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	Clinton Minister Quits over Allegations By Dustin Barnes The Clarion-Ledger August 10, 2011 http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110810/NEWS/108100350/Clinton-minister-quits-over-allegations?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p Facing resurfaced allegations of sexual misconduct from 22 years ago, the music minister at Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton has stepped down after publicly admitting to past indiscretions with younger males in Mississippi and Texas. John Langworthy, who also had resigned as Clinton High School's choir teacher at the end of the last academic year, told congregants at Morrison Heights on Sunday that he moved to Mississippi because of the sexual indiscretions at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. The disclosed sexual indiscretion in Mississippi had occurred prior to his moving to Texas, he said. Efforts to reach Langworthy for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday. While Langworthy's remarks may have come as a shock to the congregation where he has been a member for 21 years, Clinton Public School District Superintendent Phillip Burchfield confirmed in a statement from the district that it had known about the allegations. "The district had no evidence other than allegations that the conduct had actually taken place and the employee never admitted to the district that the conduct happened," district officials responded in a statement. Clinton Police Chief Don Byington said he had been made aware several months ago of the past accusations against Langworthy. However, with no alleged crime reported to his office, there was nothing to investigate. However, Byington said, Mississippi has no statute of limitations for charges involving a person in a position of trust. If a victim came forward, charges could be filed, he said. Morrison Heights' counsel, Philip Gunn, said there was no proof of misconduct by Langworthy during his 21 years at the church. Jim Keith, the school district's attorney, also said there were no complaints about the choir teacher's conduct during Langworthy's employment at Clinton High. "While the district had no evidence that the allegations were factual and had no evidence of misconduct while this employee was employed with the district, the district instituted procedures to ensure that this employee would not be in a position to be inappropriately involved with any student," stated a district release. Langworthy, who taught one class each day, was no longer allowed to be in a classroom without a school administrator present, said district spokeswoman Sandi Beason. This April, Langworthy had requested and was approved by the school board to take the school choir, or Arrow Singers, on an overnight trip to New Orleans. Keith said the same safety precautions were taken on the trip. Board President Ingrid Williams said Burchfield kept the board members aware of what was going on at all times. She would not comment further. During Langworthy's resignation Sunday he told congregants that he entered counseling shortly after the Texas sexual misconduct and had not been involved in any inappropriate sexual ordeals since. After learning of Langworthy's positions at Clinton High and Morrison Heights, Amy Smith of Houston, Texas, begancontacting school and church officials last year via email and phone calls. Smith, who heads Houston's local chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said she attended the Prestonwood church as a youth staff intern in 1989, the same year Langworthy reportedly was asked to leave as the youth music minister. "We had heard stories that he was asked to leave," Smith said, adding there were allegations of sexual abuse from some boys at the church. Smith said she was concerned when she learned Langworthy was working with children at school. After informing Burchfield of Langworthy's past via email on Aug. 17, 2010, Smith received a response from the superintendent the next day. Keith said Langworthy was under a contract with the district, which meant there would have to be conclusive evidence to fire him, evidence Keith said was never found. Morrison Heights' leaders investigated Langworthy as well, said Gunn, who also is an elder at the Clinton church and a state representative. "The church had no prior knowledge of the allegations and took immediate action to protect the church family," Gunn said. According to email correspondences, Smith instigated the discussion with Morrison Heights Pastor Greg Belser about the allegations regarding Langworthy as early as February. A church staff member who answered the phone Tuesday said Belser was forwarding all calls from the media to Gunn.
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