Former Youth Pastor Faces Sexual Abuse Charges In Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) – A former youth pastor in Jackson, Tenn., is in jail on charges of sexually abusing three teen-age boys who attend the church where he worked.
Curtis Hudson, 33, was
indicted by a grand jury on
July 1. He is being held in the
Madison County Criminal Justice
Complex pending arraignment
in circuit court on July 15,
according to Lt. Mike Holt, who
works on violent crimes for the
Jackson Police Department.
Hudson had
served as associate pastor for youth at the 1,800-member
First United Methodist Church since January
1998. Church youth reported the allegations of abuse
to the Rev. Paul Clayton, senior pastor, on June 4,
and Hudson was relieved of his ministerial duties
pending an investigation that same day. On June 7, he
surrendered his clergy credentials.
He is charged with one count of rape of a child,
three counts of rape and seven counts of sexual
battery by an authority figure. The alleged abuse
occurred over a period of several months in 2000 and
2001, Holt told United Methodist News Service.
The three boys are 14, 15 and 16, said Phyllis Maley, business administrator at First Church. "They have been provided counseling, and certainly the pastors are open to (helping) them at any time."
The developments came as a shock for church and Memphis Annual Conference officials. Hudson "had grown" First Church's youth ministry, Maley said. "I would say that he was very much admired and respected by the congregation.
"The congregation has really been saddened by the whole situation, surprised and disappointed," Maley said. "The congregation's been concerned for the alleged victims and for their families. I would say in response to it the congregation is really showing a lot of unity, and we are just going to do everything we can to not have something like this happen again."
The case has spurred the congregation in developing and implementing policies regarding youth programs, and the church is keeping security and safety in mind as it works on a new education building, according to Maley. "We have worked as a staff toward having a really well-defined policy, and we are continuing to work on that É This has certainly brought that to the forefront and put that as a priority."
The Memphis Conference has allowed the conference director of youth ministry to work with the church's youth program part time, as First Church seeks a new youth pastor or youth director. The conference staff person is also working with the church on developing "safe sanctuary" policies, said the Rev. Ben Boone, Jackson District superintendent.
With the help of church interns and parents, the
youth programs are continuing as originally scheduled.
The church has 50 to 75 participants year-round
in its youth programs, Maley said.
The church and the district responded immediately
when the allegations were made, Boone said. They
notified the authorities, in addition to relieving
Hudson of his duties and launching an investigation,
he said.
Boone and another district superintendent were
investigating the allegations when Hudson turned in
his credentials.
Hudson had served Covenant United Methodist Church in Cordova, Tenn., from 1993 through 1997 as a layman. He had a "good record of employment" and no accusations of misconduct while he was there, according to a statement issued by the Rev. Mark Irvin, pastor. "As a precautionary measure, Covenant UMC is seeking to determine any possibility of misconduct by Mr. Hudson during his employment at our church."
The conference is providing health care benefits to
the Hudson family for a three-month period, Boone
said. Generally, coverage is provided on an emergency
basis for one quarter, he explained. Hudson
himself has received counseling through the conference
since surrendering his credentials, and counseling
is also available to the family, Boone said. Hudson
and his wife have a 2-year-old girl and a 2-month-old
boy.
The Memphis Conference already has a policy
regarding safe sanctuaries for young people, and it has
held workshops on clergy sexual misconduct, Boone
said. He expects the policy to receive more affirmation
and attention at the local church level as a result
of the Hudson case.
"Something like this continues to raise awareness to the issues of sexual misconduct and the needs for churches and for the conference to do adequate background checks," Boone said. However, even those are "not foolproof," he noted. "We will all be more vigilant in our process of clergy preparation and work in our local churches."
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