There is forgiveness. There are also consequences - and placing congregants in harm's way should not be one of them. This is not a discussion about the average crime. Keith's advice is applaudable, but have you considered the number of people's involvement it would take to accomplish this type of surveillance and accountability? Things must be thoroughly thought through before swinging the doors open. In any circumstances, the flock must be protected - over and above any out-of-context misinterpretations of the 99 and 1.
Thank you, Keith, for this insightful and blueprint to construct measures for our church. We are told to love our neighbors. God bless you and your family.
We've been through this twice. The first one stopped attending and dropped out of the program. He decided he want to get married, ended up back in prison with a second sex offence with a minor. One of our deacons worked with a second sex offender. He was able to find two employees who were willing to hire him (washing dishes and other menial jobs away from the public). He worked so much that he didn't have time to do anything else.
We signed agreements with the felon and his parole officer that basically states any violation of the agreement was to be reported to his parole officer (or the sheriff's office in his absence). The consequence is immediate return to prison.
While informative and the intent of the article is focused on the most severe sexual offenses, I'm left with at least a couple of questions: 1) How do you find out a sexual offender is in your congregation in the first place? He/She probably isn't going to just volunteer the information. Do we conduct background checks for every person who wishes to become a member? 2) I worked in the Felony Division of the court system for nearly 25 years. I have seen more than several cases where some poor dude had to register as a sex offender because, at 19 or 20 years old, he had sex with his girlfriend who told him she was 18 when she was really 16. The article doesn't address cases like that. I would like to see one that does.
This is a really tough issue. As for your first question, I agree its not practical to background check everyone who comes through the door. We mitigate that gap with a strong child protection policy. While there is an administrative component to the policy, we also employ physical procedures by locking up all rooms that are not currently in use and have a roving patrol walk past rooms in use (think during Sunday School).
Most states have a sex offender registry that is open to the public. It may be referred to as a Megan's Law directory in some places. While I understand your sentiment about over charging and abuse by some prosecutors, it is not up to us to look at each individual case. A conviction is a conviction and, as you must know working in the courts, a majority of sex offenders deserve to be on that list and have very high recidivism rate.
I hold to the unpopular opinion that upon successful completion of their sentence a convicted felon must be fully restored. Continuing to punish people for past sins and violations only adds to recidivism. (Usually. There are those in every group that have made crime a lifestyle and will never change. I'm not that unwise.)
Having said that, sex offenders are the least repentant group I've encountered and they must be closely supervised. Especially where children entrusted to our care are concerned.
There is a difference between punishment and consequences. Punishment is prison and parole. Keeping even the most redeemed former criminal away from the area of temptation is a consequence. A convicted sex offender can never work with youth, just like a fully repentant former thief or embezzler can never work on the finance team. Those are consequences. Individuals can serve in other areas if the church deems it safe and appropriate, but there are limits. Additionally, it is impossible for us humans to truly understand the heart of anyone else. We cannot know for sure that they are walking the narrow path and won’t ever give into the temptations that snared them before.
There is forgiveness. There are also consequences - and placing congregants in harm's way should not be one of them. This is not a discussion about the average crime. Keith's advice is applaudable, but have you considered the number of people's involvement it would take to accomplish this type of surveillance and accountability? Things must be thoroughly thought through before swinging the doors open. In any circumstances, the flock must be protected - over and above any out-of-context misinterpretations of the 99 and 1.
Thank you, Keith, for this insightful and blueprint to construct measures for our church. We are told to love our neighbors. God bless you and your family.
Thanks for the information. I will approach my senior pastor with this information and see if we can develop a policy on sex offenders.
We've been through this twice. The first one stopped attending and dropped out of the program. He decided he want to get married, ended up back in prison with a second sex offence with a minor. One of our deacons worked with a second sex offender. He was able to find two employees who were willing to hire him (washing dishes and other menial jobs away from the public). He worked so much that he didn't have time to do anything else.
We signed agreements with the felon and his parole officer that basically states any violation of the agreement was to be reported to his parole officer (or the sheriff's office in his absence). The consequence is immediate return to prison.
While informative and the intent of the article is focused on the most severe sexual offenses, I'm left with at least a couple of questions: 1) How do you find out a sexual offender is in your congregation in the first place? He/She probably isn't going to just volunteer the information. Do we conduct background checks for every person who wishes to become a member? 2) I worked in the Felony Division of the court system for nearly 25 years. I have seen more than several cases where some poor dude had to register as a sex offender because, at 19 or 20 years old, he had sex with his girlfriend who told him she was 18 when she was really 16. The article doesn't address cases like that. I would like to see one that does.
This is a really tough issue. As for your first question, I agree its not practical to background check everyone who comes through the door. We mitigate that gap with a strong child protection policy. While there is an administrative component to the policy, we also employ physical procedures by locking up all rooms that are not currently in use and have a roving patrol walk past rooms in use (think during Sunday School).
Most states have a sex offender registry that is open to the public. It may be referred to as a Megan's Law directory in some places. While I understand your sentiment about over charging and abuse by some prosecutors, it is not up to us to look at each individual case. A conviction is a conviction and, as you must know working in the courts, a majority of sex offenders deserve to be on that list and have very high recidivism rate.
This is a lot to think about. And pray about.
I hold to the unpopular opinion that upon successful completion of their sentence a convicted felon must be fully restored. Continuing to punish people for past sins and violations only adds to recidivism. (Usually. There are those in every group that have made crime a lifestyle and will never change. I'm not that unwise.)
Having said that, sex offenders are the least repentant group I've encountered and they must be closely supervised. Especially where children entrusted to our care are concerned.
Good article, thank you.
There is a difference between punishment and consequences. Punishment is prison and parole. Keeping even the most redeemed former criminal away from the area of temptation is a consequence. A convicted sex offender can never work with youth, just like a fully repentant former thief or embezzler can never work on the finance team. Those are consequences. Individuals can serve in other areas if the church deems it safe and appropriate, but there are limits. Additionally, it is impossible for us humans to truly understand the heart of anyone else. We cannot know for sure that they are walking the narrow path and won’t ever give into the temptations that snared them before.
Wise advice! Thank you!