sought and the investigation stayed focused on Kelley because that is how a proper investigation is conducted in all cases in which the perpetrator is known to the victim and positively named and identified as the assailant.  When a small child makes an honest outcry that somebody molested them and named their known attacker it would be gross incompetence to try to take them down a different path.  The Kelley supporters have evolved from an earlier position that the kids made up their stories, to a more modified explanation that one of them was likely exposed to sexual abuse at the hands of another.  This is very twisted logic to believe that a child is intellectually developed enough to articulate the most horrific thing they have been the victim of, but not intellectually developed enough to recognize the known perpetrator that they are exposed to daily.  Never in the investigation was there another “Greg” or another “Greg’s room” living or located at that house.  As you are all aware, it is rare in these cases to have any physical evidence as the outcry generally occurs weeks or months after the victimization of the child.  Using their logic, we should free all the pedophiles and rapists that were jailed on eyewitness victim testimony.  How safe would our children be then? 

The prosecutors did an outstanding job and the jury was unanimous in making likely the most difficult decision of their collective lives.  Mr. Kelley made a plea agreement and gave up all right to appeal which speaks volumes as to the strength of the Prosecution’s case, as his attorney most likely saw nothing that would lead to a successful appeal.  The judge and jurors were absolutely correct in throwing out the charges related to the second victim when the child recanted.  This does not negate the child’s initial outcry that specifically identified Mr. Kelley but does create a reasonable doubt.  I can think of no reason for a small child to make up a false outcry, but I can think of many reasons that the child would not want to retell the story.  Please keep the children and families of both victims in your thoughts and prayers.

Please understand that the Fight For GK group is mostly kids, with some adults, who firmly believe in their cause even when faced with the truth of the matter.  They are mostly very good people and well intentioned for the most part, not recognizing that with every little rally they hold they are subjecting the families of the victims to re-victimization and possibly stifling future sexual assault victims that are seeing this rabid support of a convicted child rapist.  They have a First Amendment right to express their beliefs and should be treated with respect and professionalism.  In my estimation these folks are just more victims to Mr. Kelley’s lack of personal accountability.  Letting his friends and family finance his feigned innocence, after asking for a plea deal,  is shameful.

Keep up the outstanding job that you all do every day and do not be discouraged by our detractors as we have chosen a profession that guarantees critics of our work.  JFK once remarked “too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”

God Bless.


Sean M. Mannix
Chief of Police
Cedar Park Police Department
512-260-4600


  
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Email from Fight for GK leader: "Extremely Disappointed"

August 16, 2014, 11:20 am
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M. Dustin Brimberrymdbrimberry@confluentinc.com

10:43 AM
to me
Amy,
Let me start off by saying that I 100% support the victims that have been molested (and I believe they probably were), that is not in question.  I would never support a predator, I have the facts on my side and we need to catch the actual person that did this, the longer we wait, the more likely that person is to strike again because Greg Kelley is not some monster and he did not do this!  Do your research, the police destroyed communication between themselves and CPS, which the judge partially blocked at trial.  Greg is also a victim of a corrupt and evil DA, and police department.  Do you really think a church would support Greg if he did this?  NO.  The pastor of the church was not even taking sides in the matter until he saw the real facts of the case with his own eyes.  As soon as he was presented with the facts that were suppressed at trial, he quickly got on board because he saw the injustice of this whole thing.
I am extremely disappointed in your recent comments regarding the Greg Kelley case.  I know that you probably published the letter from the Cedar Park Chief of Police to be used to try and smear the #FightforGK movement that is quickly gaining momentum, but that is about to backfire on you.
I love how enemies of the true and living God (though they pretend they are not), play right into his hands when they partner with satan.  God loves to mock and ridicule satan, satan is always so arrogant that he always overplays his hand.  That is exactly what our and all the others who clearly have no understanding of the GK case and have continued to falsely accuse an innocent young man.  Your day along with all those others who have been on the side of injustice and corruption by the law enforcement (what a joke) of Williamson County have a day of reckoning coming very soon.  God is about to rub all your faces in your lies because the truth is about to explode on the scene and it is Greg Kelley, his supporters and his family that are about to have the last laugh. 
There is a movement building in Williamson County and the elected officials in Wilco are about to find out what happens to those in office that abuse their power and authority.  We have built huge support and registered several hundred voters during our rallies.  Once we secure a new trial for GK, we will be putting together strategic campaign to remove all those corrupt individuals that we elected in Wilco.  I am really not sure why you choose to take the wrong side, but your eyes along with many other eyes around this injustice are about to be opened wide. 
He is 100% innocent, he was never alone with the child, there are so many facts in question.  You should do yourself a favor and help us free GK so focus can be placed on catching the real predator.  If that person is not stopped he will strike again and we must not allow anymore victims.
The truth will COME OUT!  Those in our legal system will be held accountable and we will do everything in our power to make sure that all parties that supported this injustice are given their pink slips by the voters of Wilco.  Jana Duty and made promises to clean up the corruption in the Wilco DA office, and has done the same thing the previous DA did.  It is certainly true that power corrupts.  I supported her during her original election because deep down I had hoped she would do what she said.  Instead she is continuing to persecute the innocent with her draconian tactics.  Greg and the kid with the pot brownies are the ones unjustly treated.  Once we elect a new DA that can be trusted, I hope that a full investigation is done into Ms. Duty and her band of misfits, and that myself, Brunner and the other ADA clowns all spend some time behind bars for their illegal and unjust politics.
I really think you should educate yourself on the facts of this case, and stop believing the lies that have, at least for now ruined an innocent man’s future.   Open your eyes, stop the bias, and you will only come to one conclusion, Greg Kelley DID NOT commit this crime, someone else did.
Sincerely,



Dustin Brimberry

UPDATE 8/18/14: 

I replied last night to the above email from Dustin Brimberry saying, "Please do not contact me again." He did:

What you can't handle the truth?
You can rant on and on your campaigns, but when someone stands up to you you whine and say "don't contact me, I can't handle someone calling me out.
I will challenge you and anyone else who lies about Greg Kelley.  We want justice for the child too, and I would think you would want to ensure that the correct person by caught, or they will do it again.


Just you watch that judge will grant a new trial and Greg will be acquited and you will have pie in your face, just like all the other haters.

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Email from the pastor of Generations Church in support of convicted child sex offender Greg Kelley

August 21, 2014, 4:13 pm
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In a previous post, I wrote about the public support that Greg Kelley, a convicted child sex offender, has received from Generations Church in Leander, Texas, led by Pastors Bob and Tammy Brydon. A member of the Brydon Family, Jake Brydon, is an organizer for the #FightforGK and #PrayforGK campaigns along with pastor Bob Brydon who called me expressing anger at our SNAP statement urging him to cancel the "Freedom Fest." Jake is also a spokesman for the Greg Kelley family. 

Dee Parsons at The Wartburg Watch wrote a post yesterday titled Generations Church and Greg Kelley's Christian Supporters: Another Christian's View. 
This blog has consistently emphasized our concerns with pedophilia and the church. So, for some time, except for this letter to the little superhero, we have been content to let justice takes its course in this situation since it did not seem to involve the church. However, it has become apparent that some of the people leading the effort to exonerate Greg Kelley are involved in the evangelical church. Also, a lead pastor in Generations Church appears to be part of the effort to exonerate Kelley. That church has been the site of "Freedom Fest" in support of Kelley. Perhaps this church is not aware of the number of churches in the US which have been involved in covering up for pedophiles or they may have been reticent to use the church for an event to raise money for a convicted pedophile.
Today in a comment on Dee's post, Megan Brydon, wife of Jake Brydon, said:
We did have an event at the church. It was not a church event, in fact there was never an invitation to members. The pastor is in support, but plays no role in this movement. He offered the building because he felt like justice was not served and that it should be. The church did not pass out ribbons supporting anyone. The pastor is not a leader of this movement, that is just not true.
On July 28, after pastor Bob Brydon called me, he sent this email to several SNAP leaders:

From: Pastor Bob Brydon <pastorbob@generationschurch.net>
Date: Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 4:41 PM
Subject: FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
To: Pastor Bob Brydon <pastorbob@generationschurch.net>

Dear SNAP Leaders,

Today it was brought to my attention that your organization went public with slanderous information about our church, our community, and the FightForGK cause, while at the same time asking us to keep everything private as we fight for justice.

In our community, you can’t have a conversation with the powers-at-be unless you can show “significant support” for your case. That is why we are hosting events and signing petitions so that we can be heard. To do that privately won’t accomplish the goal. Our church is hosting this event because we believe that justice has not been served to either party and the FFGK group needed a place to host their event.

If it was my son/daughter who was abused or falsely accused, I would hope your group would be in favor of fighting for justice.  Our most powerful tool is “the light of truth”...and through our actions we can bring justice and healing.

Respectfully,

Pastor Bob Brydon
Generations Church
[P]  512.616.7000 x150
[C]  512.422.5437
[F]  512.616.7005
[E]  pastorbob@generationschurch.net

It seems to me that Megan and Bob aren't on the same page. Or perhaps this is more evidence of this group's stark lack of integrity. 


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Grooming 101: a convicted child predator in his own words

September 5, 2014, 11:54 am
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Below is the full text of KVUE Williamson County reporter Tom Miller's interview with Greg Kelley, the former Leander High School football player sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole or the right to appeal after he was found guilty of super aggravated assault of a child: Link

Greg Kelley: The first thing I wanted to say was during the investigation I was never questioned by police, and I was the only suspect and person of interest in the case. The other thing I want to [say] is that the police never investigated the home daycare where the assault took place. The Cedar Park Police Department didn't do a full investigation of all the children in the daycare. Another one is on stand, the detective admitted erasing emails obtained [as] potential evidence of the case. He testified that he [deleted] . . . probably close to 100 emails . . . the investigator testified she [deleted] the same emails as well, and they both broke company policy, because they weren't supposed to delete  evidence of a case.

 Mysteriously, there was never a time or date provided that the alleged assault occured on. They have an estimate date on April 15, but they said it could have been two months early and two months after. The last thing I really, really point out with you is the conviction was solely on the convoluted testimony of a 4-year-old kid. There was no . . . evidence of me doing the assault, there was no eyewitnesses of an assault, and my 25-year conviction was solely on the word of a 4-year-old boy.

Tom Miller: If you are innocent, why did you go ahead and agree to a 25-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole or an appeal?

GK: The reason why I did that is 'cause I was [given] two options after I was convicted . . . If I waive my right to appeal to a judge, I serve 25 years. If I give it to a jury and still have my right to appeal, they could have convicted me of 25 to life without parole, and I'd already rolled the dice by not taking the plea bargain before trial . . . and to me, in the eyes of a jury, they think of me as a monster, and they didn't give me a fair trial at all, and I'm not going to roll that dice again . . . so, 25 years, [I'll] get out when I'm 44 years old. That's exactly why I took that . . . I took that because I had no other way. They had already convicted me. 

TM: Why do you think they viewed you as a monster?

GK:  Because I would never have thought they would have convicted me. I came in the courtroom, came in there with a full heart, ready to walk out there with my family and my supporters, and my heart was crushed when they convicted me on such a convoluted trial, such a washed up trial . . . they thought I was a monster. [But I have] supporters thinking otherwise.

TM: I know you denied that this ever happened, but was there any partial truth to any of the accusations against you?

GK: No. There was no truth at all.

TM: Is there anything you regret doing or wish you had done differently?

GK: No, not at all. People ask me [about] not taking that probation plea bargain . . . my mom told me to take it, my family told me to really think about taking it, I said, "No, I'm not gonna do that. I'm gonna abide by the principles that I [grew] up with and my family taught me, and I'm not gonna accept such a horrible crime when I didn't do it. That's not my morals and that's not my goals. I wanted to change my life and this is not me, so I didn't take probation as an option.

TM: Do you regret that now, though, in hindsight?

GK: I don't. I don't regret it, no.

TM: If you had an opportunity to speak to the families of these children who accused you, what would you say?

GK: If I had the opportunity to talk to their families, the first thing I'd say is, "I'm sorry that your son is thinking that something's happened to him, but I think he's acting very untruthful in his testimony, and if something did happen to him, you just have the wrong guy. Bottom line, I'm sorry, but you just have the wrong guy."

TM: Were you ever alone with either of these boys?

GK: No. I also testified on the stand that I was never alone with them. It was always in the presence of an adult.

TM: Why do you think they said these things happened?

GK: I've had that question asked to me plenty of times, and . . . we're trying to find that out . . . and not letting me be in here any longer.

TM: What was your relationship with these two boys? Were you a role model for them? Were you a friend for them?

GK: That's all that that was. I was the only one that would interact with them when nobody except for the daycare provider would . . . like I said on the stand . . . I didn't want them to think as me as a big stranger and I wanted to get to know them. You know, I lived there and I wanted them to get to know [me] and I wanted to get to know them, and I believe they looked at me as a role model because they'd always wanna high-five me.

TM: Was there anything at all that happened? Was there anything that you believe that was potentially borderline inappropriate that happened?

GK: Not at all. As far as me, I was never inappropriate with the boys. That's one thing I can say, is in my point of view, there was nothing inappropriate going on.

TM: Was there anything potentially inappropriate that could have been seen in somebody else's point of view?

GK: No.

TM: For people who are unsure, what would you say to them? People who don't necessarily know what to think, because a lot of people think that something happened, they're just not sure what.

GK: The only thing I can do is say I didn't do it. I wish I could reach for a mountaintop and say I didn't do it. I wish people believed me, but apparently that's not how this world works. For those people I would say, "Believe what you want to believe. If you knew me as a person, if you knew the things I want to do in my life, I wouldn't have the time or the mindset of doing something that monstrous.

TM: From what I've seen, you and your family are people of faith. Why do you think this happened to you?

GK: I believe it's in God's hands . . . this is just a speed bump. As a man it can only make me better, so you know, I believe it's with a plan . . . bad things happen to good people all the time.

TM: What are you hoping happens moving forward? Are you looking for a miracle?

GK: Of course, yes. [laughs] I pray every night that something will come out and show my innocence and I can get out of here . . . I have many supporters who are trying to get me out of here because they know the true me, they know who I am and what I was up against. So, yes, I am hoping for a miracle.

TM: Again, if you are innocent, why would you go ahead and give up 25 years of your life without the possibility of parole of an appeal.

GK: I didn't have a choice. I went to trial fighting. I went to trial to fight for my life. I testified and proved my innocence . . . but it's not supposed to be that way. I had the right to remain silent and I didn't . . . I took that because I was convicted, I was wrongly convicted and I didn't have a choice, and 25 years, I saw a light outside of a tunnel rather than giving up, giving into a jury, and they could convict me of life without parole . . . If I would have given it to the jury, they could have given me life, and I couldn't handle that.

TM: Is there anything you want to say in this last minute? [Kelley's time on his prepaid phone card was almost out]

GK: The only thing is I didn't do it . . . and I think the truth will come out, and the truth will set me free.

About a week after the interview above in which Kelley states that "...you just have the wrong guy," Greg Kelley did another jailhouse interview with Casey Claiborne of Fox 7 Austin:
I can't say somebody else did it to him because I know how it feels to be accused of something like that. And I couldn't put my finger on a person or anything. But I know that that kid was being untruthful on the stand.
 MyFoxAustin.com | KTBC Fox 7 | News, Weather, Sports

"I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids. I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact," said Sandusky.


Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


From the Austin American-Statesman:
Kelley said he would play with the kids at the in-home Cedar Park daycare, where he temporarily stayed with a classmate while his parents were in the hospital. He said the kids would climb on his arms and he would do “rough play” with them.
Prosecutor Geoffrey Puryear asked Kelley if he had ever told anyone that he was doing something different in the spring of 2013 besides going to school and working. Kelley said no.
Prosecutors then called gym owner Phillip Forbes, who testified that Kelley told him 10 days ago that he was a sniper in the Marine Corps and was going to be stationed in Southern California. He said he found out Kelley was lying to him when he saw articles in the news about Kelley’s trial.
“I wouldn’t believe anything he says,” said Forbes.


















Thank you, Mary.




How Child Molesters Fool People by Anna C. Salter, Ph.D.

Complete list of slide presentations on Dr. Anna Salter's site here.





























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Former Second Baptist Church of Houston minister accused of child sex abuse: more information and more questions

September 20, 2014, 2:44 pm
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I received an email today from someone providing more information on the accusations of child sex abuse against former Second Baptist Church of Houston music minister Eddie Struble that I have written about previously in several posts here, here and here. There are police reports from the Spring Valley Police Department here and here and the Houston Police Department here. 

Here are some of the contents of the email:

Amy, 

 Saw your blog on sexual abuse of children and teens and wholeheartedly support it, provided everything checks out. In the case of ES, everything said about him preying on a boy, a young man really (*of 16/17) is true. 

*editor's note: the Houston police department report states that the abuse began on 12/01/06 and continued until 10/15/09 which I believe would correspond to said victim's age as 14-17 years old.

Classmates know that he visited the boy in question daily at his home until the wee hrs.

 Many of us knew ES both from church where he had an impressive position as director of a large choir and orchestra, and also from the school that our own kids went to, where he liked to hang out at games. He knew almost all of the students there, was very 'huggy' with them, had their cell phone numbers etc. When the pastor was told about the above situation, the matter was referred to relevant church staff, who said they had ways of investigating such matters and to leave it to them. 

ES was removed from office somehow, but the church never reported back. When asked, they answered that 'it was true', as I suspect the police reports you show testify to. So the voicemail on your web site by Second is pertinently untrue, and a way of the corporate church to avoid legal responsibility since they did not report the matter (possibly to protect the family and ironically, feeding the rumor mill that keeps bringing up these questions).

[voicemail mentioned above embedded here]


 This had immediate unintended consequences, namely that ES applied to schools in the area, including ours. Luckily our kids' school was aware, even somehow responsible, since ES had actually traveled with the school's sports teams on a road trip or two (while not employed by them nor having any kids at the school himself, can you believe it!?! Our kids had been very aware of ES inclinations by then (the investigation by Second took 2 months) and had warned the classmates and the school staff, who by then became very concerned about the school's reputation and role in the matter).

 I believe he was finally served with a restraining order by the school since he kept showing up and contacting kids by phone and on Facebook etc. 

 A supporter



From information I have received from other credible sources, I believe the school referenced in the email above that served Eddie Struble with a restraining order is Faith West Academy in Katy, Texas. The staff is listed here. In July 2011, I contacted Kirk Rightmire, Public Relations Director for Faith West, by email. His reply and my email are below:

Amy,

After inquiring to other staff members and what I know, Faith West and it's employees were never directly involved with any situations involving Eddie. In act, he never was a part of this organization. Therefore, we have no information at all regarding the family’s personal affairs. Our role was to support the family and their request. Any information would need to come from them directly. Thank you for your ministry.

Blessings!

Kirk Rightmire

Kirk Rightmire
Director of Education
Faith West Academy & Community Center
krightmire@faithwest.org

Romans 12: 1 & 2

On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 4:34 PM, Houston Snap <spacecitysnap@gmail.com> wrote:

Mr. Krightmire, [I misspelled his name.]

I am contacting you about a serious concern about Eddie Struble, a former music minister at Second Baptist. I understand Eddie had caused concern at Faith West regarding a student. I was contacted by some concerned parents in the Dallas/Fort Worth area where Eddie now lives and is visiting churches. I have recently been asked to be the Houston leader for SNAP, www.snapnetwork.org, a confidential support group for survivors of clergy abuse.

 I spoke with the pastor at First Baptist Humble a few weeks ago, Barry Jeffries, where Eddie recently worked as interim music minister. He told me that Eddie was fired from there last October for "suspicious behavior." I also called Hits Theatre where Eddie worked as a vocal coach, and they told me that they are "aware of the allegations" when I mentioned concern that there could have been teenage male victims of abuse by Eddie at the theater. 

I have communicated my concern about Eddie with a former Dallas County probation officer who worked with sex offenders for 10 years who helped form the specialized sex offender unit for Dallas County who is working with a Keller police detective, in the DFW area, about these concerns regarding Eddie. The Keller detective has a copy of a police report and restraining order that was filed against Eddie by the family of a teenage male victim from Second Baptist. I also have seen the report from Spring Valley police. It is my understanding, from a former Second Baptist minister, that Eddie was forced to leave Second as a result of these allegations of abuse. However, David Dixon, executive pastor, left me a detailed message stating that Second Baptist has "no information at all" regarding any of the allegations against Eddie. He also stated that "nothing has ever come to us about the individual that you talk about," and he made a point to say again, "We have no information whatsoever."

 I am concerned that there could potentially be more victims at Second and in the Houston area whom have never come forward to tell anyone. If you or anyone else at Faith West have any information to assist the Keller police detective, I can put you in touch with him.


Sincerely,
Amy Smith
Houston SNAP

www.snapnetwork.org

Two critical questions:

1. Has Second Baptist Church reported the knowledge of or suspicions of child sex abuse by Eddie Struble as they are required to do by the Texas mandatory reporting law passed in 1971? 

2. Has Faith West Academy reported the knowledge of or suspicions of child sex abuse by Eddie Struble that prompted them to obtain a restraining order as they are required to do by the Texas mandatory reporting law passed in 1971?

SNAP statement on Eddie Struble:

SNAP believes that church officials have a moral and civic duty, when confronted with proof or credible allegations of wrongdoing, to aggressively seek out victims, witnesses and whistleblowers and beg them to call police and prosecutors so that those who commit or conceal crimes – especially against children – will be charged, convicted and jailed which prevents future crimes and cover ups.

We urge anyone who has seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes by Eddie Struble to come forward immediately and contact law enforcement, begin to heal and protect other kids.

The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids,



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Fight for GK: they said

October 2, 2014, 11:29 am
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The pervasive cycle of child sex abuse and cover-up among Baptist and other evangelical churches

October 5, 2014, 4:37 pm
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Last week a lawsuit was filed against two large, popular Houston churches, Second Baptist Church (a Baptist mega-church) and Community of Faith. The lawsuit claims "the organizations were negligent by employing a youth pastor who was convicted of sexually soliciting their daughter while working there," according to a Houston Chronicle story."
Foster was part of a "marketing scheme" by Second Baptist that allowed youth pastors to encourage students in public schools to attend church activities and events, enticing them with fast food, the suit states. The goal was to recruit their parents to join. He later went to work for Community of Faith, the suit states.
The girl met Foster during her lunch hour at school, where he was able to get her involved in activities with Second Baptist. The two started a relationship as one of religious guidance, the suit states.
"This is no different than a pedophile with candy in his pocket," said Cris Feldman, attorney in the case for the parents of the girl, now 17. "It's just someone who worked for Second Baptist and was told to go into school lunch rooms and recruit."


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KPRC

Foster admitted to making online sexual advances to the girl. He met at her school when she was 12 years old.  He pleaded guilty to online solicitation of a minor.  Foster also pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl he also met at school in his role as youth pastor.  Foster is currently serving a five-year prison sentence.
The lawsuit claims Second Baptist Church didn't train Foster to work with minors and knew about Foster's sinister agenda. 
"What we have here is the proverbial pedophile with the candy in his pocket," the victim's attorney, Cris Feldman, said.  
"Except this pedophile was sent into public schools with candy in his pocket provided by Second Baptist.  We believe the evidence will show that Second Baptist had full knowledge of what was going on. Or at least some idea of what was going on with Mr. Foster in that he lacked proper judgment in his actions around children."
Gary Moore, a spokesperson for Second Baptist, denied the allegations and said the church's heart aches for the victim.
"Second Baptist Church did not know of any of those allegations," Moore said in a statement.  "If these happened and if Second had been made aware of them, we would have immediately terminated anyone involved and ensured that such conduct did not continue for one minute.
Notice that Gary Moore, Second Baptist spokesperson, does not say one word about the church calling police to report the abuse as required by Texas mandatory child abuse reporting law.

See my recent post here on another former minister at Second Baptist Church of Houston accused of child sexual abuse.

In searching for news stories on the Chad Foster lawsuit, I came across a 1994 lawsuit against the First Baptist Church of Houston, our former church of almost 18 years. I was not previously aware of this lawsuit.

Marshall v. First Baptist Church of Houston
Appellant Reece Marshall brought this negligence suit against appellee, First Baptist Church of Houston. The Church moved for summary judgment on the ground that Marshall's claim is barred by the applicable statute of limitations. The trial court granted the Church's motion for summary judgment, and Marshall has appealed this ruling. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Marshall was born on November 3, 1971. While he was growing up, he and his parents were active members of the First Baptist Church of Houston.In 1984, when he was 12 years old, Marshall was allegedly sexually molested by Steve Roddy, the director of children's music at the Church.
Initially, Marshall told no one of this incident.   However, in 1987 he told a couple of Church members and Minister Gerald Ray what had happened. Ray did not notify law enforcement officials, the Texas Department of Human Services, or Marshall's parents. In 1988, Marshall told Pastor John Bisagno about the alleged sexual assault, and Bisagno also failed to report the incident. Finally, in 1989, Marshall told Ministers Johnnie Deurwyn, Charles Poor, and Felix Wagner of the alleged sexual assault, and these individuals, likewise, failed to report the incident.
Marshall reached the age of majority on November 3, 1989. Over the years, Marshall suffered some emotional problems, which he contends are the direct result of the molestation and the inadequate response to Roddy's actions by ministers of the Church. In 1990, Marshall's psychological problems became severe, and he began receiving counseling on July 23, 1990.
During this time, Marshall's therapist obtained his history, which revealed the allegations of sexual abuse in addition to the allegation that Marshall's attempts to receive help from Church officials had been rejected. On February 12, 1991, Marshall was hospitalized for depression and anxiety attacks. A psychiatrist diagnosed Marshall with multiple personality disorder and chronic and severe post traumatic stress disorder.
Marshall filed suit against the First Baptist Church on January 6, 1994, alleging that the Church was liable for a continuing course of actionable conduct occurring in 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989, which included not only the sexual assault committed by its minister, but also the rejection of Marshall's cries for help by Church officials.
The trial court granted appellee's motion for summary judgment on the ground that the two year statute of limitations barred Marshall's claim. Marshall subsequently filed a motion for new trial which was overruled.
... 
Because Marshall turned 18 on November 3, 1989, the statute of limitations began running on that date and he had until November 3, 1991, to file his claim. 
Finally, Marshall argues that the doctrine of equitable estoppel prevents the Church from asserting its limitations defense because its actions prevented him from discovering his injury and its cause. 
I wrote here last year about the chastising phone call I received from Doug Bischoff, an associate pastor at Houston's First Baptist Church, the church in the lawsuit above. Doug called me to express disapproval of our SNAP child sex abuse awareness event at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting held in Houston in 2013. Senior Pastor Gregg Matte was the President of the SBC Pastors' Conference that preceded the annual meeting.

After the phone call from Doug, my husband met first just with Doug, and then a couple of weeks later with Doug and Gregg Matte. I wrote about this meeting here. They were joined in that meeting by Charles Poor, Minister of Counseling Emeritus & Staff Liaison to Deacons. Charles Poor is the same minister who is mentioned in the lawsuit Marshall v. First Baptist Church of Houston. The lawsuit states that in 1989 the child sexual assault victim "told Ministers Johnnie Deurwyn, Charles Poor, and Felix Wagner of the alleged sexual assault, and these individuals, likewise, failed to report the incident."
A few months ago, I wrote about being chastised as an abuse advocate by a pastor at our church at the time, Houston's First Baptist Church.  Someone at Houston's First Baptist, Prestonwood Baptist, or the executive staff of the SBC called the Houston police about our plans to hold an awareness event outside the 2013 annual meeting at the George R. Brown convention center in Houston. After this, my husband requested a meeting at HFBC with head pastor Gregg Matte. They were joined by Doug Bischoff, the pastor that called to chastise me, and a deacon. Before that meeting, Gregg Matte told my husband that he didn't want anything said in the meeting "to end up on a blog." My husband told them all in that meeting, that they should have no problem having cameras there recording every word. Why the secrecy? Why would they not want the whole world to know that they will not stand for child sexual abuse being covered up? Or do they want the darkness and silence surrounding child sex abuse in the church to continue, like Paige Patterson encourages by his comments?

I never received a phone call or email from Gregg Matte. I only have my impressions of his meeting with my husband to go on. While Gregg Matte did express outrage over child sexual abuse, it seems there was a lot of outrage over protecting the image of Houston's First Baptist after this story appeared in the Associated Baptist Press.
The alleged perpetrator of child sex assault cited in the lawsuit is Steve Roddy, a former associate minister of music at Houston's First Baptist Church.

Stephen Roddy is the founder and director of the Houston's Children Chorus, which he founded in 1989. Is this the same Steve Roddy that is named in the lawsuit?
Prior to the founding of the Houston Children’s Chorus, Mr. Roddy served as organist / music associate at First Baptist Church of Houston, First Presbyterian Church, St. Luke’s Methodist Church, as well as Tallowood Baptist Church. He most recently served for ten years as Director of Music at Grace Presbyterian Church of Houston.
Mr. Roddy is a native of Dayton, Ohio and Memphis, Tennessee and  is a graduate of Auburn University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He is currently President of the Houston Chapter of Choristers Guild. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Texas Foundation for the Arts and on the Board of Directors for the Center for Christian Music Studies at Baylor University. He is also on the advisory Board for the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Houston Masterworks Chorus.
Stephen Roddy is listed here as the Director of Traditional Worship at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston.

How many other kids may have been harmed in the years since the cries for help went ignored by the pastors at Houston's First Baptist Church? In the June 2013 meeting with my husband, was Gregg Matte aware of the lawsuit against his church alleging child sexual assault by former minister Steve Roddy and the failure to report this abuse by several other ministers? Charles Poor is named in this lawsuit. He sat there in that meeting with my husband hearing how Doug Bischoff had come to the conclusion after talking to me and my husband that it was best that I "step down from teaching" 6th grade girls Bible study at the church. Doug had told my husband that he "had to watch out for the kids." That's the reason he gave for thinking it was best for me to step down, given my volunteer service with SNAP as an advocate for survivors of sex abuse.

From my personal experience with pastors that cover up child sex abuse in their churches, they have no shame.

God help us.

The light of truth and knowledge is the greatest tool to protect kids.








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Southern Baptists, the ERLC and the "devil-haunted universe"

January 10, 2014, 12:25 pm
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Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation. Albert Schweitzer 



We held a SNAP media event yesterday outside Second Baptist Church in Houston in support of the victims of two former ministers there.

SNAP is worried about more possible victims of these two former Second Baptist ministers, both accused of crimes.

The first is Chad Foster, a young minister who was sentenced in April to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to raping a 16-year-old girl in 2011 and soliciting another teen online.
The second is Eddie Struble, a music minister who faces no civil or criminal charges but is the subject of a Spring Valley police report accusing him of stalking a boy in 2009.
SNAP says that Struble abused a boy (roughly from ages 14-17) who Struble met at the church.
Struble now helps lead worship at Birchman Baptist church in Fort Worth, TX. He has also taught private voice lessons and worked as a vocal coach at Hits Theatre in Houston http://www.hitstheatre.org/
After leaving Second Baptist Church, Struble worked at Humble Area First Baptist Church http://www.hafbc.com/ where he was reportedly asked to leave.
See my original post on concerns about Eddie Struble:   http://watchkeep.blogspot.com/2011/10/whats-at-stake-protecting-and.html
Struble plays an active role in Southern Baptist Convention events. He was the worship leader for the NACBA (National Association of Church Business Administration) National Conference Planning Team in Houston in 2012. http://www.nacba.net/documents/annual%20report.pdf page 10
Last July, he led a session on “saving ministry dollars” at NACBA conference in Charlotte. http://www.nacba.net/Documents/2013_Conf_Brochure.pdf
SNAP believes that church officials have a moral and civic duty, when confronted with proof or credible allegations of wrongdoing, to aggressively seek out victims, witnesses and whistleblowers and beg them to call police and prosecuted so that those who commit or conceal crimes – especially against children – will be charged, convicted and jailed which prevents future crimes and cover ups.

 KUHF News
Members of a child abuse victim support group gathered outside a mega church in Houston today to highlight recent abuse cases involving ministers. The group urges victims of sexual abuse at churches to come forward. 



Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston


Stop Baptists Predators updated: Will changing of the guard bring any change on clergy sex abuse?
Update 1/10/2014: Now we have yet another indication of how unlikely it is that Moore's leadership will bring any positive change in the SBC's denominational do-nothingness on clergy sex abuse. The ERLC has announced the formation of a "Leadership Network" to join with the ERLC in applying "the gospel of the kingdom to the major cultural issues of our day." Named to the "Leadership Council" for this new network is pastor Greg Belser of Morrison Heights Baptist Church -- a pastor who has been widely reported as having a role in one of the SBC's biggest clergy sex abuse cover-up scandals to date. In Belser's short bio on the ERLC's "Leadership Council" site, he talks about how the ERLC helps him in "resourcing our church for speaking courageously in the culture." In my opinion, Belser could show himself to be a great deal more courageous if he would submit hisown conduct to the review of an independent organization such as GRACE and let that organization speak to the truth of what happened in the Prestonwood/Morrison Heights scandal. In any event, Belser's appointment to the ERLC's "Leadership Council" doesn't bode well for anticipating any improvement in the SBC's blind-eyed nonresponsiveness on clergy sex abuse.

Newly Formed SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Initiative Is 'About Ministering in the Midst of a Devil-Haunted Universe'

"As we come alongside one another, we'll talk about crucial ethical issues confronting churches and how we can engage the culture with a Gospel-focus. We'll think through issues that aren't yet confronting churches, but will, and how we can best go through the difficulties of life and local church ministry with a joyful warrior kingdom expectancy-marching toward Zion on the triumphant side of history."
How about start with the crucial issues already confronting churches? What about the "devil-haunted universe" of child sex crimes committed by their own Baptist ministers? Or are we really looking at a case of the ERLC picking and choosing "crucial ethical issues" based on selective moral outrage? I can't think of any issue more pressing and damaging to churches and kids within churches today than the ravaging of souls by child sex offenders.

Startling Statistics: Child sexual abuse and what the church can begin doing about it

SNAP urges Baptists to speak out on abuse







John Langworthy's public confession at Morrison Heights Baptist Church

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My StoryCorps recording in Chicago

October 22, 2014, 11:31 am
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More stories from fellow SNAP advocates and survivors here:

In August 2014 SNAP entered a community partnership with StoryCorps. Since 2003 StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 50,000 interviews with over 90,000 participants. With the storyteller's permission, each conversation is recorded on a CD to share and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to their weekly broadcasts on NPR's Morning Edition and on their Listen pages. To help commemorate the 25th Anniversary of SNAP at the 2014 National Conference, StoryCorps reserved two full recording days for SNAP members to share their stories. Since then, others have been able to record at the StoryCorps booths in San Francisco, Atlanta and Chicago.
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Protecting predators. Perpetuating abuse. Shunning victims: mom of a victim of child sex abuse from Second Baptist Church Houston shares her story

October 28, 2014, 10:09 am
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HOUSTON -
KPRC: The mother of a girl who was targeted by her youth pastor says the pastor exposed himself online via Skype during secret video-chat sessions. For the first time, the girl’s mother spoke publicly and only to Local 2 Investigates.
The mom of another child sex abuse victim from Second Baptist Houston has reached out to me and SNAP and shared her and her daughter's story. It is with her permission that I share this story. We hope that this story encourages others to speak out, come forward to law enforcement, begin to heal, tell their stories, and help protect other kids. The pervasive cycle of darkness, silence and secrecy promoted by churches like Second Baptist and others of which I am personally aware, protects predators. Shining the light of truth to expose those who harm kids and those who cover up these crimes protects kids.

We applaud the strength and courage of this mom and her daughter. I have removed the alleged perpetrator's name from this story to protect the identity of his daughter who is also an alleged victim.

My daughter was 14. Second Baptist had just taken over the North campus out of Kingwood and sent a guy over to be the director at the singles parenting class that I was in. Also a deacon. That's how we met we started dating. Seemed like a good guy being involved in ministry and such. During the time that we were dating some things that he did seemed little odd. Just strange behaviors I won't get into. And I was doing a quiet time titled knowing God's will and applying it to your life and I used my relationship with this particular guy as the focal point because it was the one thing in my life that just didn't seem right. I ended up breaking up with him after discussing some of the things in Christian counseling and realizing that I wasn't crazy like he had made me feel . He had some real issues, sexual issues he was hiding.

My daughter did competitive cheer and several months after [alleged perp] and I broke up we were out to dinner with the cheer moms after competition and people began to ask where he was and she spoke up and said "my mom broke up with him and I'm glad because he likes to massage my butt and always make sexual comments to me and my friends." It was the first time I ever heard of that and I was shocked. And a little hurt because as close as she and I were I couldn't believe she waited until after we broke up, and we are in a large group, to break that news to me. When I asked her why, she said he told her if she told me anything it would destroy my happiness. So I took her to a Christian counselor and she told the counselor. 

 The counselor relayed it to the church and she called CPS because she said by law she had to. To make sure that the child was protected and I was no longer dating the guy which I wasn't. She convinced me to speak with the church as well. I did that and I also called CPS. When I called CPS they "accidentally" told me that this was the second reported incident he had on file with them. The first one with his own daughter when she was two years old a pediatrician reported that she had been molested. That case was closed because the two-year-old couldn't talk about it and the mother got addicted to pain medication so [alleged perp], the guy, and his mother had her committed to a psychiatric facility. When she got out she did the best thing she knew how and took her daughter and moved out of state. 

That's all fact and was told to me by the mother of the daughter and CPS. That was also relayed to the church and Dr. Ed Young directly because no one would listen to me. In writing. In emails. My daughter told a camp counselor when she was at camp who told the church. My daughter also told the youth minister Jonathan Gray.... [Jonathan Gray is still a youth pastor at Second Baptist North campus.] In addition one Sunday she asked if she could stay after church to ask Jonathan a question. When she came to the car she was crying. I asked her what she asked and she told me she asked him why doesn't God do anything about [alleged perp.] He couldn't answer the question. It was a simple one really because who was God to her .... the church ...so she was asking why doesn't the church do anything about [alleged perp] because all I asked was that he be removed from ministry.

They wouldn't do it. And instead I got removed. I was teaching in the youth group and they had said over and over and over I was the best teacher they ever had but after this situation happened and I spoke out I got fired but he kept his job. When I asked them what they were going to do about it they said it was none of my business, how Second would handle it and all ministers that I talk to were advised to ignore any emails that I sent and eventually they were blocked so they wouldn't go through anymore. All this is fact. And to be honest with you, what [alleged perp] did to my daughter, and she will probably tell you the same thing, is nowhere near as hurtful and painful as for what the church didn't do. 

That's what's made the last nine years unbearable and neither one of us has stepped foot in church since, not because we don't believe in God, because I'm actually closer to God than I've ever been, but because we no longer believe in churches and the ministry they provide. They don't do background checks, even when they're being told all they have to do is pray about it and God will provide the answers, they don't do that. 

With a little bit of prayer and research on my part I found out that he touched his own daughter, his own sister got fired from a job for being a peeping Tom, took pictures of his girlfriend, broke into her house while she was sleeping and took naked pictures of her. All of that I found out with a little bit of research. And I don't even have the means that they have for research. I am not an FBI agent. I'm not a police officer.  I'm just a mom. I even screenshot the conversation that my daughter and his daughter had where she was telling my daughter that he touches her all the time like that but he doesn't mean anything by it. I sent that to the church and nothing. And he never gets in trouble because he goes just far enough without crossing the line. Basically what he did was sneak into my daughter's room while she was sleeping and started rubbing her butt as if massaging it. She pretended like she was asleep because she was scared then she said he got up and left. 

That's the story Amy. I really hate talking about because it's hurtful! And because I endured it for a very long time just trying to get him removed from ministry.


This is by far the ugliest thing I've ever had to deal with. It's so ugly and evil. It's like something from American horror story.

In Houston, to make a report of sexual abuse you can go into any police station or call the numbers listed here (resources for sex assault victims). The Houston police number for the child sex crimes unit is 713-731-5356 or call the Texas abuse hotline 1-800-252-5400.

You can also make a Cyber Tip report here which will be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency for possible investigation:
The CyberTipline® receives leads and tips regarding suspected crimes of sexual exploitation committed against children. More than 2.5 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation have been made to the CyberTipline between 1998 and June 2014.
If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, report it to the CyberTipline.
The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids.
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