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News & ArtsFriday, April 17, 2009
Religion Youth Pastor Watch
Posted by Dan Savage on Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 12:23 PM
A former Surprise charter school teacher faces up to 24 years in prison for possession of child pornography and molestation of two former students, charges stemming from separate investigations led by Surprise police, the FBI and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Victor Scott McPeak Jr. pleaded guilty Friday to two charges of aggravated assault, or "improperly touching," of two girls while working as a fifth-grade teacher at Arizona Charter Academy. McPeak, 38, also pleaded guilty to three charges related to child pornography, which stem from a Sheriff's Office probe.... The son of a minister and once a minister himself, McPeak had a religious upbringing and education.
A church elder in Gering, Neb., where McPeak was once a youth minister, said he was "quiet" but "very sure of himself."
A former [youth minister] from Kanawha County convicted of sexually abusing a teenager will spend 10-20 years in prison. Timothy Edmonds was arrested back in 2006 for assaulting a 16-year-old girl. He was found guilty of those charges back in January.... Thursday morning Judge Irene Berger told Edmonds his lack of remorse, failure to accept responsibility, and his attempts to manipulate the justice system helped her to make the decision to give him prison time.
The Diaconate Board at the Coldwater First Baptist Church (FBC) has asked for and received the resignation of Dave Anderson, who had served as the church youth pastor for 13 years. Anderson, involved with the church’s Power of Love youth performance group and founder of the FBC Friday Night Live drop-in center for middle and high school students, indicated he understood the reasons for it and respected the decision, characterizing it as an internal matter.Rev. Dave Pierce said, “It’s an internal, personal issue. I cannot comment.”
3
@2 More and more churches are requiring any volunteer or staff member who wants to work with children to undergo a criminal background check. That's not foolproof, of course, but it's a start. Other than that, I think that church members and clergy need to ditch the "It'll never happen here" attitude and start taking this threat more seriously.
4
I don't think Dan can really stop this from happening. Publicizing it can make people less complacent/blindly trusting, though.
Does the Sunday school teacher not count because she's not technically a youth pastor? http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world…
Does the Sunday school teacher not count because she's not technically a youth pastor? http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world…
5
An "internal issue", you say? Hmm, where have I heard that before? Are you SURE? Because I'm sure getting an innappropriate-sexual-conduct-around-children vibe, and that's never an internal issue. It's a law enforcement issue.
8
Surprise, AZ would be a fun place to write headlines.
Surprise: Priests are molesting kids
Surprise: Religion does not equal morality
Surprise: Presidential candidate McCain says world is safer with Hussein gone, loses election to guy who's middle name is Hussein.
Surprise: Priests are molesting kids
Surprise: Religion does not equal morality
Surprise: Presidential candidate McCain says world is safer with Hussein gone, loses election to guy who's middle name is Hussein.
9
Ewwww. "Surprise charter school"? As in, "Surprise! I'm a child pornographer! Ta-da!!"
(Also gross: "Power of Love youth performance group.")
(Also gross: "Power of Love youth performance group.")
10
Yeah, Fnarf, that was my reaction as well. The Catholic Church thought it was an "internal issue" too, and look how well that turned out.
11
@5 - an internal matter could be anything. It could be that he had an affair with a parishoner, it could be he did something inappropriate with children, the church might have decided to go in a different direction with their youth ministry, or it could be a political matter.
An affair could be embarrassing, so they wouldn't want to say anything about it. The inappropriate behavior with children (molestation is only one option - improper supervision is also a possibility), would agigtate parentes, and they wouldn't want to do that, as the parents are the ones giving the money. And it could be that there is a faction in the church that didn't like the guy or had someone else in mind that they wanted in the position, so the pastor caved and fired him.
The latter happened to me back when I worked for a church. A major donor's son decided he wanted to be the youth director. As he was a native son of the parish and I was just an Yankee interloper, I was unceremoniously dumped - though they did give me a nice severence.
Churches, as much as some people want to put them on a pedestal, are just like the rest of the world, and fairness and justice are frequently put to the side in favor of politics.
Oh, but I want to be clear that I'm not saying that not admitting the issue for any of those problems, especially harming children in any way, is justified. It isn't, and parishioners in these churches have to start holding leadership accountable for their actions. I'm saying that as a faithful church member.
An affair could be embarrassing, so they wouldn't want to say anything about it. The inappropriate behavior with children (molestation is only one option - improper supervision is also a possibility), would agigtate parentes, and they wouldn't want to do that, as the parents are the ones giving the money. And it could be that there is a faction in the church that didn't like the guy or had someone else in mind that they wanted in the position, so the pastor caved and fired him.
The latter happened to me back when I worked for a church. A major donor's son decided he wanted to be the youth director. As he was a native son of the parish and I was just an Yankee interloper, I was unceremoniously dumped - though they did give me a nice severence.
Churches, as much as some people want to put them on a pedestal, are just like the rest of the world, and fairness and justice are frequently put to the side in favor of politics.
Oh, but I want to be clear that I'm not saying that not admitting the issue for any of those problems, especially harming children in any way, is justified. It isn't, and parishioners in these churches have to start holding leadership accountable for their actions. I'm saying that as a faithful church member.
13
A former Surprise charter school teacher and a former [youth minister], how are these two supposed to be under your 'Youth Pastor Watch'? Seem to me you have fallen pretty low when all you can come up with is people who are indirectly related and worst formerly indirectly related to a church Mr Savage, it's beyond pathetic.
15
Hey, LovesMentallyDeficientChild, read the article- notice how it says the man was a minister? Yeah, sorry, that's not indirectly related. You are an amazing joke.
17
Religious fanatics are truely perverts and make me want to puke! Can't we create some kind of ban against these people being around our children.
18
Yeah right. A ban on religious people being around children would not pass constitutional muster. It is up to every responsible parent to be aware of the real threat to kids posed by religious leaders.
19
This talk is disgusting and unfair. Not all religious people are child rapists. It's only the religious leaders that seem to be.
21
Go to hell. Screw this anti-religion dribble. The flock does not follow the Sheppard and not all religious people follow in the footsteps of their priest. You imply that ALL religious people are evil based merely on the actions of the youth leaders.
22
The Arizona man was a SCHOOL TEACHER.
Why is he in the youth pastor watch? because his father was a minister? Because he once was (but no longer is) a minister?
If a pervert happens to have walked by a church at some point in his life does he make the youth pastor watch?
Dan assured us that schools background check their employees. Why didn't that work?
When does the SCHOOL TEACHER WATCH begin?
Why is he in the youth pastor watch? because his father was a minister? Because he once was (but no longer is) a minister?
If a pervert happens to have walked by a church at some point in his life does he make the youth pastor watch?
Dan assured us that schools background check their employees. Why didn't that work?
When does the SCHOOL TEACHER WATCH begin?
23
@ 21 I agree 100%! Try and find some similar stories about religious people that are NOT youth pastors. I bet you can't Dan!
24
The Michigan story (Dan, did you know there was a story? Did you read it? Or did you just see "youth pastor" in the headline, start drooling and get a hard-on?) stated that there were no moral issues involved and discussed other ministries the man will continue working with. So every time a youth pastor moves on to another job does it show up in the 'Watch"? Are we getting desperate to find stories Dan?
Three stories:
one a school teacher,
one just changing jobs.
Youth Pastor Watch FAIL.
Three stories:
one a school teacher,
one just changing jobs.
Youth Pastor Watch FAIL.
25
Sheesh, is this all hitting too close to home, Xtian trolls who daren't use their regular handles?
26
In an earlier edition of the ‘Watch’ Rob in Baltimore linked an excellent article that gives the best information yet on Slog about the prevalence of clergy abuse of children.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0405/p01s0…
It says:
"Volunteers are more likely than clergy or paid staff to be abusers. Perhaps more startling, children at churches are accused of sexual abuse as often as are clergy and staff. In 1999, for example, 42 percent of alleged child abusers were volunteers – about 25 percent were paid staff members (including clergy) and 25 percent were other children."
So when will Dan start a "Child Watch"? They are guilty of as many abuses as clergy.
The article suggests things are getting better:
"Still, it is the reduction of reported allegations over nine years that seems to indicate that some churches are learning how to slow abuse allegations with tough new prevention measures, say insurance company officials and church officials themselves.
Churches were able to get the rate down to just 0.1 percent.
0.1% is one church out of a thousand.
And only 25% of those incidents in churches involve clergy or paid staff, the other three fourths involving other members.
Which means that only one out of Four Thousand churches have an incident involving a clergy or paid staff member in a year.
Even one occurrence of child molestation or abuse occurring anywhere is unacceptable but this article places the scope of the problem in clear view.
Everyone who reads slog should check out the article.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0405/p01s0…
It says:
"Volunteers are more likely than clergy or paid staff to be abusers. Perhaps more startling, children at churches are accused of sexual abuse as often as are clergy and staff. In 1999, for example, 42 percent of alleged child abusers were volunteers – about 25 percent were paid staff members (including clergy) and 25 percent were other children."
So when will Dan start a "Child Watch"? They are guilty of as many abuses as clergy.
The article suggests things are getting better:
"Still, it is the reduction of reported allegations over nine years that seems to indicate that some churches are learning how to slow abuse allegations with tough new prevention measures, say insurance company officials and church officials themselves.
Churches were able to get the rate down to just 0.1 percent.
0.1% is one church out of a thousand.
And only 25% of those incidents in churches involve clergy or paid staff, the other three fourths involving other members.
Which means that only one out of Four Thousand churches have an incident involving a clergy or paid staff member in a year.
Even one occurrence of child molestation or abuse occurring anywhere is unacceptable but this article places the scope of the problem in clear view.
Everyone who reads slog should check out the article.
27
That guy in the first pic would be awfully hot in a prison-porn movie. The second guy too, for that matter.
I guess they will be, except for the movie part...
I guess they will be, except for the movie part...
28
Hmm, a male teacher having inappropriate relations with a student? Actually, in Arizona that is kind of unusual. Most of the teachers busted for "bad touching" are female. For a while there it seemed like there was an arrest every week.
29
“It’s an internal, personal issue. I cannot comment.”
Maybe the guy stole some wine.
And his employer,
for whatever reason,
doesn't want to address it publicly.
Maybe the guy stole some wine.
And his employer,
for whatever reason,
doesn't want to address it publicly.
30
@5
Well Steve.
Isn't that special!
Getting our innappropriate-sexual-conduct-around-children vibe again, are we?
That warm tingly vibe we always get in our special parts when we read the 'Youth Pastor Watch'?
And how nice to share our vibe with 5280 @10!
Isn't that special!
Who do we credit for giving us our naughty dirty secret vibe?
Could it be..... Satan?
Hell no-
it's Savage;
all the way.
Thank You, Dan!
(just don't forget to check in with your parole officer and court appointed counselor, Steve, be sure to tell them about your 'vibe'...)
Well Steve.
Isn't that special!
Getting our innappropriate-sexual-conduct-around-children vibe again, are we?
That warm tingly vibe we always get in our special parts when we read the 'Youth Pastor Watch'?
And how nice to share our vibe with 5280 @10!
Isn't that special!
Who do we credit for giving us our naughty dirty secret vibe?
Could it be..... Satan?
Hell no-
it's Savage;
all the way.
Thank You, Dan!
(just don't forget to check in with your parole officer and court appointed counselor, Steve, be sure to tell them about your 'vibe'...)
32
In response to the Michigan youth Pastor "Dave Anderson", who had departed the Church. It is possible, you know, to research these things and find the truth in them. It appears that, "Dan" the leader of the Watch Pack, googled the words "Youth Pastor Departs", and perverts anything he finds. In this case there are facts available about this instance in the local Newspaper "The Coldwater Daily Reporter", that can redeem this injustice. Please follow the following links if the "Truth" is important. And be sure after doing your own research you talk to "Dan" about getting the information straight in whether a predator watch needs to be put out in such an instance.
http://www.thedailyreporter.com/news/x10…
http://www.thedailyreporter.com/archive/…
Isn't it interesting where "Dan" has tried to corrupt another youth pastor, and yet over 400 people came to see him off on his last days with tears. hmm. This is the lemon that God continues to turn into lemonade. Dan you have taken a God loving Youth Leader who had spent his life working, praying and loving in a God fearing and honorable way, and tried to pervert it in manner that brings dis-honor only to you. But "Dan", the truth will set you free. I have known, along with the thousands of other parents in the Coldwater Michigan area, Dave Anderson for decades. Dave Anderson has been in that church for over 13 years while a Pastor in this paticular church hasn't been able to stand the test of time. This paticular youth pastor has been the foundation of the church through 6 pastors. He has stood the test of time. So maybe next time you google for some prey, you should probobly read the story.
http://www.thedailyreporter.com/news/x10…
http://www.thedailyreporter.com/archive/…
Isn't it interesting where "Dan" has tried to corrupt another youth pastor, and yet over 400 people came to see him off on his last days with tears. hmm. This is the lemon that God continues to turn into lemonade. Dan you have taken a God loving Youth Leader who had spent his life working, praying and loving in a God fearing and honorable way, and tried to pervert it in manner that brings dis-honor only to you. But "Dan", the truth will set you free. I have known, along with the thousands of other parents in the Coldwater Michigan area, Dave Anderson for decades. Dave Anderson has been in that church for over 13 years while a Pastor in this paticular church hasn't been able to stand the test of time. This paticular youth pastor has been the foundation of the church through 6 pastors. He has stood the test of time. So maybe next time you google for some prey, you should probobly read the story.
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