Prestonwood Baptist minister arrested in sex sting (not Senior Pastor) (Ecuminic)

Dallas News ^ | May 16, 2008 | TANYA EISERER

[PAR35]

A Plano megachurch minister was taken into custody Thursday after authorities say he drove to Bryan, Texas, to have sex with a person he thought to be a 13-year-old.

Joe Barron, a minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church, is accused of online solicitation of a minor.

[PAR35]

26,000 member church, 40 pastors on staff. 53 year old preacher, I understand him to be in the counseling ministry.

[svcw]

It is unfortunate that there people who call themselves men of God who are degenerate sinners - the show up in every group.

[Little Pig]

It would be real interesting to hear what Dr. Graham will say about this in the service on Sunday. No way he can ignore it, between the Catholic scandal focusing attention on ministers and this story being in the DMN.

[org.whodat]

A Plano megachurch minister was taken into custody Thursday after authorities say he drove to Bryan, Texas, to have sex with a person he thought to be a 13-year-old.

There is an easy cure for people like this. A good tree and a six dollar rope.

[Domandred]

Took five posts. Awesome.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

If they just let megachurch ministers marry then none of this would ever happen.

[Religion Moderator]

This is an "ecumenic" thread.

That means the poster must not argue against any other beliefs. He can only argue for what he believes – or ask questions.

[Politicalmom]

I’m sorry, but having news threads follow such rules is silly.

Is anyone going to argue FOR sex abuse?

What kind of questions can possibly be asked?

The sex abuse charge has nothing to do with religion.

[Religion Moderator]

This thread is posted in the Religion Forum.

If you do not wish to see RF posts, do NOT use the "everything" option on the browse. Instead, browse by "News/Activism." When you log back in, the browse will reset to "everything" - so be sure to set it back to "News/Activism."

As far as I know, no Freepers on the Religion Forum have ever argued for sexual abuse.

[Tex Pete]

Ministers are humans like the rest of us, and are prone to the same temptations.

Not defending the guy in any way, just stating that humans are humans. I’m certainly disappointed in the guy.

[PAR35]

I’d give him a fair trial first.

[org.whodat]

Careful, I didn’t see that it was a so called religious thread???? I never post to them are read them.

[aposiopetic]

Several months ago I was on a flight with two or three dozen people from this church who were returning from a mission trip to the Amazonian region. I am sorry to hear of today’s reported incident, because I can’t say enough good about the people I met on the plane: they appeared quite sincere, had evidently worked like crazy, and were full of joy and edifying conversation — you could see they genuinely enjoyed being together and bore annoyances and discomforts with grace. Let’s pray they get through this well and that any malefactor repents pronto.

[Religion Moderator]

See post 10.

[PAR35]

It would be real interesting to hear what Dr. Graham will say about this in the service on Sunday.Looks like Jerry Vines is scheduled to preach this weekend.

[org.whodat]

#14

[svcw]

Yes, I know that was the point I was trying to make, didn’t work well.

[Tex Pete]

Gotcha.

[svcw]

Texas Pete you are up late if you are from Texas its like nearly 1am.
I am in California. I am thinking its a Friday night nearly 11pm and I am reading political post on the internet.
Man, I really need to get out of the basement (so to speak).

[VeniVidiVici]

I thought everyone knew already that there really are no 13yo girls on the internet trolling for sex.

[Tex Pete]

I am in Texas, and it is late. I haven’t been home all evening, though.

[svcw]

Well, I have decide to have a small glass of port a piece of cheese with lemon zest and go to bed.
Don't stay up to late. My sister says the weather has been great the last few days - enjoy your weekend.

[Tex Pete]

You, too.

[Coldwater Creek]

Bellevue Baptist in Memphis, another mega church would just let it go, like they allowed a staff member that molested his own child to remain on staff for over six months.

[csvset]

You'd think these perverts would Google Internet Sex Sting.

They might get a clue that they're more than likely chatting with a cop.

[Revelation 911]

small glass of port a piece of cheese with lemon zest

-what kind of cheese ?

[Revelation 911]

That means the poster must not argue against any other beliefs. He can only argue for what he believes – or ask questions.

again - this thread lacks the copy and paste rules in post #1 that we see so often in caucus threads.

Can you obligate the poster of the thread also post your rules on the thread as well?

[Religion Moderator]

Until the Religion Forum posters get used to the "ecumenic" guidelines, please post the following warning in the comments section of your future "ecumenic" articles.

Caution: this thread has been labeled “ecumenic” which means the poster must not argue against any other beliefs. He can only argue for what he believes – or ask questions.

[Tax-chick]

Wow, 40 pastors on staff.

[PAR35]

Good idea - thanks.

[PAR35]

Wow, 40 pastors on staff.

They have two 'campuses', the main one being over 100 acres; 26,000 or so members, a large school, a full athletic program (except swimming - I don't think they have a swimming pool.) I think the wedding chapel seats about 400. The food court would do most malls proud. I've been to some concerts and theatrical productions there.

[Tax-chick]

I suppose they call staffers “pastors” when other churches might use a different description. “Education pastor” instead of “education director,” for example. “Youth pastor” instead of “youth ministry coordinator.”

[svcw]

The cheese is stilton with a hint of lemon zest, very tasty.
We bought the port from a small winery in Evergreen, CO.
The port is almost “orangey” tasting - very smooth.
The cheese really enhances the flavor.

[PAR35]

Yes, that’s probably part of it. Although, our much smaller church has about 10 pastors, all ordained, with a couple of other guys who hold positions which would merit the title if they were ordained. So the numbers didn’t strike me as out of line for the size of the church. Looks like they’ve pulled down their ‘staff’ page on the web site. Courtesy of Google, it looks like this guy was ‘Minister to Married Adult III’.

[Tax-chick]

Although it seems ministering to married adults was not really his thing. I hope he wasn’t ministering to any of the “Married Adults III’s” teenage daughters.

[PAR35]

Although it seems ministering to married adults was not really his thing. I hope he wasn’t ministering to any of the “Married Adults III’s” teenage daughters.

If I was running things over there, I'd bring in a law firm to audit his files and try to get an answer to that question.

[Tax-chick]

That seems wise, and I suspect the congregation’s lawyer is advising just that.

[Revelation 911]

big fan of stilton myself - cant get it past the wife to make it in the house though - BUT....I draw the line reggiano parm and Lucatelli romano, with the heel of a crusty Italian loaf of bread and some local NY wine

[svcw]

Sounds very yummy.