By Victor Blackwell
First Coast News
May 20, 2006
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=58006
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- For nearly 40 years, Dr. Robert Gray clasped his hands to lead members of Trinity Baptist Church in prayer. Now those same hands are cuffed as he's being arrested.
Dr. Gray faces Capital Sexual Battery charges.
At least six women say Dr. Gray molested them when they were just girls and he was an administrator at Trinity Christian Academy
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"It finally came out," said a man who says he's been a member of Trinity Baptist Church for more than 30 years. We'll call him John.
"Some of the deacons knew, the pastor knew," said John. "I've know it for years, but it was just kind of covered up, swept under the rug by everybody in charge," he added.
John remembers a Wednesday night service back in the late eighties. He says pastor at the time, stood in front the congregation and told hundreds of members about those allegations.
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"Then, Brother Gray mentioned that he categorically denied all charges," said John.
John says in the nearly 20 years since that announcement, he's remained a close friend of one of the victims and he has tried to get some real answers.
"I had talked to the... pastor, right now. He said something to the effect that he knew there were some indiscretions, but he didn't think it was good to bring them out, for the good of the ministry," said John. "We're talking about kids, here. It's heinous - ooh, it's pitiful," he added.
John says these charges will not affect his relationship with God, but it has deflated his trust in man.
"I'm hurt and I'm disappointed that it wasn't handled right from day one," John said.
First Coast News attempted to contact the leadership at Trinity Baptist Church, to no avail. As of Saturday afternoon, Trinity Baptist Church had not released a statement about Dr. Gray's arrest or the allegations.
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