Pedophiles and Sex Offenders in the Church

[cricket]

I am interested in knowing if your church has a policy already set in regards to allowing registered sex offenders and pedophiles to worship in your church. Does your church have a policy already in place? What is that policy? Please share.

[LifeHiscost]

I am interested in knowing if your church has a policy already set in regards to allowing registered sex offenders and pedophiles to worship in your church. Does your church have a policy already in place? What is that policy? Please share.

Are you asking whether the Word's injunction, to love our enemies as well as repentant sinners, is the church's position, or would you perhaps be considering the Word's injunction against an unrepentant sister or brother? The church's policy is to uphold the Word, hopefully in personal behavior as well as in word, but in case of failure on the part of an individual, the policy would depend upon the individual's acceptance of the Word as his/her guide.

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you... "

Matthew 5:44 NKJV

"But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person."brackets theirs LHC

1 Corinthians 5:11 NKJV

"“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you."John 14:15-17 NLT

Not all Adventists follow the policies of the church or the Word.

God blesses!

[abelisle]

I think a more pragmatic approach would be to assign a deacon to watch them when they leave the sanctuary and go to an area(s) of the church where other members who would be at risk from this person might be.

Alex

[cricket]

I'm asking about the policy of the membership in regards to letting (or prohibiting) an actual, real, live person who is a known pedophile and/or registered sex offender into the church building to sit in the pews with them and worship with them. I'm asking about each of the churches people at Club Adventist actually attend--not the policy of what Seventh-day Adventists profess to believe in regards to whether or not such a person should be accepted into God's Kingdom.

What I want to know is: if a person who is a registered sex offender wants to attend YOUR church (the physical building where you go every Sabbath), do you let him/her in? Do you allow him/her to use the same restrooms as your young people? Do you limit his/her interaction with the church body at all? Is he/she free to roam about the building?

[cricket]

Thanks Alex. Does your church have such a policy in place already? Is it something you've had to address? If so, is the knowledge of this person's past (and perhaps current) behavior made known publicly to the church at large?

[Stan]

There are policy by each conference. The local Church is required to follow them, there is no options.

I do not remember what all it is ... but it includes each offender must be accompanied by someone assigned, must never be alone with Children etc.

If the Church is not their to protect the children, even if the offender is a born-again, praying person, then woe be on that Church leadership. Sure people can be forgiven, and need to be, but leadership MUST protect members, because one day, they will have a bad day, and cross the line.

[cricket]

Stan, how many years has this policy been in place? Or, is it up to each conference to develop and implement them as the need arises?

[abelisle]

Yes and that person was told that although he was welcome to worship with us, he would be watched and dealt with severely if he in any way failed to behave in a socially acceptable manner.

We have some tough, big, street-wise guys in my church. He got the message and for some unknown reason stopped attending

Alex

[cricket]

Thanks, Alex! Sounds like your church has it well under control and is well-equipped to deal with real-life situations.

[Amelia]

How does a church know when an offender is visiting?

[Liz]

I don't think *my* local church has an "official policy". However, when a known sex offender showed up, the rumor mill went 90 to nothing and even though *I* did't know the specifics, it appeared that the church as a whole kept an eye on him while he was on the premises.

He had a mother or a grandmother that was a member, and if I recall right she got her feelings hurt by the treatment that he received.

[cricket]

How does a church know when an offender is visiting?

I guess it could vary, he/she could inform the pastor, or a friend; it could be found out on registered offenders lists; or, just through the rumor mills as Liz mentioned.

I do think there are a lot more pedophiles in our churches than we are aware of, but when we are aware--then what do we do? I'm wondering about policies set in place.

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: Amelia

How does a church know when an offender is visiting?

I guess it could vary, he/she could inform the pastor, or a friend; it could be found out on registered offenders lists; or, just through the rumor mills as Liz mentioned.

I do think there are a lot more pedophiles in our churches than we are aware of, but when we are aware--then what do we do? I'm wondering about policies set in place.

The congregation should be informed.Regardless of a change in behaviour or claim that they have,pedophiles are always a threat.

A child sees a friendly face in church week after week and they are more than likely to trust them.

Meeting them in a setting away from church they would not fear what they may do. They would not have the fear of going with them as they would a stranger

[LifeHiscost]

Sad story when the believer cannot, after placing our children in God's care through personal prayer, expect Him to give the children the care they need even in His own sanctuary. Perhaps it indicates some needed examination of our own confidence in God's power and His willingness to care for our/His own, when we've exercised our best discretion to make sure our children are safe from the predator.

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"Matthew 24:14,15 KJV

"For he will order his angels

to protect you wherever you go."Psalm 91:11 NLT

God blesses!

[bonnie]

Sad story when the believer cannot, after placing our children in God's care through personal prayer, expect Him to give the children the care they need even in His own sanctuary. Perhaps it indicates some needed examination of our own confidence in God's power and His willingness to care for our/His own, when we've exercised our best discretion to make sure our children are safe from the predator.

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)"Matthew 24:14,15 KJV

"For he will order his angels

to protect you wherever you go."Psalm 91:11 NLT

God blesses!

Are you saying it is the fault of all parents for not praying enough or having firm enough faith?

[LifeHiscost]

Are you saying it is the fault of all parents for not praying enough or having firm enough faith?

If it is admitted by one that there is no fault upon their part, then I would suggest the Holy Spirit and comment is not speaking to them.

"“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”"Matthew 19:20 NLT

God blesses!

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: bonnie

Are you saying it is the fault of all parents for not praying enough or having firm enough faith?

If it is admitted by one that there is no fault upon their part, then I would suggest the Holy Spirit and comment is not speaking to them.

"“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”"Matthew 19:20 NLT

God blesses!

Very typical non answer.The question really wasn't whhether you could find a bible text to avoid a direct answer.What does that bible text say to you? That it is lack of faith or prayer that allows a predator to harm your child?

[LifeHiscost]

Very typical non answer.The question really wasn't whhether you could find a bible text to avoid a direct answer.What does that bible text say to you? That it is lack of faith or prayer that allows a predator to harm your child?

The defense rests.

God blesses!

[CoAspen]

Your replys strongly suggest harm only comes to those who do not have enough faith or prayer. Where does the Bible teach that? Christ did not. The Jewish religious leaders did!! Is that your example?

The church has a responibility to its members to protect them and not just throw up its hands and leave it to God. There is also the civil liability as well. Just because a person has paid for their crime does not mean no continuing consequences. A church should have a policy for handling such situations. All members may not know about it to preserve the privacy of the individual. I know of a church where a former pedophile attends and they are accompanied/monitored at all times. They are not allowed in certain areas, ie, childrens rooms, and are given explecit instructions and rules they must abide by. They enter into that agreement before being allowed into he church. Fellowship in not denied, but monitored.

[Gail]

Agreed, Coaspen. I feel that a truly repentant person will realise his/her shortcomings and accept the consequences.

There is nothing to say that a deacon or otherwise vigilant church member couldn't be that person's friend as they monitor. It's a support system to the offender as well as to those who might be vulnerable to attack.

[LifeHiscost]

There is nothing to say that a deacon or otherwise vigilant church member couldn't be that person's friend as they monitor. It's a support system to the offender as well as to those who might be vulnerable to attack.

If that be the case, I would suggest each church member who has fallen short of the behavior of the Christ during the week before they attend any gathering of people, be it the body of Christ or a secular gathering, carry a sign displaying plainly where and in what manner they have fallen and that they check in at the door as they enter the group, so the appropriate church police properly monitor the miscreant until they leave the premises. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

"Let God weigh me on the scales of justice,

for he knows my integrity.

If I have strayed from his pathway,

or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen,

or if I am guilty of any other sin,

then let someone else eat the crops I have planted.

Let all that I have planted be uprooted."

Job 31:6-8 NLT

"If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]."1 John 1:8 AMP Brackets their's LHC

"So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him."2 Corinthians 5:16-18 NLT

God blesses!

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: Gail

There is nothing to say that a deacon or otherwise vigilant church member couldn't be that person's friend as they monitor. It's a support system to the offender as well as to those who might be vulnerable to attack.

If that be the case, I would suggest each church member who has fallen short of the behavior of the Christ during the week before they attend any gathering of people, be it the body of Christ or a secular gathering, carry a sign displaying plainly where and in what manner they have fallen and that they check in at the door as they enter the group, so the appropriate church police properly monitor the miscreant until they leave the premises. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

If I steal ten dollars from the neighbor,yell at my husband using words I shouldn't be using is somewhat different than destroying the life of a innocent child.

What I may have done is still a sin and is my responsibility to make it right.

If you equate the sins mentioned above etc with the destruction of a innocent life I feel sorry for you and any child that may have to pay the price

[Amelia]

Originally Posted By: Amelia

How does a church know when an offender is visiting?

I guess it could vary, he/she could inform the pastor, or a friend; it could be found out on registered offenders lists; or, just through the rumor mills as Liz mentioned.

I do think there are a lot more pedophiles in our churches than we are aware of, but when we are aware--then what do we do? I'm wondering about policies set in place.

Since no one has said for sure there are policies to follow, is it just hit and miss for knowing? Does anyone scour the websites and then watch everyone coming in the door? I can't imagine that many members have offenders as relatives.

If an offender does decide to visit and stay awhile; I would think the pastor and elder would make a home visit with the person. Personally I don't feel a confrontation before or after service would be Christion. JMHO

[CoAspen]

If anyone is in need of guidelines and how to go about setting up some for your own church, I can give you a contact..privately.

[cricket]

Thanks CoAspen. I appreciate the offer.