MAINE
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Written by Dick Broom Friday, August 30, 2013
MOUNT DESERT — William “Mac” Bigelow, the long-time pastor of the United Church of Christ (UCC) of Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor who in 2010 was suspended from the ministry for three years, has now been terminated.
“The termination of ministerial standing means that Rev. Bigelow no longer has the credentials necessary to serve in any ministerial position at any church that is affiliated with the United Church of Christ,” wrote Reverend Tim Hall, chairman pro tem of the Church and Ministry Committee of the Waldo-Hancock Association of the UCC in a July 29 letter to church members.
Bigelow said Wednesday that people are not getting the full story.
Bigelow was suspended in July 2010 after a church review panel found that he had sexually abused a teenage boy over an extended period about three decades ago and had continued to harass the victim. Following an investigation, the Church and Ministry Committee determined at the time that Bigelow “did sexually abuse a minor while serving…as an ordained minister.”
Bigelow did not deny that charge.
The committee further concluded that Bigelow “actively sought continued sexual contact with the original victim and other forms of unwanted contact with the victim and the victim’s family over the ensuing years.”
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