Posted on 01/10/2018 7:02:19 AM PST by Gamecock
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WATN) - Across the country, people are sounding off after megachurch pastor Andy Savage confessed to having a sexual incident with a 17-year-old girl while he was her youth pastor in Texas 20 years ago.
Savage, a teaching pastor at the popular Highpoint Church, admitted Friday that he "regretfully had a sexual incident with a female high school senior in the church."
On Sunday, he addressed members of the congregation. Taking to the stage, he could be seen in a YouTube video addressing the crowd, reading from a prepared statement.
"As a college student on staff at a church in Texas more than 20 years ago, I regretfully had a sexual incident with a female high school senior in the church. I apologized and sought forgiveness from her, her parents, her discipleship group, the church staff, and the church leadership, who informed the congregation. In agreement with wise counsel, I took every step to respond in a biblical way," Savage said.
Jules Woodson, the then-high school senior from the incident, described in detail to The Wartburg Watch, how Savage coerced her into performing oral sex on him while along a dirt road in Texas. She says he was supposed to have taken her straight home to her mother's house.
"He turned onto a dirt road and continued to drive. There were trees all around. I could not see the main road anymore, from which he turned," wrote Woodson. "I asked what was back here. He told me they were building a church. I thought, maybe that's what this was about, maybe he has some secret to tell me, like perhaps he was moving to another church. We reached a dead end and he turned the truck around before putting it in park. We were stopped, and he turned the headlights off."
That was when she says he asked her to perform oral sex on him. After about five minutes, she said Savage reacted in shock at the action.
"I remember him pleading, while he was on his knees with his hands up on his head, 'Oh my god, oh my god. What have I done? Oh my god, I'm so sorry. You can't tell anyone Jules, please. You have to take this to the grave with you.' He said that several times," Woodson said.
Since Savage's admission to the congregation on Sunday, the fallout has been swift.
His upcoming book, The Ridiculously Good Marriage, slated for release in July was pulled by its publisher.
In a statement on Twitter, the publisher said Tuesday, "Bethany House and Baker Publishing Group have canceled publication of the Andy Savage book The Ridiculously Good Marriage. It may remain on various retail websites for a short time until those sites update."
On Sunday, Highpoint Church Pastor Chris Conlee told the congregation he stands by Savage.
"I support him in great confidence," said Conlee.
Memphis activists say that move by the lead pastor is disheartening. Close to 1,000 people, including lawyer Betsy Weintraub, have signed an online petition calling for Savage's resignation.
"One of the consequences of sexually assaulting someone is that you can't be a pastor," said Betsy Weintraub. "Why would a church let him remain in that position? Bring him into the congregation, love him, forgive him, but don't put him in a position of authority in front of the church."
WATN reached out to Highpoint Church requesting an on-camera interview, asking if Savage would resign.
In a follow-up email, Administrative Pastor Jim Pritchard said, "Thank you for your request. There will be additional information from Andy and the church soon, but nothing more at this time."
A church sexual abuse survivor told WATN a number of people are watching how Highpoint Church responds in the coming days.
"The standard in our scriptures is a man of good character, and 20 years ago and Savage disqualified himself," said Kenny Stubblefield.
Stubblefield and others say they've signed the petition to send a message to church leaders.
"My prayer for Memphis is that people become more intellectually aware about who they put their trust in," said Stubblefield. "to see them stand up and applaud was sad to me, but it also confirmed in me how important this work is."
Stubblefield says he's committed to raising awareness about sexual assault and abuse in churches.
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Qualifications for Elders
Titus:1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
He is disqualified.
It seems he made a significant error and did everything biblically. Except, in such a situation, he also disqualified himself from holding a position of responsibility in the church.
I knew a guy who was in a similar situation. He hid it for a while, then it came out. He confessed in front of the church. He immediately gave up his role as a minister. The church continued his salary for a short time for the sake of his family.
He realized that he was no longer able to be a preacher or church leader of any sort. He gave that up.
Sadly, some gossipy woman later made sure that her secret “slipped out” and I found out who the woman was with whom he’d been intimate.
Up until then, I didn’t know, didn’t speculate and frankly didn’t care.
So this Savage guy may have a ridiculously good marriage, but he blew it 20 years ago.
Plus, what the heck is an adult at any level doing driving a 17 year old girl home alone. Ever.
He let the devil have his way, resulting in shame coming to both. That’s the thumbnail version.
It doesn’t need to be a permanent disaster for either one. But the answer is wisest to keep as much unity as possible against Satan.
The problem is one of fallen humanity. One both Eve and Adam had partaken of that misleading forbidden fruit, their nakedness now rendered them ashamed as they were wide open to Satan’s suggestions without adequate defense. The fig leaf garments which they created represented feeble human morality. The animal skin garments which God furnished represented divine reassurance of new protection, though through a world of pain and struggle and sacrifice.
I might disagree. Still thinking it out.
What was the age of consent at that time? I think it was 16.
In the WaPo article she alludes to the fact that there was possibly an ongoing relationship.
“..and such were some of you.”
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/1-Corinthians-6-11/
The potential for scandal is so great that some people, like Mike Pence, will never be with a strange woman alone.
Better late than never to do the right thing. Hopefully he will have enough dignity to pack up and go quietly. Past that, it’s between him, her, and God.
I’ve always thought that was a foreshadowing of the fact that “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.”
It would have been adultery with the youngest party barely adult for that purpose.
He should quit a general ministry now and pursue something else that doesn’t entail opportunity for more of this sort of wickedness and scandal, while pouring himself out to God. And be prepared to meet a life of struggle as little by little it is aligned to the right thing in faith. Though if this were the only gross sin, it’s easier than if there had been many gross sins.
You’re right; he isn’t.
Pence is exactly correct. I do the same.
There have been a couple occasions where I’ve had to travel with females for work. We will grab a quick dinner if needed. I make it a specific point to meet in the lobby. I have no idea of room number. Once, I didn’t even have a cell number.
I’ve worked with youth as a volunteer for decades. I lead our church youth group at one time, led a junior high ski club for 20 years, Boy scouts, trail Life USA etc.
We work very hard to never, ever be alone with a kid.
A few years ago, we had two families who relied on my wife and I to drive their boys to troop meetings. There was one week when my wife was out of town. One kids dad was deployed and his mom had a slew of other kids.
There would be a five minute point after I dropped the other boy at home where I’d be with this young man alone.
I cleared it with his mom and just to be safe, I also contacted someone superior to me in our organization to inform him that I was going to be stretching the rules for a specific and short time period.
Of course, this young man was also bigger than me and now a US Marine so he would have just killed me and hidden the body.
Needless to say, that situation if five of the maybe ten minutes I’ve been alone with a youth in probably 30,000 hours of service
That’s how. Such a thing would have been shocking to Adam and Eve, never yet having seen animals die let alone be killed.
The Garden itself? It looks like a special supernatural corner of the world, which had a one-way door into the sad globe we know now.
Neither were married.
The apostle Paul used to support the execution of believers, even as a devout Jew.
People change. Especially after 20 years. Sheesh.
Just keep sending dat money!!!
Accompanying a boy, as a man, ought to be less risky but in this crazy gay age the scandals represent a lot of satanic imagination. Anyhow as you said the boy was virtually a grown man.
These days, parents are afraid to ask for transportation for their child to anywhere. Remember the days when a kindly church worker would drive around and pick up children for Sunday school? That doesn’t happen anymore.
Well, 20 years ago he may have been disqualified. He was also a kid.
I never heard this guy’s name until I saw this thread. I’m speaking academically.
” so he would have just killed me and hidden the body.”
Well, did he?
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