By Mark Spain
First Coast News
May 22, 2006
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=58056
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Denise Green was in the 3rd grade when the alleged abuse by a popular pastor began.
She is one of several alleged victims coming forward following a First Coast News Investigation into Dr. Robert Gray.
Gray is the former pastor at Trinity Baptist Church.
 |
Green agreed to an on-camera interview.
The 37-year-old woman says when she was in the third grade at Trinity, Dr. Gray started a french kissing ritual with her that lasted for three years.
"Basically it was a make out session. Sitting on his lap. Hugging. But he never put his hands where you would consider you shouldn't put your hands," said the mother of three.
Tom Messer is the current pastor at Trinity.
One of the alleged victims sent First Coast News a letter that was signed by Messer with a hand-written note.
First Coast News compared that signature with other legal documents signed by Messer.
The letter sent to the alleged victims indicates the church, in 1992 and 1997, dealt with the issue of Dr. Gray's relationships with children and brought church discipline action and instituted accountability for him.
A First Coast News investigation has also found no records to indicate authorities were ever made aware of the abuse allegations.
Denise Green's father was a deacon at the church up until a few years ago.
Denise says she told her father what happened shortly after she graduated in 1987.
"Daddy told me last night, and I didn't know this, that he and Tom Messer and Dr. Gray sat down and daddy confronted him about it and he acknowledged, 'Yes, it happened,'" said Green.
She told First Coast News she left the church in 1990 but her parents are still members there.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.