No Sex Offenders Allowed

Posted by Scott Williams
30 Comments
October 22, 2007
Hmmmmm | Life Application | Ministry

Let’s talk about one of those Big Pink Elephant in the Room subjects that no one wants to talk about; yes I’m talking about Sex Offenders and the church.  I worked with an exclusive sex offender population for many years during my career in corrections.  It was during those years that I realized that Sex Offenders were one of the few populations that were treated differently; both behind the walls of a prison and on the streets of society.   Let’s be honest sex offenders are definitely not treated nice in prison and they can be treated equally as bad by their neighbors/society when they are released.     

The real question is should sex offenders be treated differently by the church and faith communities.  There is overwhelming research that sex offenders have the propensity to re-offend, which puts everyone on red alert.  That’s why Sex Offenders are all in a national database and are required to register upon their release.  There are over a half million registered sex offenders in the U.S.; Texas leads the nation with well over 51,000 registered sex offenders and Florida is a close second.  If you put a truth serum in most Christians they will tell you that they are uncomfortable around and even scared of sex offenders; especially when it comes to their children.  Let’s face it, insurance companies even have exclusionary clauses for churches that hire or allow sex offenders to volunteer; in other words no coverage. 

The church must play a critical role in helping sex offenders develop a relationship with Christ; in order for them to restore their lives, rebuild relationships and have freedom from certain thoughts/behaviors.  Hmmmmm, this same process applies to each of us and our sinful nature! 

Should Sex Offenders be allowed to be on staff, volunteer or be in a role that officially represents a church?  Is it appropriate for Sex Offenders to volunteer w/ children? Share your thoughts!

  • http://dturn.wordpress.com david

    I don’t believe a sex offender should be working with kids.
    Yes God forgives and so should we, but putting a person who needs healing and deliverance in close proximity to the area of their weakness seems irresponsible.

    • eddie

      what are u thinking!!!!!!!! sex offender should never b forgiven duh they should b exposed everywhere they go that they sexualy abused a child or someone under 18

      • eddie

        by anyone or your socalled god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://flowerdust.net anne jackson

    As someone who is currently involved in bringing out the truth about my own sexual abuse (by a youth pastor when I was 16 – he was 25) I have a lot of mixed thoughts on this.

    For the mean time, if you could keep me in your prayers. The next two days I am being interviewed by his organization’s assessment team and will have to rehash everything he did to me 11 years ago.

    Thanks.

  • http://www.crossroadsmovement.com J.W.

    This seems to be an issue of trust and discernment (or wisdom). I believe that we should allow a sex offender to work or volunteer in our churches–given that we don’t leave them in their current condition but provide the needed help. Now, working with kids is a different matter. When I worked in law enforcement, I only investigated 2 cases of sex crimes against children and they were the 2 toughest cases (personally) that I ever worked on. As a church leader, I may know (on a personal level) that someone previously convicted and guilty of a sex crime has been transformed and renewed, BUT I can’t prove that to a parent or guardian. So, in an effort to create a safe community where parents feel like they can drop off their children, youth or young adults I have to keep that in mind.
    We must also keep in mind that there are far more sex offenders working and volunteering in our churches than we realize–they haven’t been caught. This is why I said this issue, for me, is an issue of trust (in God and His work) and discernemnt or wisdom, we have to really hear what God is saying about your specific issue.

  • http://jimmyparavane.wordpress.com/ jimmy paravane

    Sex offender is too easy. Nobody should be offended by being labeled by their sin, at least, not at church. Habitual liar, Constant whiner, Habitual thief, Pornography collector, Sex addict, Glutton, Gossip, Lazy bum, Wife beater, etc. I mean, what’s the big deal? Nah, sex offender is too easy. Call em what they really are. Child molester. If you are going to look at the pink elephant, take a real close look. A little scrutiny never hurt anybody. Right?

  • Scott Williams

    David- “Irresponsible” Hmmmmmmmn
    Anne- Anne thanks for sharing your storing in the “Forgiving the Unforgiveable.” I will be praying for you and have our prayer team praying for you.
    JW- There are far more sex offenders working and volunteering in our churches than we realize–they haven’t been caught. Over the years the Catholic church has exposed some obvious cases of that. Annes story also speaks to this.
    Jimmy- I appreciate your candor!

  • Roger

    Scott, you are not a sex offender but you do not go to lunch with women alone. You make sure there are no chances of someone thinking you are doing something wrong.
    Accountability would be key to any recovering sex offender. I wouldn’t think you want to test them by putting them in a staff or volunteer position that may put them in the position to fail in recovery. We wouldn’t ask a recovering drug addict to work in the pharmacy would we.
    I would hope we could all have the ability to look past the issue but I would bet that if the membership found out that a sex offender was allowed to work in the church around the kids there would be a mass exodus

  • http://www.lynseleanne.com lynse leanne

    that is a hard question…as a person who has been sexually abused i would be afraid of that person…why? because of what has happened to me in the past.

    i think that they should be treated the same as anyone else with “sin issues” (me and you)…but i think that this is a rational fear of sex offenders looking at the stunnin statistics of how many people are abused and molested each year….

    it is hard because if someone is not acting on their feelings and in accountability (honest relational kind) there would be no reason to say that they shouldnt be able to serve.

    but because of how many times they re commit you may never know until it is too late. i dont know that i would want to risk someone going through what i did just to be “fair.”

    seems to be a jumbled opinion….but it is a hard question….

  • Scott Williams

    Roger- You are right, I am not a sex offender! ;-) The unfortunate thing for sex offenders is that anyplace or situation that involves people or children can be a potentially vulnerable position. Mass exodus, hmmmmmmm!
    Lynse- Thanks for sharing your heart and comment. It is a very much a jumbled question/answer, but one the church must face!

  • http://noneyet!!!!! Mark Twain

    Ok, Sex offenders suck!!! It seemed as though God would have done what He did even if there were only sex offenders to save. We hate the sin, that is for sure. But people are people and just because we are protected from temptations doesn’t mean that Satan is not routing around trying to lie to someone vulnerable. God willing none of us will ever be exposed to the sickness that is being a sex offender. But we fall everyday, or at least I do. Grace is sufficient period. No strings attached. God loves the sick, the unwell and the outcasts because that is who He is; LOVE! I dont agree that we should make everyone wear a billboard that labels there sin, nor do i feel as though a sex offender should be paraded around to look like a crazy person. First of all we all know that a college kid who “moons” a public audience has the same label “sex offender” as does someone who rapes a child or says the court. But we never approach that conversation because that particular sin is just bad!
    I struggle with knowing what to do and I wish I truly knew what grace is all about. We have to love them because we are called to love the person not the crime. But maybe by putting them with children we are part of the problem and not the solution. Let them serve for sure. The question is where to put them! Not with kids, student or the like. It seems as though knowing where they are is a good thing. Watch people who serve but, watch sex offenders who serve even closer. Good stuff Scott!!!

  • http://nurmelat.com pekka

    Very good post on hard topic. I totally agree that this must be brought up in church. We can’t afford to have tragedies in this nature. I’m not just talking about bad publicity but the poor broken souls. Church must maintain a safe environment and it has to apply policies that support it.

    I wouldn’t make offenders publicly announced. That wouldn’t be fair. But the staff and pastors should be aware of it and guide sex offenders to attend other ministries. I wouldn’t put them to work with kids and there is plenty of other stuff to work with. We would not but a former thief or fraud to be in charge of finances, would we?

  • Scott Williams

    Mark- Wow! I appreciate your thoughts, frustrations and candor. “I wish I truly knew what grace is all about.” Hmmmmm good quote! Thanks for your thoughts I’m sure others will enjoy!
    Pekka- “Church must maintain a safe environment and it has to apply policies that support it.” Bingo! Thanks for your comment, very good perspective!

  • http://thegrateful.org Mike Sager

    We must act out of love for everybody involved. For the sex offender, as some have noted, it would not be loving to put her into a position where she could be tempted (with children, for instance). At the same time, it would not be loving for her to expect others to trust her with their children. As a result, she should take on a different role, perhaps as one who counsels other sex offenders or as an evangelist.

    This should be done quietly, so as to not parade her sin before an audience. It should be thoroughly explained to her that she should avoid being around children except when in the company of adults, and that she should not allow herself to be put into a position where she might relapse.

    And if somebody “discovers” her sin and brings judgment against her, he should be disciplined for his judgment to the measure that they want her disciplined. If he thinks that she should be kicked out of the church, then he should be kicked out unless he repents. If he thinks she should be stripped of a leadership role, he should be stripped of any leadership roles he has. This is to avoid letting people who openly preach sin (judgment is a grave sin) corrupt the church, and to lead those people to repentance. (I’m not 100% certain that this last paragraph is the right approach, I’d have to pray more about it. This is just off the top of my head.)

  • http://www.dplum.blogspot.com D-Plum

    Hey, man…

    I don’t have a comment at this time… other than the fact that I’m pretty much married with a spouse right now :-) … but I just wanted you to know that I dig your site. I came across it after clicking on my man David Turner’s blog.

    I’ve saved your blog on my favorites, so I’ll be back… ;-)

  • http://solshine7.blogspot.com SolShine7

    I wrote a blog entry about this exact topic earlier this year, you can check it out here: http://solshine7.blogspot.com/2007/04/jesus-and-sex-offenders.html – It sites a real-life case where a church has to grapple with this issue.

  • Scott Williams

    Mike- “I’m not 100% certain that this last paragraph is the right approach, I’d have to pray more about it. This is just off the top of my head.” I like your thoughts and perspective from scripyure. It’s not an easy one!
    D-Plum- Thanks for stopping by, I checked out your blog and church website. I sounds like you have some great stuff working in College Park.
    SolShine- Thanks again for the comment, I’m going to check out your post!

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  • http://flowerdust.net anne jackson

    Here are some thoughts – finally.

    As someone who was sexually abused by youth pastor (with a 9-10 year age difference) I have some pretty firm beliefs on this issue. Whereas i do think people can make stupid, one-time decisions, many others are predatory in nature and repeat and will always continue to struggle.

    There is a big difference between someone who is repentant and confesses and someone who denies.

    Once you have been violated sexually and inappropriately, it’s not that you can’t forgive. It’s not that you can’t honestly want restoration for the person who violated you. Through God’s grace I am at a point where I can usually keep my heart in the right place. But at the same time, that does not mean he has a right to be around students or children, espcially in a relationship where he is a trusted supervisor. When someone in that position of authority in a spiritual environment violates you, it’s amazing how much of that stolen trust is projected not only on church leaders, but the church, and God, and others.

    We should embrace those who do or have offended sexually, and they should absolutely serve in an area to where they can help other offenders if that is a place where they should be, but most importantly we should seek God’s wisdom in how to, as shepherds, incorporate the offender into the Body.

  • Scott Williams

    Mike- Great thoughts and perspective. “I’d have to pray more about it!” Grat advice!
    D-Plum- Thanks for visiting, come back! David is a great guy!
    SolShine- Thanks for stopping by, I checked out your post, it was a good one.
    Anne- I always enjoy your thoughts and perspective. Again I will keep you and the entire situation in my prayers. “Seek God’s Wisdom”…… that’s wise!

  • http://-- Jake

    In real life this is difficult. Our RSO (Registered Sex Offender)has served his time and is now under the discerning eye of the Probation Office. He has “made peace” with God and is allowed to attend services with a trained “chaperone” present.
    We have chosen to allow him to minister very publicly as a Song Leader.
    As a repentant sinner he needs to know that God’s people are a forgiving people, as is out God.

  • http://jimmyparavane.wordpress.com/ jimmy paravane

    Jake- I’m curious about the “trained chaperone”. What kind of training did he or she receive? As for the “registered sex offender in your midst, I’d like to hear from him or her as to what the “fellowship experience” is like for him or her in your congregation. Also, as a “repentant sinner”, what’s his or her experience with “God’s people”? Does he or she feel like one of them? Jake, do you have children or know anyone in your congregation that does? How do you personally feel about allowing this “RSO” to “fellowship” with them? Inquiring non-alien minds want to know! (grin)

  • http://www.jabberfrog.com Gina

    Wow! Talk about tackling a sensitive topic. For those that comment on past abuse… I can’t relate and hate the fact that the fear would loom should a past offender be discovered among the crowd. Scott is right. They are all around us… just undiscovered.

    Should they serve in kids or youth ministry? Absolutely not. Why? Given there are so many areas to serve within the church/community, why get hung up on these two areas? Purely my opinion, but if you are truly a repentent, recovering offender then you’re willing to make that sacrifice and avoid serving in these arenas.

    Should the church (meaning all Christ-followers) embrace the offender? Isn’t that what Jesus did? As Jimmy eloquently shapes it… we’re all guilty of something. It is our job to embrace, encourage, and refine one another.

    But none of that process has to (nor should it) involve kids or youth.

  • http://jimmyparavane.wordpress.com/ jimmy paravane

    Gina- nobody is supposed to notice my shaping! (grin). I am fascinated by the Word, so I do tend to take notice of their use, sometimes more than their intent. I couldn’t help notice your comment ended with the words “It is our job to embrace, encourage, and refine one another. But none of that process has to (nor should it) involve kids or youth.” So, your kids or youth are not to engage in the process of embracing, encouraging or refining?

  • http://In-sight Joseph

    01/04/008
    Scott,
    Did not want to give out my email address, sure you will find it some how. I will retutn to site in a few days to get your responce.I am a “X-sex offender” I must say the hardest thing is for me to attend Church I’m a true believer a born again. There was a time I was a Deacon,Leader in men’s Mimisitry all of that has cahnged because of the crime (SIN) I served my time did all the state requirements,but something happen with in-side the church walls, all that God has called me to do has been taken away by my so called brother & sisters in Christ. Yes by all means sexoffenders should not be around childern in church NO! why simple for the own safety as well, we are watch at every where we go! I cannot even get a job!for what I did has maked me for life!Yet God has called me to serve. Scott I want to reach out and do my Fathers will,But there is a price to pay.I found other ways to reach out,but I want more more than receiving phone calls for prayer; cool yet I keep on feeling the call for more.Scott my prayer is I hope you are ture to your word and not trying to make a joke out this quest,give a sex offender a chance I know Christ Jesus would have.
    In Christ always,
    Joseph
    >

    • me

      you should be blinded for what you did so you cant see another person agin to sexualy offend them you think turnning to god will make everything right well it wont there is no such thing as an X-SEX OFFENDER you will always be one you should just stay away from people lock yourself in your house for the rest of your life do evcerybody a favor do somemore time theres nothing you can do to make it right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Scott Williams

    Joseph- Thanks for the comment. First of all I want you to know that prior to being in ministry, I worked full-time with sex offenderz both in a clinical/counseling capacity; as well being a Warden of a correctional institution.

    The bottum line is that none of us derserves the Grace that we are given through Christ; however we also understand that with our sin comes consequences, whatever those might be.

    I encourage you to pursue God’s vision for your life, be up front and honest with your church leadership and allow God through them, to help lead you. You have to be honest, bold and trust God. I am definitely not making a joke; however I am just pointing out the harsh realities that sex offenders are confronted with. I am certain that you understand because you are living it.

    God bless and keep pursuit!

  • acoope02

    What do you think about Sex offenders being punished for life for being falsly accused by ‘THE PISSED OFF’ X GIRLFRIEND?
    To the point where SHE would force a child to lie and have someone convicted. Everybody don’t have money to be pay for their innocense so, they take the plea for the shortest time they can.??? I think the entire Megan’s Law SUCK when it comes to this scenario….! I think they should have thought it out before throwing all the apples in one bag. Everybody convicted and labeled Sex Offender is not really a Sex Offender….they just didn’t have the money to prove otherwise………Can you open a conversation on this subject. Just curious to know what others are thinking.

  • Jesus4 me

    I would like to think i am at a point in my faith that i would show the love of Christ to everyone but i am not. I dont want Phedofiles in my church or around my child. You see that is one sin that they slip and sin again a Childs life is destroyed. I know Jesus loves them and forgives them but i am not at the point that i Can. I would leave my church the minute a phedofile joined.

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