Congregation Shocked by Charges against Former Youth Pastor
By Betty Ann Adam
Free Methodist Church leaders were "in shock" and "deeply concerned" after learning a youth pastor, who recently worked in Saskatoon, is charged in Ontario with attempted aggravated sexual assault and luring a child by means of computer. Kris Allan Gowdy, 42, now of Newcastle, Ont., was arrested Thursday at a residence after allegedly making arrangements on a social media forum to meet a 15-year-old male for a sexual encounter. Investigators with the OPP Internet child exploitation unit had posed as a teen in an online sting. Durham Regional Police also reported Gowdy was diagnosed with HIV in 2009. "News of this arrest has come as a surprise and certainly an unpleasant shock to the leadership of Lakeview Church and we are deeply saddened by it," local president Jay Stark said Monday. Gowdy is an ordained minister with the Free Methodist Church in Canada, which issued a brief statement Monday from its Mississauga, Ont., headquarters. "On behalf of the Free Methodist Church in Canada, we are deeply concerned about the situation with Kris Gowdy and are in the process of learning more about it," spokesperson Lisa Howden wrote in an email. Marcia Goldstein, assistant to the bishop, said Monday the church will issue a statement today after Gowdy's bail hearing. Lakeview Church in Saskatoon called a special meeting with members Friday, where two Christian counsellors were present along with a representative of AIDS Saskatoon. "The feedback I received was that session was very helpful to those in attendance," Stark said. "Our primary concern is to make sure our families and youth are looked after and that's why we took immediate action to help equip parents to be able to talk about this with their kids and alleviate any concerns they have. "We have zero tolerance for any inappropriate sexual behaviour or history of inappropriate sexual (activity). There was no sign whatsoever that that was the case with Mr. Gowdy," Stark said. "So far there's been no indication whatsoever that there was any inappropriate behaviour at our church." Gowdy, who is single, was employed as a youth pastor with the church from May 2011 to July 22, 2012, and had passed a criminal record check, Stark said. Gowdy did not disclose his health status to his employer. He left "for other employment opportunities" and was not asked to leave, Stark said. The church intends to review its hiring procedures, he said. Lakeview Church has about 850 members. Becoming an ordained minister with the Free Methodist Church in Canada is a multi-year process with criminal record checks required at more than one level. Its rules, as laid out in its manual, include provisions for suspension or expulsion for ministers who "indulge in sinful attitudes, words or actions." Contact: badam@thestarphoenix.com
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.