Church Bans Kids To Hire Pedophile Pastor

Snackersmom · Apr 5, 2012

Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville, is coming under fire for its controversial decision to ban children from its church services.

According to a local Jacksonville news affilate, Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church has banned children from attending Sunday services because their new pastor, Darrell Gilyard, is a registered sex offender and cannot have contact with children.

In 2009 Gilyard plead guilty to lewd conduct and lewd molestation of two underage girls. While he was the pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church Gilyard molested a 15-year-old girl and sent a lewd text message to another. Under the conditions of his plea agreement, Gilyard cannot have “unsupervised contact with children under 18 years old,” and his new church has taken extraordinary steps to help Gilyard stick to the terms of his deal.

Despite the seriousness of his offense, Gilyard’s return to the pulpit was swift. After being released from jail on December 28, he resumed preaching in January, and told reporters he hopes he can move past this incident and continue with his work.

“Somehow I will prove that life isn’t over when one has committed a crime for which he receives this heinous label,” Gilyard told a reporter, ironically through text message. “You don’t have to languish on the fringes of society.”

While I believe in forgiveness, banning children from church in order to welcome a pedofile into the fold is not only creepy, but it’s downright shameful.

What do you think? What kind of message is Gilyard’s church sending to its youth?

Oh. My. Goodness.

Call me judgemental, but this guy does NOT sound contrite about what he did. If he TRULY had a servant's heart, then he would realize that those kid's spiritual growth is WAY more important than his getting to "play pastor". Because I'll almost guarantee that that's all he's doing. Like Kayem said, just because someone wants to be a pastor, doesn't mean that God wants the to be a pastor.

kayem77 · Apr 5, 2012

Snackersmom said:

My exact opinion, someone with a repentant heart wouldn't even ask for special privileges just to keep doing what he thinks he has to do...something just doesn't make sense there.

PS. YAY! SNACKERS IS BACK!!

Snackersmom · Apr 5, 2012

(waves at Kayem)

Oncefallen · Apr 5, 2012

Curiosity caused me to do a little research and I found this Jacksonville pastor begins prison sentence | jacksonville.com article from a couple of years back. Based on his original sentencing, he is still on probation for his crime. I am shocked that the probation department is permitting him to do this regardless of the presence of children since his prior history also shows sexual indiscression with adults in prior churches he has pastored.

I know a man locally that was convicted of a sex crime against a minor (peeping tom) who had been an associate pastor in a small congregation. Although after he completed his term of probation he started a ministry specifically for sex offenders, the local probation dept. would not permit him to do so while under their authority.

Jordache · Apr 5, 2012

First off God has greater grace than we can ever imagine. I can see someone who perpetrated this type of crime allowed around children again though obviously there would be serious regulations. But there is absolutely no reason that he has been place back in any sort of leadership position so quickly after release. Secondly, why do we punish the children. Why do we cause them to sin by banning them from fellowship to cater to a pastors consequences.
This is truly disturbing on so many levels!

Crossfire · Apr 6, 2012

1still_waters said:

This is one of those situations where you have conflicting ideals, where the solution is a choice between two bad/good options.

On one hand you want someone to live in and walk in the forgiveness that Jesus gives to all that ask for it. On the other hand you do have children to protect, laws to be followed, and a saltiness to be maintained.

So which do you choose?

I would have to side with the choice that protects children.

This situation isn't about ONE man.

If he feels a call to preach and minister, he should minister to sex offenders. There are many many many in local communities.

I've read about some churches making services just for sex offenders, and they inform the community.

People who committed these SERIOUS offenses are capable of receiving the forgiveness Jesus offers. They do need ministry. But all that isn't greater than the need to protect children.

Absolutely & Amen!

zaggamorre · Apr 6, 2012

It s really shamefuL !! Cant they find someone else--a 'role model' type?( doent matter if he's ugly or physically handicapped) . Well, yes, we all sinned are all sinners but thats TOO MUCH.How can one preach the gospel when he cant even live with it. What If ,just "if",...... if Jesus was child molester,do you think His ministry will work??

leelee · Apr 6, 2012

I absolutely do not think he should be allowed to pastor. I think that the kids spiritual growth and safety are much more important. I am a kids leader and I am teaching a generation!!! His pastoring interrupts their teaching!

Kids are precious to God and I am not sure if he would agree to kids having to be excluded from a church.

In my opinion teaching the kids to love Jesus, equipping them to carry out their weeks and to tell their friends etc, is much much more important than that pastor.

Jullianna · Apr 6, 2012

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

If a "pastor" can't be around kids, he's the one who shouldn't be there, not the kids. There are other adults only ministries he could do.

Governor · Apr 7, 2012

For the pastor to have admitted to the shameful act and hoping to be able to overcome it shows that he is not born again.I wouldn't attend such a church because the pastor will not have a say if a member is found wanting in such act.

hislastwalk · Apr 7, 2012

the news report actually said he committed the sin BEFORE he was a pastor, by the way....
the laws in Florida are extremely strict, so it's not his or the churches fault that they banned the children..

Oncefallen · Apr 7, 2012

hislastwalk said:

If you re-read the original post, you will see that although he was not a pastor at the church that hired him, he was the pastor of another church. If you read my prior post (the link that I provided is to an article from when he was originally convicted) you will see that his entire ministry in multiple churches has been overshadowed by allegations of sexual impropriety.

As far as whose fault it is that the church had to ban the kids, it certainly isn't the strictness of Florida's laws. In most states that I'm aware of a man on probation for a sex crime would NEVER be permitted by the probation department to pastor a church. In other words in most states the church would have never had to make the decision.

The fault, in my opinion, falls entirely with the pastor. He committed the crime that makes the child ban necessary, he applied for the job knowing that the child ban would be necessary. A man who was truly repentant for his former behavior would never put a church in the position of having to make the decision that he did. A man who was truly repentant for this type of crime, after only 3 out of 6 years in the justice system, would still be focused entirely on completing sex offender treatment, NOT trying to get back into the pulpit.

As many others have posted, I wholeheartedly believe that former offenders should not be permanently barred from ministry. However, in my opinion, former offenders should seek ministry in areas that do not place children at risk. There are tons of ministry availabilities in adult only arenas (men's ministry, prison ministry, ministry to offenders, etc.) that would not require the removal of children from their church home.

hislastwalk · Apr 7, 2012

Oncefallen said:

If you re-read the original post, you will see that although he was not a pastor at the church that hired him, he was the pastor of another church. If you read my prior post (the link that I provided is to an article from when he was originally convicted) you will see that his entire ministry in multiple churches has been overshadowed by allegations of sexual impropriety.

As far as whose fault it is that the church had to ban the kids, it certainly isn't the strictness of Florida's laws. In most states that I'm aware of a man on probation for a sex crime would NEVER be permitted by the probation department to pastor a church. In other words in most states the church would have never had to make the decision.

The fault, in my opinion, falls entirely with the pastor. He committed the crime that makes the child ban necessary, he applied for the job knowing that the child ban would be necessary. A man who was truly repentant for his former behavior would never put a church in the position of having to make the decision that he did. A man who was truly repentant for this type of crime, after only 3 out of 6 years in the justice system, would still be focused entirely on completing sex offender treatment, NOT trying to get back into the pulpit.

As many others have posted, I wholeheartedly believe that former offenders should not be permanently barred from ministry. However, in my opinion, former offenders should seek ministry in areas that do not place children at risk. There are tons of ministry availabilities in adult only arenas (men's ministry, prison ministry, ministry to offenders, etc.) that would not require the removal of children from their church home.

Stop passing condemnation.
Condemnation means holding him guilty to his sins. If He has repented (and you don't know if he truly has or not) then He is no longer guilty.

Jullianna · Apr 7, 2012

God forgives our sin, but there are still consequences. We all have to deal with the bad choices we make in this life. Adam and Eve would tell you the same. Even the earth bears the scars of our sin.

I agree, Oncefallen, a true man of God desiring to be a pastor should know the true meaning of love. Love is not self-seeking. Such a man should desire that these children be taught the Word and not be driven from their church just for him.

violakat · Apr 7, 2012

hislastwalk said:

It's not about condemnation, bit about using discernment. The scripture says we are to be wise a serpents but innocent as doves. Meaning we are not to be naive, but use discretion.

This man is not a one time offender, but a repeat offender and that while he was holding office. As such, he needs to be held accountable and realize that his actions has consequences. That what he has done hurts women. Discernment, based on experience of watching how people act, would suggest he has not learned this yet. That he needs to focus on his personal relationship with God, have a male accountability partner, and work on making his name pure before the community, before holding the position of pastorship.

hislastwalk · Apr 7, 2012

violakat said:

It's not about condemnation, bit about using discernment. The scripture says we are to be wise a serpents but innocent as doves. Meaning we are not to be naive, but use discretion.

This man is not a one time offender, but a repeat offender and that while he was holding office. As such, he needs to be held accountable and realize that his actions has consequences. That what he has done hurts women. Discernment, based on experience of watching how people act, would suggest he has not learned this yet. That he needs to focus on his personal relationship with God, have a male accountability partner, and work on making his name pure before the community, before holding the position of pastorship.

if you don't know him, or heard his sermons, or ever heard anything He's had to say, then you can't discern him.

VikkiKate89 · Apr 7, 2012

I don't know whether to be enraged or laugh at the utter audacity of this situation. Mankind is full or ridiculousness. This church pretty much deserves whatever's coming to them. And for those arguing that he might turn around and never commit sexual offenses again... that's about as likely as McDonalds discovering the cure for cancer in one of their Big Macs. Sexual offenders are cut off from kids and essentially alienated from society for a reason. It's not because we're heartless people who just don't understand and don't give them the chance to start over. It's because they almost never are rehabilitated.

Gonna say the same thing my dad said to the man who molested me: "God says to forgive you, but he doesn't say I have to be stupid."

violakat · Apr 7, 2012

Matthew 7:16 "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"

Have you ever heard the expression, "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?" Basically it means, that you have to live what you say you mean. Not just give lip service. It's so easy for people to say they are Christians, but live a completely different life. Trust me, I've done that before. And I have to be on guard to make sure I don't live the life of a hypocrite, because it's easy to want to give into your desires.

Discernment does not come from lip service, but from observing. Would you allow a man to continue to be your banker, if he has embezzled money from your account ten times, even after he has whole heartily apologized to you every time and started in again right after you place him in as your banker again? This pastor, did not just once, robbed a girl of her innocence while her pastor, but has gone after women inappropriately at other churches. This is a pattern for him. I'm sure he apologized in each occasion, but his actions show he did not truly repent.

Their are several passages in the Bible where Jesus specifically talks about this type of behavior, of lip service, versus action, and he warns us against this. Luke 20:46-47, Matthew 25:14-30, Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 7:16

Oncefallen · Apr 7, 2012

hislastwalk said:

Let me tell you a little bit about myself so you will be more capable of properly discerning my heart in this matter.

In my first post I commented on a man that I know who is a former offender who started a ministry for offenders. I, for several years, had the pleasure of playing on the worship team for the church services that he ran. Most sex offenders are prohibited by their conditions of probation/parole from attending "regular" church services and his ministry made church available to these men within the boundaries placed on them by the criminal justice system. I can say without reservation that some of my dearest friends and brothers in Christ are men that I knew from that ministry, men that most of society considers to be unredeemable.

Those who know me well, know me as an advocate for restoration and reintegration of former offenders both in the church and society. Likewise I can say that of the people involved in this thread that I know well I am probably the most knowledgeable (other than Jullianna perhaps) in the psychological makeup of sex offenders, why they commit their offenses, the treatment process they go through to reduce their risk of offending again, and the restrictions that a reasonable former offender would place on themselves to minimize the likelyhood of them re-offending. My knowledge is based on years of ministering to former offenders.

Wisdom, not condemnation says you don't put a fox in the chicken house. In this case wisdom, not condemnation says you do not place a man who has a history of sexual impropriety in multiple churches he has pastored, recently out of prison for a sex crime, in a position of authority in a church. It is apparent from this man's history that he uses his pastorship as a grooming tool (how sexual offenders get their victims to comply).

RoboOp · Apr 8, 2012

To tell you the truth, many churches don't really follow the Biblical model for church leadership (the structure, the qualifications, etc.). And one of the biggest things that gets compromised is the character qualifications, or at least it gets overshadowed by non-Biblical added requirements like a seminary degree.

But the qualifications are clear in 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1 (and there are other passages to study as well to get the full picture on New Testament church leadership).

The overriding qualification isn't actually teaching ability (though that is important), and certainly not a seminary degree, but rather:

proven character

They are to be proven and tested over time. And there's even more, which makes this even more crystal clear. 1 Tim 3:7 says:

He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

If you're a registered sex offender, and you've pleaded guilty to doing all that with teenage girls while you were a pastor, well then you should humbly accept God's forgiveness and be thankful for that and not complain about the practical consequences of your sin which disqualify you from representing the local body of Christ as an official leader/pastor.

I say just stick to the Bible, with regard to church leadership, and all church matters.

And it really does all make sense.

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