An OPC Church of ... Criminals?

OPC Presbytery May Welcome Congregation of Registered Sex Offenders, Convicted Child Abusers, Murderers, and Ex-Cons

Apr 10, 2024

On May 3 - 4, 2024, the Presbytery of the Southwest will vote on a controversial issue setting dangerous precedents and causing ripple effects throughout the denomination. The Presbytery of the Southwest (PSW) is the southwestern USA’s governing branch of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). If you are a member of the OPC, as I am, or really any Reformed Presbyterian or NAPARC church, you owe it to yourself and your children to be informed about this situation.

The PSW is voting on allowing a church of convicted criminals to become an OPC congregation. More Than Redemption Church is pastored by a man who was convicted of child abuse. To be specific, the arrest record includes, “Beating or Injury of Children,” among other charges.

A recent article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram says, “In 1992, Fozard was charged with abuse of a minor for spanking his then fiancee’s children ‘in the wrong manner for the wrong reasons,’ and for writing bad checks. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and five years of probation to run consecutively.”

More Than Redemption (MTR) is a church comprised of men convicted of serious crimes including rape, sexual assault, child abuse, and murder. The pastor says his congregants have been “charged with everything from minor [drug] possession to murder and, yes, we accept even those who must register as sex offenders.”

The church began as a prison ministry called Hope Prison Ministries. They now aspire to become a full-fledged congregation with all the privileges and recognition of an OPC church.

Here’s why this is extremely dangerous and concerning:

Membership Transfers for Criminals, Including Child Predators:

As OPC members, More Than Redemption (MTR) congregants may be able to transfer their membership to other OPC churches throughout the denomination. Does the OPC have a standardized policy for handling sex offenders and child predators who want to attend worship or volunteer around children? Is it wise or even legal to allow them to do so? Are all OPC churches equipped and prepared to deal with the risks, liabilities, and potential legal issues involved? Do they have policies in place for handling criminals out on bail, parole, or probation? Are all OPC elders, teachers, and child care volunteers educated and prepared to abide by their respective state laws? Do they know when and how to report known or suspected crimes to local law enforcement?

Giving Power and Influence to Criminals:

As an OPC church, MTR will be able to vote in the presbytery. Can we reasonably expect them to use this privilege wisely? For example, if the presbytery is voting on a new child protection policy, or abuse victim ministry, will MTR use their votes to hold abusers accountable, protect kids, and give justice to victims, or will they (whether intentionally or subconsciously) be biased toward or enable abusers?

MTR members will also have the power to press charges and file complaints in the presbytery. According to PCA church documents (which Hope Prison Ministries has posted publicly on their website), Fozard and his group previously attended Fort Worth Presbyterian Church together. In order to accommodate them, the elders established a “Special-Case Felons Policy” for men convicted of “violent crime, murder, or sexual crime.” The policy required them to sit in a separate section and be chaperoned around the building. As the group grew, the church instituted a limit on the number of sex offenders who could attend at once. In response, Fozard and five members of his group filed a complaint with the PCA presbytery.

The complaint states, “By requiring special case felons to enter and exit, to be escorted at all times and to sit in specific locations, the special case felon policy … fails to recognize the saving grace and mercies of God.” The complaint further states that, “By setting a limit on the number of sexual offenders that may worship at Fort Worth Presbyterian Church, the session is setting itself in opposition to the Great Commission, and clearly hindering … those who would come.”

In a statement to the presbytery, one ex-convict complained, “we have to sit with a chaperone … we are very restricted on what activities we can participate in. I volunteered to … join the Hearts and Hammers ministry but I was never invited to participate.”

According to the church website, Hearts & Hammers is a ministry focused on meeting the physical needs of “widows, single parents, and shut-ins.” In other words, the church’s most vulnerable members including children.

Prior to writing this article, I spoke with numerous OPC and PCA pastors and elders, including PSW presbyters. Some are in favor of welcoming MTR into the OPC. When I challenged the wisdom of this move, one pastor replied that his goal is saving souls.

“As prisoners are released on parole,” he said, “my desire is that they would never hurt anyone again. A new heart in Christ is the only way that can happen.”

But what about the souls of our children? What about the many survivors in the PSW who will no longer view their church as a sanctuary? What about victims who have fled the church after abuse was mishandled, covered up, or perpetrated by a church leader? What about the victims of these offenders? Do their souls not matter? Why can’t this group remain an independent mission work? Why are we being pressured into imagining that ministering to them entails giving them leverage in the OPC and access to potential victims?

Giving Criminals the OPC’s Endorsement:

Studies show that sex offenders have a 30% recidivism rate in the first 10 years after release, which jumps to 52% by 25 years. This is not a secret. Anyone can Google it. In fact, the Hope Prison Ministries website states that for ex-convicts, “On a national basis, recidivism estimates range from 60% and higher. This means that 6 out of 10 of those released from prison will return to prison within 3 years.” So, presumably PSW leaders are aware of this. By welcoming convicted criminals into the OPC to be “members in good standing” and even pastors and elders, the PSW will be endorsing extremely high-risk individuals, assigning them credibility and integrity not only in the denomination but in their respective communities. Credibility and integrity which they have not earned.

This Might Not Even Be Legal:

Sex offenders, parolees, and criminals out on probation or bail have strict laws and regulations governing their behavior. Some are not allowed near schools or churches. Some aren’t allowed near children whatsoever. Nevertheless, MTR is open to the public. In the article cited previously, Fozard states that MTR “services are open to the public but we haven’t been exactly campaigning the public given the unique nature of our congregation.”

Isn’t it just a matter of time before a family with little kids walks through the doors? Don’t at least some of these men have girlfriends, wives, and children? What happens when children attend MTR? Is that legal? Does the PSW have a policy in place and the infrastructure to monitor each member’s probationary restrictions and ensure compliance? Are they going to protect children from convicted abusers, or are they planning to violate probations, break the law, and endanger kids?

Given the recidivism rates among sex offenders, and the number of sex offenders attending this one church, there is an extreme danger of multiple members reoffending. If that happens, the PSW and OPC will almost certainly be dragged into any resultant investigations and lawsuits, especially if victims were targeted in or through the church.

When families and single women see “More Than Redemption Orthodox Presbyterian Church” on the sign out front, will they unwittingly walk inside unaware of the church’s “unique nature?” Do we really want gullible or unsuspecting people to think, “These guys are Reformed Presbyterians, so they must be safe,” and trust them with their children, finances, or property? Is the OPC prepared to take responsibility if one or more of these men reoffend? Especially in the case of elders and deacons, how will the OPC respond if a man they’ve declared “above reproach” reoffends?

I am told that the PSW is considering making some of these men elders and deacons. How can they declare a man convicted of violent or sexual crimes to be “above reproach … sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable … not violent but gentle … He must not be a recent convert … Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders,” as 1 Timothy 3:2-7 demands?

This isn’t murky theological territory. We shouldn’t even need state or federal laws to tell us that this is a bad idea. Scripture is abundantly clear.

When I was a kid, my family faithfully attended OPC and PCA churches every Sunday. My abusive dad was friends with numerous abusers at church. I played and spent the night at their homes with their daughters. Their daughters played and spent the night with me. Several of these men were eventually convicted of sexually abusing children. I don’t know exactly how my dad connected with these men, but I know it was through church. If that happened in OPC and PCA churches catering to law-abiding Christians, how much greater the danger in a church catering to ex-cons?

I am a proponent of prison ministries. I think that criminals, including abusers, should be encouraged to repent and worship God. However, I am extremely concerned about the networking opportunities MTR could afford malevolent or impressionable men. I’m not saying it will be this way, but I can see this becoming very dangerous very quickly.

We sometimes read about pedophile networks and human trafficking rings. This is not fiction. It’s a very real and documented problem that can happen in churches. What are the odds, statistically speaking, that a novel concept like MTR could be infiltrated by predators and used for networking or to facilitate organized crime? If my father could use OPC or PCA churches to meet other abusers, why couldn’t MTR be used in the same way and to exponentially greater effect? What is the PSW planning to do to prevent this? How will they know if and when it happens? What is Fozard doing to prevent this? Again, I am not saying this will happen, but the level of risk here is completely uncharted.

I reached out to an attorney who has counseled the PSW in child protection and abuse prevention, only to learn that they recently terminated her services. Has the PSW conferred with a different lawyer? What about liability insurance? Is their provider aware of this situation?

I agree that sex offenders, including child predators, should be able to attend corporate worship in some form, but never around kids. God knows they need Jesus, but they do not need temptation or access to potential victims. A group of experienced and wise adults may be able to safely worship with one or several offenders, but exposing minors to criminals with documented predilections is reckless at best. Not to mention, you are doing no service to these men if every Sunday and Wednesday night you’re inundating them with temptations and triggers.

Even when offenders are chaperoned around church property, in a typical church setting, they are being exposed to kids and visa-versa. Such practices may make it more difficult for them to reoffend while at church, but what about after they leave? What about when the kids go home? There have been real situations where child predators used churches like take-out menus. It’s easy to overhear or figure out a child’s name, where they go to school, what their hobbies are, and slowly gain that child’s trust even if only through eye-contact and smiles. Later, when the child is riding their bike or walking home from school, they see “that man from church,” and stop to talk to him. Because what child isn’t going to trust the friendly man from church who knows their parents and elders? Where is your chaperone then? Who is protecting God’s children?

Here is the information for the upcoming presbytery meeting at which the PSW will vote on this issue. It’s open to the public and I strongly encourage OPC members to attend. Hold your leaders accountable. Let them know your thoughts.

Presbytery of the Southwest Spring 2024 Stated Meeting

May 3, 12:00 PM - May 4, 12:00 PM
Christ Presbyterian (OPC)
3410 Peters Colony Road
Flower Mound, TX 75022
More info: www.opcsouthwest.org

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Jennifer Michelle Greenberg

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