Would you allow a man like this in your pulpit?

HeavenlyOne · #1 08-20-2007, 03:20 PM

Would you attend church where he pastors?

Would you allow him to preach for you?

Here's the story...

Local pastor was known sex offender
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ROMEOVILLE

August 20, 2007
By Susan Hogan/Albach sun-times news group

A Romeoville Southern Baptist congregation allowed a convicted child sex offender to preach for the last few years -- despite his past, and a warning from his previous church that he might still be dangerous, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

In 1996, Jeff Hannah was sentenced to nine years in prison for having sexual relations with four underage girls -- ages 15 to 17 -- while a married youth minister at Crossroads Church in Libertyville.

Hannah was paroled in 2001 and joined the First Baptist Church of Romeoville, where his new wife was a member. Soon after, the pastor moved on, and church members -- aware of Hannah's crimes -- asked him to step into the pulpit until a replacement was hired, according to church members, Hannah and others.

Hannah served in that role for three years and ever since has been a fill-in preacher, teacher and music minister at the church.

'We believe in forgiveness'

Authorities say there's no evidence that Hannah has re-offended -- and Hannah insists he has not -- but he abruptly resigned his membership in the congregation when a reporter started inquiring about him last week.

"In our church, we believe in forgiveness," said Del Kirkpatrick, one of the deacons who hired Hannah.

In talking to the Sun-Times last week, Hannah, 42, was unapologetic about his crimes, saying his first marriage had been troubled and he'd had "urges."

"I honestly believe that had I been a college pastor, I'd slept with college girls," he said. "But I was a youth pastor. It was less about age and more about who I spent all my time with."

The Rev. Steve Farish, pastor of Crossroads Church, which has relocated to Grayslake, said he considered Hannah so dangerous that he warned the Romeoville church and a regional Southern Baptist official.

'The husband of one wife'

"We thought he could still potentially be a danger to women and children," Farish said. "He was never repentant and never told the truth."

Randie Bruno, the prosecutor in Hannah's case said, "He has the charisma to fool everybody."

But Hannah led the Romeoville church until February 2006, when the Rev. Charles Hamby, a 54-year-old divorced pastor with financial troubles, was hired. When Hamby remarried a few months later, several church members left, including Kirkpatrick.

"A pastor should be the husband of one wife," Kirkpatrick said.

Hamby, who also knew of Hannah's past, allowed him to continue as a preacher and gave him even greater leadership roles. "The man . . . paid his debt to society," Hamby said. Some in the congregation were upset by Hannah's role, but Hamby's remarriage was a bigger controversy, according to church officials. The feud bubbled over last week, when Hamby and Hannah abruptly resigned.

"I just want to live my life," Hannah said.

Activist outraged

The future of the congregation remains uncertain. Sunday worship was canceled.

With more than 16 million members, the Southern Baptist Convention is the nation's largest Protestant denomination. Each congregation is autonomous. Under pressure from victims' groups, the SBC in June pledged to examine the possibility of creating a national database of clergy predators.

Christa Brown, founder of StopBaptistPredators.org, was outraged that Hannah went from prison to the pulpit.

"When Southern Baptists put perpetrators into positions of spiritual trust again, it sends the message that this denomination doesn't care about victims," Brown said.

Malvaro · #2 08-20-2007, 04:03 PM

Definately not!

Next question....

Elizabeth · #3 08-20-2007, 04:12 PM

I probably have to agree with Mal here, he was 32 during the crime, he's got problems.

Malvaro · #4 08-20-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanie

I probably have to agree with Mal here, he was 32 during the crime, he's got problems.

2 more brownie points.... thats 4 points left to go....

TK Burk · #5 08-20-2007, 04:30 PM

Nope! Not on my worst day!

BrotherEastman · #6 08-20-2007, 05:03 PM

This is easy: NO!

DividedThigh · #7 08-20-2007, 05:11 PM

well malv here are two more, i agree with you, that guy isnt even sorry, he is a problem, repentant not, is he, to bad, talent doesnt make you a great preacher or a leader it is your heart for god, dt

HeavenlyOne · #8 08-20-2007, 05:18 PM

I can't believe that nobody has defended this guy and said he deserved to be restored into the ministry.

Where is ******** at?

Pragmatist · #9 08-20-2007, 05:45 PM

I wouldn't have a problem with him preaching if he had repented and been restored with accountability in place, but don't think he should be pastoring.

pelathais · #10 08-20-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pragmatist

I wouldn't have a problem with him preaching if he had repented and been restored with accountability in place, but don't think he should be pastoring.

I agree- for him to be used at all; or even welcomed; I would hope that he had repented. The story seems to indicate that he "was never repentant..."

What seems odd to me is that there appears to have been people who were happy to sit under the convicted child molester, but when the new preacher came along and got remarried they left. It's really funny the way some traditions and convictions will trump other, more basic issues.