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	Pastor Charge with Statutory Rape WDEF [Hixon TN] May 4, 2006 http://www.wdef.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WDEF /MGArticle/DEF_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835805856&path= Shock fills a church congregation in Hixson tonight as word spreads about their pastor. Hamilton County authorities arrested Gregory Stanley Dempsey yesterday on sex charges. Dempsey faces three counts of statutory rape and three counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. He's free tonight on $75,000 bond. Dempsey will not be in his church's pulpit this weekend. The Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church suspended Dempsey after charges he had sexual relations with a minor. "This case come about from a complaint we received from a young man," says Sheriff John Cupp. Dempsey came to Middle Valley Methodist Church last July and helped grow the Sunday congregation from about 40 worshipers to nearly 200. Dr. Al Bowles, the District Supervisor for the Holston Conference of Methodist Churches says "the congregation of course is shocked like all of us. They had made such good process." Bowles suspended Dempsey for a period of up to 90-days with pay in order to give everyone involved in this matter time to deal with the situation. "We seek to bring healing where ever there is hurt and pain and there is a lot of hurt and pain in this situation." Church leaders are quick to point out the charges against Dempsey come from incidents that reportedly occurred before he became a pastor here. Dempsey previously served as Assistant Pastor at Oak Street Baptist Church in Soddy Daisy. Sheriff Cupp says "this occurred over a period of probably two years, that's as close as I can bring it in at this time." He adds so far the charges involve only one teen, but the investigation will continue to see if there might be other victims. "Whenever you run into a situation like this and enter into an investigation there's always that possibility." As for Dempsey's current church, Bowles says "its my responsibility to see that that pulpit is covered, I'll either be there or find someone to fill-in." Dempsey will appear before a judge May 26th for his preliminary hearing. The Church will provide a counselor for Dempsey and his family to help them work through this ordeal.
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