A convicted sex offender who admitted to molesting boys through Christian youth programs in the 1980s was permitted to hold leadership roles at a South Carolina church for over two decades, despite his criminal history. The man, who served prison time for his offenses, joined the southern Baptist-affiliated Brookwood Church in 1999 and remained active in ministry until recently. Authorities only disqualified him from further service after his past came to light, raising questions about how such a figure could have remained in a position of influence for so long. The case highlights ongoing concerns about background checks and accountability in religious institutions.
The Brookwood Church in Simpsonville only just disqualified Jerry Sidell from serving there in any capacityA registered sex offender who was sentenced to prison in the 1980s after he told authorities that he had molested several boys whom he met through his religious work with Christian youth in Georgia was later allowed to participate for decades in ministry at a South Carolina church.The Brookwood church, a southern Baptist institution in the South Carolina city of Simpsonville, only just disqualified Jerry Sidell from serving there in any capacity, after he joined it in 1999 and fulfilled various ministerial roles. Continue reading...
