ORLANDO (FL)
KPC News [Kendallville, IN]
March 19, 2025
By Mike Marturello
The Orland Church of the Nazarene is no more.
The church has been closed in light of its pastor’s arrest on five counts of child molesting and subsequent removal from the church, said the leader of the District Church of the Nazarene.
Rodger Daily Strong, 69, rural Angola, was arrested on Monday for three Level 1 felony and two Level 4 felony counts of child molesting.
He was removed as pastor of the Orland Church of the Nazarene, where he had served some 40 years, on March 6 by District Superintendent Tim Kellerman.
“Upon hearing Rodger was being investigated, I met with him, removed him as pastor and subsequently closed the church the next Sunday as the seven remaining members are unable to provide the resources necessary to keep the church open,” Kellerman said.
As was reported Wednesday by KPC Media, Strong told police on March 7 that he was going to announce his retirement at the pulpit on March 9 and would finish out this past Sunday.
“He was to announce his retirement on March 9 with his final Sunday, March 16. He called me on Thursday, March 6. I met with him that evening and removed him effective that night,” said Kellerman, district superintendent for the Northeastern Indiana District Church of the Nazarene, Marion.
After a detailed investigation by the Indiana State Police, Strong was arrested on Monday and arraigned in court on Tuesday.
When asked for comment, Kellerman said he would not address the case per se.
“However, I can say that the Northeastern Indiana District Church of the Nazarene and the Church of the Nazarene as a whole condemns this alleged misconduct. Such behavior is inconsistent with who we are as a church,” Kellerman said in an email.
Orland town officials were not aware of the charges against Strong or the church’s closing until notified by KPC Media. The church is located in the 6100 block of S.R. 327, south across an alley from Orland Town Hall.
If found guilty, Strong faces 20-50 years in prison for the three Level 1 felonies and 2-12 years for the two Level 4 felonies.
If he is sentenced to serve the time consecutively and at the maximum allowed under Indiana law, Strong is looking at up to 174 years in prison. The Level 1 felonies are enhanced by 10 years to a maximum of 50 years when a person who allegedly commits the offense was older than 21 and the alleged victim was younger than 12.
During his initial hearing held on Tuesday before Magistrate James Burns, bail was set at $200,000. A pretrial conference will be held on May 5 and Strong’s jury trial is set to begin Sept. 4.
Public defender Thomas Essex has been appointed to defend Strong.