Bellevue report: Assistant pastor

CORDOVA, Tenn. (ABP)'Paul Williams, minister of prayer and special projects at Bellevue Baptist Church,sexually abused his son 17 years ago, according to a report from thechurch's investigative committee. The committee announced its findingsto the congregation Jan. 28.

"Paul Williams engaged inegregious, perverse, sexual activity with his adolescent son over aperiod of 12 to 18 months," the report said. "Paul became convicted ofhis actions, and he stopped. He asked for forgiveness from his son andnever touched him inappropriately again. At that time Paul told no oneelse."

Williams first came under public suspicion Dec. 17, after Bellevueleaders told the church he had committed a "moral failure" thatrequired his leave of absence and an investigation into theallegations. Williams has since been fired.

The month-long investigation, lead by David Coombs, administrativepastor, included interviews with witnesses, the seizure of Williams'computers, and three face-to-face interviews with Williams.

Williams, who had served at Bellevue for 34 years, told investigators he was sexually abused as a child.

Steve Gaines, senior pastor at the Memphis-area megachurch, told thecongregation Williams had confessed the misconduct to him six monthsearlier. Gaines later said he should have immediately disclosed theinformation to church leadership. Gaines did not participate in theinvestigation.

At least 10 people affiliated with the church knew about the abusebefore Dec. 7, when William's now-married son and two friends toldGaines, the report said. The group included family members, a retiredBellevue staff member, and Jamie Fish, who works in the church'sBiblical Guidance office. Adrian Rogers, the now-deceased legendarypastor of Bellevue, reportedly was unaware of Williams' abuse.

Christa Brown, founder of Voice to Stop Baptist Predators,said she isn't surprised that so many people knew about the abuse. The"miracle" is that it was publicized at all, she said. Brown also worksfor the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a volunteer self-help organization of survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

"In many ways, the dynamics of clergy abuse are akin to the dynamics ofincest, except the church family is much bigger," she said. "In mostcases, other ministerial colleagues and deacons and often even churchfamily members are simply not capable of receiving that kind ofinformation about a beloved minister and objectively considering it,investigating, and doing the right thing."

That's why churches should use outside intervention with cases likethis, Brown added. She emphasized that denominational offices shouldgive congregations resources for handling clergy abuse. And she calledfor a denominational office' not run by the local churches'to whichvictims can report crimes.

"If a church with the sort of resources that Bellevue has … still didsuch an awful job of handling this, why would anyone imagine thatchurches with much lesser resources would be capable of handling it anybetter than Bellevue?" she said. "They aren't. It's usually even worse."

Had Williams considered the welfare of the church family, he would haveresigned, committee members said. While molesting a child is badenough, to continue working in ministerial duties involving sensitiveissues is without excuse, committee members wrote in the report.

"Starting with Paul, there appears to have been no seriousconsideration given by anyone to the health and safety of the Bellevuefamily," the report said. "On Paul's part, there appears to never havebeen any time in 17 years that any consideration was given to theeffect that having a child molester on the ministerial staff ofBellevue Baptist Church would have on the church. His onlyconsideration appears to have been to keep his job and, in the team'sopinion, to stay out of jail."

According to the report, Williams did not seek help for himself or hisson until recently, when his son initiated counseling. Williams toldinvestigators he "checked every year or so to make sure all was right"between the two of them.

Calling the church "ill-prepared," the report blamed a "lack ofknowledge" for the delay in removing Williams from his post. Nopolicies on problems of "a sensitive nature" existed, and a precedentof keeping those issues under wraps in order to protect the church andfamilies from embarrassment led leaders to avoid disclosure, the reportsaid.

"Policies, procedures and protocols were and are inadequate," committeemembers said. "There has been a feeling that policy and procedures ofthis type (regarding sexual abuse) were more suitable for the worldthan for the church. This feeling is not only found in Bellevue BaptistChurch, but also is prevalent across churches in general. The eventsrelating to the Paul Williams issue have vividly brought to light theneed for change."

The investigation committee stated Williams "did not pose a danger orrisk to children at the church" from 2006, when Bellevue Baptist Churchministers learned of his past sexual misconduct, until the time of hisdismissal. However, some church members told interviewers they feltthey had been violated by Williams when he asked inappropriatequestions in the course of his ministerial duties.

The committee recommended that Bellevue provide or pay for counselingfor those who felt they were harmed by Williams or felt hurt by thechurch's inaction. Bellevue is in contact with the Tennessee Departmentof Child Services through its attorneys and is cooperating fully withthat agency.