Ex-pedophiliacs teach children's Sunday School?

First off EVERY church should have a policy of checking the crinimal records of EVERY person involved in childrens ministries. Criminals (esp. those of the sort you mention) know that churches will allow them to teach kids if they express the slightest willingness to help.

Crinimal record checks can be done for about $15-$30. In the church I attend, every teacher, (and deacons ) must attend a seminar and obtain the check before teaching. Even college students who are visiting during the school year.

The policy of EVERY church should be that NNE who has a violent or abusive criminal record shall teach or be around children.

Someone with a record of such abuse, if they profess salvation, can teach adult ministries, they can participate in other programs but because of their past involvement in abuse and BECAUSE YOU VALUE YOUR CHILDREN, will NEVER be allowed to teach, supervise or even help out.

Rob

 

The State of Georgia has a law that anyone working with children has to undergo a criminal background check. Our church does a background check on everyone working with children in AWANA, Sunday School, etc. When we first did this, some people were upset because they had worked with the children and been in the church for their whole lives but there were no exceptions.

No.... a pedophile should not work with children. However, he could be used in another way and never without supervision. Pedophilia is not something you just decide to stop.

Diane

 

If anything, this would make me very suspicious, because I just don't believe that God would call someone to minister in an area where they would face intense temptation.

Larry

 

The Consequences of his previous sins must be accepted by this man.

NO.

 

WE MUST learn from the problems the Catholic Church (and others) have had recently in this area.

Constant vigilance is needed to protect our church (and our children) from the wolves that are present in our society.

What is the purpose for developing a program that expressly prohibits any person with a history abusive behavior from working with our children?

1) It helps to protect the children of the church from abuse.
2) It helps to assure visitors that there are not abuse problems in your church and you value their children.
3) It helps to protect the church from litigation if a problem should occur.
4) It helps protect the saved individual who has had a history of abusive behavior from the temptation to return to their sin.

These programs need to be set up BEFORE a problem occurs. Ask your pastor, ask your elders, ask your deacons to look into it if your church doen't have a program to keep your kids safe.

Don - If this program had been set up before the individual came to you, you would have let him know of the policy and HE would have had to make the decision to stay and minister in an area that isn't around children. Now its your problem, and your decision.

Rob

 

Don, with all due respect, you could put any sin in there you wanted to... Are we not 'new creatures' when we get saved?

If we denied everyone who had ever sinned to teach, there would be no class to teach OR no teachers.

Does God see sin in different degrees or is sin...sin? Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.

A sinner saved by grace,
Sue

 

I think Chuck Colson has proved that a criminal can effectively tell forth the gospel despite his past. This is quite different to a pedophile where the rate of repeat offenses is quite high and precious children are involved. Let us not confuse the difference. Ten years down the road of righteousness, perhaps he will have proved himself in human terms.

Cheers,

Jim

 

(Tongue FIRMLY in cheek)

Why sure, I will trust my kids in the hands of ANY pedophile who says he has mended his ways and is now on the up and up. ALL who claim to be Christians are totally reliable and our kids are certainly not worth the risk of being thought of as unforgiving (unforgiving, as Dr. Bob seems to be implying). If he is a genuine Christian then the likelihood of his backsliding is so low that you should be embarrassed that the thought even crossed your mind.

(Tongue removed from cheek)

Alcoholics shouldn't tend bar.
God forgives sin, He does not always restore a person physically or mentally to pristene condition. Do not ignore the "sin which doth so easily beset us".

 

If the man is truly repentant, and truly saved and has truly changed, I think he would not even consider it.

 

It would raise a red flag for me, not that there weren't already red flags in the scenario as presented.

Haruo

 

Didn't read "pedophile" in the list, but sure a bunch of others I wouldn't want in MY church.

But I'm Bob, not God . . . </font>[/QUOTE]Maybe I am missing something, but anyway...having them in the church is different than let them have a particular job or task in the church.

Abstain from all appearance of evil. I-Thessalonians 5:22

At the other hand however, if the man says he is truly saved and repented and he is convicted that God has called him, what can you do?

Doesn't the bible says the following; If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, James
1:5

How about the pastor asking God for wisdom and ask several christians of good report to pray about this matter too...and wait for an answer of God? If it is really Gods will, then surely God must answer in such a way that it will be beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is indeed Gods will.

Other than that (confirmation by God) I would not dare to take that risk, and if the pastor decides that he will not allow this man to teach children, than the man in question should not continue to insist.

I myself am very sensitive with my kids, I would not allow this man teach my kids, though I can not say what I will do if God realy shows me that I can/must trust this man, but based on only this man words...no!

 

In my mind, that wouldn't even be a question. Of course not.
Would you leave him alone with YOUR kids Don? Or your little sister or brother?
Do not take offense to this post, it is not directed AT anyone. (ok, so that first question was directed at Don, lol) I have held this view for a considerable amount of time. I know that on a board this size people have family, friends, etc.. who may be going through this or have a family member involved. I don't intend to hurt anyone by saying this, I do intend to state what I believe would solve many horrible situations.

First, I believe the pedophile's and other sex offenders should be exocuted. I do NOT say this lightly! My own brother is imprisoned as a repeat offender. Not of children, but of women. Do I love him? Yes. Do I think he's saved? Yes. But, I'd rather have to not worry about anyone in this world coming after my kids, and so would most mothers, no matter the age of the kid. The last place I would expect him to work at when he gets out is a rape crisis center, no matter if he says God called him there or not. We owe children much more as far as protecting them, and not only that but if we don't do all we can we are in part responsible for what happens. We can't prevent it all, but we can prevent a good deal by not playing the fool, and letting a pedophile work with your kids is pretty foolish.
It's been shown that sex offenders WILL repeat their crimes as long as the type of victim they have is available. If they molest little children who are alone, they'll continue to molest little children who are alone.
Most do not stamp a sign on their face telling you they are looking for victims. They seek jobs where they will be around the opportunity. A pedophile's single easiest way to do this is through the church. Even scouts require more info. And to get in the church he isn't going to say what he's doing, he's going to come off as the finest Christian you ever met.
But...what if his testimony is true? Great! That's wonderful! He can clean the kids bathrooms, or prepare the lessons for the kids and hand them to the teachers who will be teaching the children. He can donate money to the children's church.
If I found out my child was molested by someone the church let teach them KNOWING they had such a past, I'd consider the people who let him just as guilty.
That said, READ THIS

Gina

 

All Sin is equally bad in the sight of God.

But in the sight of Man sin has varying degrees of badness and consequences.

You can curse and use God's name in vain in front of my grandchildren and I will politely ask you to stop then explain to them why it is bad to curse.

You can attempt to sexually molest them and I will do my best to eliminate your threat to them permanently.

 

Don, Chuck Colson is a preacher and not a pastor, but nonetheless dispenses the word of God as truth. He proved himself over time despite his being a convicted criminal. I would not have a problem with him becoming a pastor.

Cheers,

Jim

 

We say "sin is sin" with our mouths, but actions prove otherwise. Man puts degrees on sin. And different people put different degrees on different sins (hope that made sense).

So many people claim that "sin is sin" and then proceed to judge this person for this sin, and not judge another for a "lesser" sin.

Does God use different degrees of forgiveness?

 

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

So, sin is sin. Jaywalking makes you a criminal and murder makes you a criminal but the effects are drastically different. Does God see a difference in sins? Just look at the Mosaic law. Some sins resulted in offerings of doves, some bulls, some lambs, but, some sins resulted in the death penalty. God set up different reactions to different sins. So, why whould we react differently and say that all sin is the same? ALL sin will seperate us from God but not ALL sin is the same.