A recent story in The Herald, “Bellingham ex-youth pastor sentenced for sex abuse of girl” is a typical case of negligence regarding a church’s responsibility to protect its flock. Several indicators are revealed throughout this piece.
Most notable is the senior pastor, Josh Carter’s reluctance to contact the police after having knowledge of his youth pastor’s inappropriate behavior with a teenage girl. Approaching the offender, Christopher Trent, and the victim, Mr. Carter was quick to believe their claim that no sexual contact had been made. Believing there was some physical contact, Mr. Carter fired Trent. However, he did not call the authorities. Mr. Carter was negligent in this area.
The article mentions that several members of the Bellingham church leadership noticed an inappropriate relationship between Trent and his victim. This was an opportunity for the leaders to act swiftly and justly. But they failed. The police were not contacted by the church leadership but by a concerned congregant. That is when the full truth was made known.
The church is responsible to protect their flock by exposing offenders, holding them accountable, and preventing them from causing further harm. Not mentioned in this article is that the music minister was also charged with a sex offense within months of this case. Two sex offenders within one congregation reveals an unsafe church where its leaders were negligent. It’s time the church works to create a safe environment and protects the flock they were called to serve.
Mary Jo Noworyta
victim support coordinator, The Hope of Survivors
West Seneca, New York
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
