Fozard Responds: An OPC Church of Criminals?

Bizarre email claims some sex offenders are innocent lovebirds trapped by girl's dads in sting operations.

Since publishing my article, An OPC Church … of Criminals? I’ve received some interesting responses. There was the guy who called me “Satan himself” and the gal who accused me of being a “criminal.” There were also quite a few private messages. However, none were quite so interesting as the email below purportedly from Barbara Fozard herself, the wife of ex-con Pastor Chandler Fozard of More Than Redemption Church. I say “purportedly” because technically, anyone can fill out the contact form on my website and use whatever name they want, but the IP address does track back to Fort Worth, Texas, where the Fozards and More Than Redemption are based.

Here’s the email:

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Dear Ms. Greenberg,

I am responding to your article entitled "An OPC Church of . . . Criminals?" I am Mrs. Barbara Fozard. I am married to Mr. Chandler Fozard for 23 years now. I was raised in a Christian home in middle class suburbia. You can do your research and look me up. I have NO criminal background, I've never gone to jail, I've never been in prison, and I've never been arrested. I have 2 children, 2 grandchildren, and a dog. I had 3 children, -- my oldest daughter died in a car accident at 16 years of age.

I really wish that you would come visit our little church sometime. We meet in a small venue. I'm sure that since you have "3 young children" you probably will not, but if you are ever in the area and the grandparents are watching your children, I certainly wish that you would pop in. You are correct -- in that many of the guys parole/probation officers will not let them around children.

Since I had NO experience with crimes, criminals, etc. -- I not only once separated them all as "US" and "THEM;" I not only thought they were all drug maniacs; but I also thought that all sexual offenders were hiding behind every street pole waiting for a child to walk by to "nab them!" Boy, have I been educated!

First of all, there are as many different "types" of sexual offenders as there are "types" of men/women that people date to become married to. Some sexual offenders are attracted to older ladies, some are attracted to older men, some are attracted to young men, some are 19 years old, dated a girl who said that she was 18 -- only she was really 16 -- and either her "dad" found out, it was a "sting setup," she became pregnant, etc., etc. Some were drug induced, don't remember what they were doing, and then ended up going to prison AND having to register as a sexual offender for the rest of their life. Our men are REDEEMED men. We have had ZERO sexual offenders go back to prison in our 15 years of doing prison ministry that have come into our program. The drug addicts and alcoholics are the ones who end up going back -- numerous times. I am thankful that my husband used to preach reformed theology in the prisons for these men to hear for the 1st time EVER. Then he told me that I can't preach the gospel and then say to them: "Be well fed, warm, and have a nice life." I need to have a place for them to continue to be nurtured by the Lord when they get out. I'm sorry that you were abused as a child. I have not had that experience, so I cannot speak to it first hand, but I'm certain that it was traumatic. I had a cousin that was sexually abused by her father for 6 years of her life.

The PCA church that we filed a complaint about, we had attended for 12 years. I feel leaving there -- under the conditions we did -- was as traumatic for me as ...... other traumatic experiences people have. My entire family was extremely active there. I led small groups at retreats, I had made many friends, I loved my pastor and his wife. My son played drums in the music team, my husband taught a Sunday School class once. My husband WROTE that Special-Case Felons Policy instituted. We brought numerous new men/members to this church. When one of our first men we ever brought, who became a communing member (after a year), asked when he had to no longer have a chaperone, that's when we found out the answer was "NEVER." They would have to wear the "red letter scarlet on their chest" forever! And how does a church EVER close its doors saying that there are just too many of this "kind" coming in? But when we began looking for another church to attend, (with our men) they looked at us as "rebellious." Who knew that it would be almost impossible to find GOOD TEACHING AND a church who would accept these men? You are NOT alone in your thoughts of these men. My husband is a committed Presbyterian, devoted to their church government, and never wanted to be "an island" unto himself. It continues to look like this is what society wants: All of these men on an isolated island -- all to themselves. Never seeing what a TRUE family looks like -- never experiencing the joy of family worship. It's not enough that they cannot find housing, jobs, or ever find a woman who will marry them: NOW they cannot even enjoy attending a "regular church" to worship.

Do you really believe that the sins of MANY sitting in the congregations of PCA and OPC churches across the nation -- or ANY denomination -- are OK because they're covered up? Or because only sexual offenders hurt people? Or sexual offenders are FOR SURE the only group who will definitely hurt the soul of a victim of previous sexual abuse? Where is the NEW, REDEEMED, CHANGED HEART EX-sexual offender's sanctuary? Do they never have one -- because their sin is never forgiven? Because they just MIGHT offend someone like you -- who unfortunately had this experience by your trusted OPC dad -- and now thinks the church is their playground -- instead of THEIR safe place? They just want to worship. They LOVE the Lord. We should be thrilled that they want to hear reformed theology -- and not the baloney that they hear in the prisons: "name it, claim it" gospels, Mormans, Jehovah Witnesses, Islam, Buddah, etc, etc. And what if OTHER sins of those who have NOT been to prison -- RE surface -- or re-offend? Or are our men the only ones who might re-offend? Anyway, there is so much more I could say -- just as you have for the last several years. But I will leave it for now -- up to God and his sovereignity. I seriously doubt that the OPC will allow us in -- because of you. Perhaps, as you say, we could just be a mission church. Please try to listen to one of Chandler's sermons on-line though -- and then see what you think.

Sincerely, In Christ,

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The email is not signed and I have not edited it.

There are a plethora of issues here, but what I’d like to focus on is the glaring falsehood regarding age as it relates to sexual crimes. In Texas, as in many states, we have what’s called a Romeo and Juliet Law. These laws protect teenage lovebirds from criminal prosecution. Our email author claims that some sex offenders are innocent twitterpated kids who fell victim to a “sting setup.”

This is untrue.

Per Texas law, a minor between 14 and 17 years of age can legally give consent to have sex with someone within 3 years of their own age. This means that a 19-year-old and 16-year-old can legally have consensual sex and it will not be considered a crime. Unless of course he beats her up or drugs her or something, but that’s a totally different situation. So either the author is lying, or the author has no idea what they’re talking about. I’m not sure which scenario is more concerning, especially since the Fozards are supposedly experts in this field.

Barbara Fozard made similarly inaccurate statements in her complaint against Fort Worth Presbyterian in 2019. Her statement reads in part:

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“Sexual Offender” is a very broad term and can mean everything from young women 17 years of age, to the elderly, males, females, children, etc. So, for example, if one were a registered sexual offender for having mistaken a 17-year girl for an 18-year-old girl, is this person a “modern day leper?” - Barbara Fozard

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The age of consent in Texas is 17, and again, we have a Romeo and Juliet Law. As for “children” who offend, they’re tried in juvenile courts which are generally confidential and they don’t register as sex offenders. So what on earth is Barbara talking about? And why hasn’t Pastor Fozard cleared up this misinformation?

In 2023, Pastor Fozard told the Fort Worth Star Telegram:

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The sad truth is that when people hear “registered sex offender” their minds go to John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy, predator types who actually represent less than 1% of those who actually wear the label registered sex offender. There are so, so many different variables in how someone might become a registered sex offender it is insane and a horrible injustice to lump them altogether. - Chandler Fozard

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Convicted serial killers do not register as sex offenders because they are either incarcerated for life or executed. In the State of Texas, people convicted of the following crimes must register as sex offenders:

• continuous sexual abuse of young child or indecency with a child

• continuous sexual abuse of a disabled individual

• sexual assault or aggravated sexual assault (usually this involves a weapon)

• compelling prostitution, aggravated promotion of prostitution, solicitation of prostitution, or human trafficking

• possession or promotion of child pornography, sexual performance by a child, or online solicitation of a minor

• burglary, unlawful restraint, kidnapping, or aggravated kidnapping with the intent to violate or sexually abuse the victim

• bestiality

This doesn’t seem like a particularly broad rainbow of evil to me. It’s all pretty specific and pretty horrific.

More Than Redemption Church is based in Fort Worth, Texas. The Presbytery of the Southwest serves Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Arkansas and New Mexico both have Romeo and Juliet Laws comparable to Texas. In fact, New Mexico allows for a 4-year age difference. Oklahoma has no Romeo and Juliet Law but the age of consent is 16 (the same age recognized under federal law), so the email author’s hypothetical is still disconnected from reality.

There are 25 states with no Romeo and Juliet Law. In 17 of those states, the age of consent is 16. Minors in those states would be tried in juvenile court and evidence - including the perpetrator’s age and level of understanding - is taken into account. So, despite the author’s claim, innocent teenage lovebirds make up a minuscule if not non-existent fraction of registered sex offenders. And since More Than Redemption Church is based in Texas, it’s hard to imagine they’ve encountered any.

Like I said, this is just one of the issues in the email. What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below.

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PS: If you want a factual perspective on the number of sex offenders who live near your home, church, or school, I recommend Family Watchdog. Here’s their map of the community surrounding an OPC church in the Dallas area: 

The pedestrian signs indicate the locations of schools. The blue house in the middle is the church. The red pins indicate offenders who victimized a child. Blue and yellow pins indicate offenders convicted of rape or sexual battery against an adult. Green indicates some other offense, such as burglary with the intent to commit rape. Which color of pin do you see more of?

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ABOUT JENNIFER GREENBERG: As the author of Not Forsaken and Defiant Joy, Jennifer has risen to become one of the foremost voices against child abuse in the church. She writes for Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention. Jennifer also develops resources for Christian leaders and counselors to help them identify abusers, respond responsibly to crisis situations, and minister to abuse victims and survivors in a wise and loving manner. Besides her theological and ministerial work, Jennifer enjoys writing adult fantasy and science fiction novels, singing, and composing music. Jennifer and her husband, Jason, live in Texas with their three young children, a husky, and a cat. Find her at www.JenniferGreenberg.net.