Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Kids turned away from church Court order bans unsupervised contact with children

This is a sad story. This man has been a convicted sexual offender since 1991 and allegations of sexual misconduct date back to 1987 when he was just 25 years old. Unfortunately this sexual misconducted continued. And in 2009 was arrested and convicted of sexually abusing children. I wouldn't necessarily call him a pedophile because his sexual abuse wasn't just directed at. He is a sexual predator for sure. One in a position of power who has abused trust for over 20 years. I think it is horrible that even though he has been a registered sex offender for over 20 years he has been allowed to continue preaching at churches. It seems to me he is using God to manipulate people. He isn't allowed to be around children under the age of 18 unsupervised. So the church made accommodations for this. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable to go to that church. I am glad this is getting the press it is. I have posted links to other stories of this sexual predator at the end of this blog post. I pray he doesn't abuse his power and harm women or children again. Rosie

Published On: Feb 19 2012 04:29:35 PM EST  Updated On: Feb 19 2012 09:35:29 PM EST
Gilyard
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A Northside church has been at the center of a controversy for nearly a month since allowing a registered sex offender to return to the pulpit.
 In 2009, Darrell Gilyard pleaded guilty to lewd conduct and lewd molestation. The victims were underage girls in his congregation at Shiloh Baptist Church.
Since taking the position, Gilyard would not speak to television reporters. Channel 4 looked up his address on the sex offender registry and went to a motel where he was staying in North Jacksonville.
The first time reporters approached Gilyard, he dropped his things and slammed the door. Moments later, he came outside and got into his car without saying a word.
Since joining Christ Tabernacle on North Davis Street, the congregation has had to adapt to changes. Under the terms of Gilyard's release, court documents show he is not allowed to have "unsupervised contact with children under 18 years old." The church agreed to ban children from Sunday service.
Sunday, a woman tried to bring a 2-year-old boy she babysits to services, but was turned away.
"They said for the next two weeks, no children are allowed," Wanda Evans said. "This is the second Sunday, no children, so next week's Sunday, kids will be able to be allowed."
Last week, members of the new Black Panther Party of Jacksonville promised to protest every Sunday that Gilyard was a pastor at the church. This Sunday, however, there were no demonstrations.
 http://www.stopbaptistpredators.org/article/darrell_gilyard3.html, http://www.stopbaptistpredators.org/article/darrell_gilyard2.html

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