CANADA
The StarPhoenix
By Betty Ann Adam, The StarPhoenix August 15, 2012
The Free Methodist Church in Canada never received any complaints about its ordained minister, Kris Gowdy, prior to his being charged Thursday in Ontario with Internet luring and attempted aggravated sexual assault, Bishop Keith Elford said in a statement Tuesday.
Gowdy, 42, worked at Saskatoon’s Lakeview Church for 14 months until leaving for another job in July. He was visiting Newcastle, Ont., when he was arrested 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.
“The Free Methodist Church in Canada and its member congregations have zero tolerance for any activity related to sexual abuse. Any complaints of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of minors are to be reported to the police immediately,” Elford said in the statement.
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