LOUISIANA
Baptist News
by Art Toalston, posted Friday, March 06, 2015
NEW ORLEANS (BP) — A prominent New Orleans church took prompt action to dismiss a youth minister accused of sexual abuse of a teenage girl and to begin the healing process within the congregation.
“We are devastated by the events that have led to the arrest of one of our former ministers,” the March 1 worship guide of First Baptist Church in New Orleans stated to the congregation.
“The safety of the children in our care is our highest priority. We do everything in our power to make certain that all persons who work with them are properly screened and interviewed. We are now reviewing all of our policies and procedures with paid staff and volunteers and will bring forward any recommendations that might strengthen our security.”
The pastor, David Crosby, wrote that a family meeting of the church would be held at 1 p.m. after the 10:45 a.m. worship service, with childcare provided, to address the dismissal and arrest of former youth minister Jonathan Bailey.
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