Registered sex offenders at church

[robertcolumbia]

Last year, we had a new attender at church. He was a musician and was interested in playing for us and helping us improve our music department. He was sort of an eccentric spirit but didn't do anything that would be cause for alarm or immediate action. One of our ladies did some research and it turns out that this guy is a disgraced musician who served hard time in prison for touching a child that he was giving music lessons to in a way that Jesus wouldn't.

He doesn't attend anymore, but I don't know if he just lost interest in our church over doctrines, practices, or the fact that we didn't want to reform our music department in the way he suggested, or if he was shamed by being exposed as a registered sex offender. Our state's sex offender registry continues to list him as a local resident.

Do you think he should have been frank with us up front about being a registered sex offender before asking to play for us? How about just attending? Would you put conditions on him coming back, or volunteering?

Just to be clear, there's no evidence that he assaulted anyone at our church, at all. I'm personally one of those who thinks "forgive and forget" is a good rule, but what do you think?

[Brother Randy]

I think one question to ask is does and can Jesus change ones life if we allow him to ? In situations like this we don't always know the full story . there have been people convicted of alot of things that they in not really do.

I think a person like this if they would continue to come that maybe one of the brethren should talk with him . Not to condem or judge , but more to help and encourage and be accountable to.

We all sin and deserve nothing that God gives us.People can and do change .

[sister J]

This is a hard one, but in these cases I believe the safety of children comes first. There are consequences to sin, even if we have been forgiven and this man would of known there would always be these kinds of consequences to such a heinous crime.

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6

Because of the last days apostasy I am largely not attending any fellowship gathering on a regular basis, in fact hardly at all anymore and although it is hard at times, and not ideal, I get by fine with the Lord and intermittent contact with other believers on a one on one basis. If I can be ok like that as a woman on my own, then should this be the circumstances for a man who has sinned like this, then what is the problem?

I do strongly think, in the case of protecting innocent children, this kind of thing should of been divulged from the beginning and that there are lifetime consequences to sin of this nature.

[Guadalupe]

Mar 26, 2013 8:37:10 GMT -5 Brother Randy said:

I think one question to ask is does and can Jesus change ones life if we allow him to ? In situations like this we don't always know the full story . there have been people convicted of alot of things that they in not really do.

I think a person like this if they would continue to come that maybe one of the brethren should talk with him . Not to condem or judge , but more to help and encourage and be accountable to.

We all sin and deserve nothing that God gives us.People can and do change .

We've researched, talked and prayed about this. We agree essentially with Randy. However we've also found out more about the conditions known as pedophilia and pederasty as well as rapists. After many many years of psychological and psychiatric interventions, the conclusion now is that these conditions cannot be cured. The best intervention is to keep them away from possible victims (like an alcoholic is kept away from alcohol). Some have even volunteered to undergo surgery to remove the "members" so as to avoid future crimes.

Then there are the ones that say they can change just to be able to get near more possible victims. Of course the research now says they can't but they'll lie to get access hoping you don't know better.

We should pray for them but we should also protect our children and other possible victims by keeping them away from offenders. Children and family are our first and foremost responsibility.

If it's a man they can always be invited to an older man's Bible study and be assigned someone to be a "buddy" during the larger church service to keep an eye on the person.

Under no condition should this person be employed by the church where they can be around future victims. Remember, like the alcoholic, they cannot go near the enticement.

Apr 3, 2013 18:17:04 GMT -5 sister J said:

This is a hard one, but in these cases I believe the safety of children comes first. There are consequences to sin, even if we have been forgiven and this man would of known there would always be these kinds of consequences to such a heinous crime.

"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

AMEN SISTER!