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Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Youth Pastor Ryan McElrath Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Sexual Misconduct with a Minor

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ryan mcelrath

The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

Earler this year, Ryan McElrath, a youth pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, Tennessee, was accused of raping a seventeen-year-old church girl. McElrath pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct charges and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Channel 7 reported:

A Jackson youth pastor has been arrested on rape charges.

According to booking information from the Madison County jail, 39-year-old Ryan McElrath was booked into the jail around 5:48 p.m. on Tuesday.

Jackson Police Department’s online Police To Citizen resource shows that McElrath was arrested at a residence on Willow Green Drive, with charges listed as sexual battery by an authority figure, statutory rape, and statutory rape by an authority figure – forcible rape.

In a social media post made by Fellowship Bible Church prior to his arrest — which is no longer accessible — McElrath is described as a “high school pastor.” At the time of this report, the church also has several videos on their website where McElrath can be seen as a featured speaker.

McElrath also hosted a religion-based podcast with episodes ranging from October 2021 – November 2023. The podcast’s description states: “Here, at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, TN, we are starting our very first Family Podcast in which we are going to create space for families to have great conversations with their kids and have fun at the same time!”

A June 14, 2024 update stated:

A warrant has revealed additional details in the arrest of youth pastor Ryan McElrath. According to the warrant, on the morning of June 11, a man visited the Jackson Police Department to report a sexual assault against his daughter. The warrant states on May 31, 2024, McElrath engaged in sexual contact with a 17-year-old female victim at Fellowship Bible Church, located at 141 Pleasant Plains Road in Jackson. According to the warrant, McElrath met the victim in the high school area of the church for approximately 30 minutes. McElrath is expected to appear in Jackson City Court on June 26th at 9:30 a.m.

Fellowship Bible released the following statement:

Ryan McElrath is no longer employed at Fellowship due to criminal charges filed June 11. Within hours of the allegations, the matter was investigated, Ryan admitted to the violation, and was terminated. The church immediately supported the victim in reporting the allegations to local law enforcement, and notified parents and students. The church is cooperating fully with local authorities, and is engaging an external agency to audit church policies and procedures as well as provide guidance on continued care for the victim and the church. Our priority continues to be the privacy and well-being of the victim, the victim’s family, our students and their parents.

“As a church community we are absolutely devastated by this. And, as a parent, I share in our God’s outrage and grief when the innocent are harmed. We are acting in cooperation with law enforcement in caring for the victim and the victim’s family.”

Eugene Brandt, Lead Pastor Fellowship

After his sentencing, Channel 7 reported:

A former youth pastor in Jackson has been sentenced to prison for sex crimes involving a minor.

In June 2024, then 39-year-old Ryan McElrath, a former youth pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson, was booked into the Madison County jail on charges involving inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor.

A warrant revealed that the arrest stemmed from an alleged incident that took place at the church between McElrath and a 17-year-old female victim.

In February 2025, McElrath pled guilty to “use of a facility and means of interstate commerce to persuade, induce, entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual acts.” The plea agreement includes that McElrath will be placed on the national sex offender registry.

On June 6, 2025, McElrath was sentenced at the U.S. District Court in Jackson to 252 months (21 years) in federal custody and five years supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $8,000 in restitution.

The court also recommended that McElrath be housed at a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility as close to Phoenix, Arizona as possible.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Southern Baptist Pastor Allan Jones Sentenced for Child Porn Possession

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pastor allan jones

The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

Allan Jones, pastor of Lifeway Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, pleaded guilty to child pornogpraphy possession and will spend the next six months in jail.

WKRG-5 reports:

A former Baptist church pastor will spend six months in jail after pleading guilty to child pornography possession.

Allan Kyle Jones, 50, was arrested in August 2023 on multiple charges after explicit images of minors were found on his phone, according to officials. 

Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a cyber tip from a company that monitors illegal online activity, prompting the investigation.

None of the children in the images seemed to be from the area, officials said at the time.

Jones pleaded guilty to one of the charges and received a 10-year sentence, split to serve six months in jail and three years of probation, plus various fines and court costs.

Jones was the pastor of Lifeway Community Church on Thompson Road.

Lagniappe adds:

The pastor of a Loxley church, which routinely hosted homeschool and youth fine arts activities, is being accused of possessing pornographic videos and photographs of young girls.

Allan Kyle Jones, 48, pastor of Lifeway Community Church in Loxley, is facing four criminal charges for possessing sexually explicit images. He was arrested Tuesday morning by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and released several hours later on a $60,000 bond.

Cpt. Andre Reid with the Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit stated his office has been investigatingJones for several weeks after receiving a tip. He said detectives collected enough details to establish probable cause and obtained a warrant to search Jones’ cell phone.

“Mr. Jones has been charged with four counts of possession of obscene material containing the visual depiction of a person under 17 years of age. This investigation is still ongoing, and evidence is being analyzed,” he said.

Additional charges may be added once BCSO completes its investigation, Reid said.

A criminal complaint detailing Jones’ accusations was made public Thursday afternoon, Aug. 31. That document states Jones was arrested and charged after law enforcement officers confirmed the presence of images and video of “prepubescent” girls on his Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra cell phone.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission states prepubescent children are generally 13 years old or younger and lists sexual attraction to this age group among the criteria for pedophilia.

According to court filings, Jones had numerous explicit images of female minors and a 4-second video of a girl pulling down her pants. Those materials were reportedly downloaded on Aug. 25 and depict the girls showing their anus, vagina and breasts while they pose.

The state’s online court database lists Jones’ wife and mother as witnesses, in addition to a confidential source. It does not specify who made a report or how the witnesses are involved in the case. Fairhope attorney Patrick Prendergast is representing Jones.

“[Mr. Jones] maintains his innocence and looks forward to the facts coming out in court,” Prendergast said in a statement.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 5.

According to state license records, Lifeway Community Church was formed in 2001. The church’s website states Jones has been the pastor since 2015. A home address on Jones’ booking sheet is identical to the church’s address; he reportedly lives in a residence on church property.

The church is listed as a member of the Baldwin Baptist Association, which serves area Southern Baptist churches. It’s the denomination’s policy for affiliated churches to autonomously govern themselves.

….

A review of Lifeway church’s online profiles and other pages suggests homeschool students would have been commonly present at the church building through various fine arts programs. A source who has attended homeschool events at Lifeway described the church as a hub for homeschool activities and said Jones had “entrenched” himself in the homeschool community. Authorities have given no indication Jones had inappropriate behavior with children at the church.

Various social media pages for Baldwin County homeschool families and events indicate workshops and events for homeschooled students were regularly hosted at Lifeway church.

One post promoting a homeschool expo stated, “The Jones family is always there to help anyone in need, especially our local homeschool community! Pastor Allen Jones is the pastor of Lifeway Community Church in Loxley. They have hosted many homeschool events at their church and have been so welcoming.”

Additionally, the church regularly hosted the Impact Youth Theater group and accommodated other homeschool-oriented fine arts organizations, such as choir and orchestra. Jones’ LinkedIn profile indicates he has professional acting experience and has participated in community theater productions.

It is currently unclear if Jones plans to continue to act as Lifeway’s pastor or if the conditions of his bond will prevent the church from holding youth events while his charges are pending.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Methodist Pastor Myron Chorbajian and His Wife Face Numerous Sex Crime Charges

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myron and kathleen chorbajian

The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

Myron Chorbajian, pastor of First Southern Methodist Church in Greenville, South Carolina and his wife, Kathleen, face ninety criminal charges, including child sexual abuse and attempted murder.

WRDW reports:

New warrants released in the investigation into a Greenville County pastor and his wife reveal more allegations of disturbing abuse.

In May, Myron Chorbajian and Kathleen Chorbajian were arrested after a victim came forward about abuse that reportedly started in the 1980s. Initial reports from investigators detailed extensive child sexual abuse and animal killings.

Myron is the pastor of First Southern Methodist Church in Greenville. He and his wife reportedly adopted numerous children over the years.

The Chorbajians now face a combined 90 charges, including two attempted murder charges against Myron.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office released the new warrants in the case on Thursday, which contain graphic details. Some of the allegations are too disturbing to report.

The attempted murder charges stem from alleged incidents in the 1990s where, according to his arrest warrants, Myron cut off oxygen to victims by holding them underwater or placing his arms around the victim’s neck.

The  warrant says Kathleen “allowed her husband to force their children to smoke until they vomited.” A related warrant against Myron says it was “several packs of cigarettes.”

Myron also forced children to eat trash and feces, other warrants state.

A warrant says Myron killed a 6-year-old girl’s pet rabbit in front of her with an axe and forced the child to eat the rabbit.

To “prove the consequence of disobedience,” a warrant says Myron threw a child’s pet kitten into the running engine of a van.

Myron sexually abused a child on the victim’s 12th birthday, according to a warrant. He’s accused of committing child sex crimes both on his home couch and an office couch of his place of work at the time. During one of the sexual assaults, Myron is accused of restricting a child’s breathing until she passed out.

Kathleen is accused of handcuffing a child to the bed for days during one instance of abuse detailed in a warrant. She also reportedly slapped and struck children in the face with items causing bleeding.

A warrant says Myron took a victim to the woods, stripped her naked, and beat her with a stick “leaving long lasting bruises.” Kathleen knew about it, the warrant against her states.

The Chorbajians were denied bond again during a hearing on Tuesday and remain in the Greenville County Detention Center.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Pastor Dominic Foor Accused of Sexually Abusing Teenagers

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dominic foor

The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

Dominic Foor, the former pastor of Pathway Apostolic Church, current pastor of New Direction Church, both in Columbus, Ohio and the operator Foor U Construction, stands accused of sexually abusing two teenagers.

WBNS-10 reports:

A 23-count indictment was filed against a central Ohio pastor who is accused of sexually abusing a teenager.

The indictment filed in the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas states that 39-year-old Dominic Foor faces the following charges:

11 counts of sexual battery

Six counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor

Six counts of importuning

According to the indictment, the first incident reportedly happened at a home on Lockbourne Eastern Road in Ashville on Nov. 3, 2022, when the victim was 15 years old. The indictment also states that the incidents lasted through Nov. 26, 2024.

Captain Johnathan Strawser with the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office said the original complaint was brought forward on Nov. 28, 2024, and it has been under investigation since.

Strawser added at the time of the incidents, Foor was a pastor at Pathway Apostolic Church in Columbus.

10TV reached out to the church, which stated that Foor had left his position in March. The church said he is currently serving as the pastor of New Direction Church on Parsons Avenue.

A judge set a $250,000 bond for Foor when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Sounds of Fundamentalism: Stupid Preacher Says Stupid Things, And Stupid Church Members Clap and Cheer

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John Amanchukwu

The Sounds of Fundamentalism is a series that I would like readers to help me with. If you know of a video clip that shows the crazy, cantankerous, or contradictory side of Evangelical Christianity, please send me an email with the name or link to the video. Please do not leave suggestions in the comment section.  Let’s have some fun!

Today’s Sound of Fundamentalism is a video clip of Evangelical preacher John Amanchukwu whipping up the crowd as he rails against LGBTQ people, effeminate boys, and drama clubs.

Video Link

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

True or False? Happiness is the Lord

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happiness is the lord

For those of us raised in Evangelical churches, we are acutely familiar with a song titled Happiness is the Lord:

Happiness is to know the Saviour,
Living a life within His favour,
Having a change in my behaviour,
Happiness is the Lord.
Happiness is a new creation,
Jesus and me in close relation,
Having a part in His salvation,
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine,
No matter if the teardrops start,
I’ve found a secret,
It’s Jesus in my heart.

Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that’s worth the livin’,
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord.

Real joy is mine,
No matter if the teardrops start,
I’ve found a secret,
It’s Jesus in my heart,
Jesus in my heart.
Happiness is to be forgiven,
Living a life that’s worth the livin’,
Taking a trip that leads to Heaven,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord,
Happiness is the Lord.

If you dare, watch the following video. You will immediately have an earworm that you can’t get rid of.

Video Link

Released in 1972, Happiness is the Lord is a song that children sing over and over and over again in Evangelical churches. I was in ninth grade when this song came out, and it quickly became a hit among the church’s teens.

What is this song teaching children about happiness?

  • Happiness is Jesus
  • Happiness is living a life in Jesus’ favor
  • Happiness is changed behavior
  • Happiness is a new creation (in Christ)
  • Happiness is a close relationship with Jesus
  • Happiness is having a part in Jesus’ salvation
  • Happiness is to be forgiven
  • Happiness is living a life worth living
  • Happiness is a trip to Heaven

From their nursery years forward, Evangelical children are indoctrinated and conditioned to believe that happiness only comes through Jesus. Without Jesus, children live meaningless lives. Want a life worth living? Want to have your sins (and don’t worry, kids, we will tell you all the behaviors that are sins and affronts to Jesus) forgiven? Want to go to Heaven when you die? Who doesn’t, right? According to Evangelicals, Jesus is the answer to every one of these questions.

Of course, what naturally follows is the idea that without Jesus, you can’t be happy. Your life isn’t worth living, and when you die, you will go to Hell. When life is framed in this manner, is it any wonder that the majority of Evangelical children make salvation decisions by the time they are out of elementary school?

Is happiness possible without Jesus? Of course it is. People were happy for thousands of years before Jesus arrived on the scene, and countless people have been happy since then, all without believing in and worshipping a dead Jew.

Google defines happiness this way:

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment, often described as experiencing joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment. It’s a subjective experience, meaning what brings happiness to one person might not be the same for another. Happiness can be found in both fleeting moments and overall life satisfaction.

Note that the definition doesn’t mention Jesus as the source of happiness. Millions of Evangelicals lustily sing Happiness is the Lord, but their lives reveal that these words mean little to them. I pastored lots of unhappy believers; people who sang Happiness is the Lord on Sundays, and lived miserable, unhappy lives the rest of the week.

I deconverted seventeen years ago. Did unhappiness overwhelm me after I divorced Jesus? Nope. What changed was the locus of my happiness. As a Christian, my happiness was rooted in Jesus. As an atheist, my happiness is found in the simple things of life: Polly, our six children, our sixteen grandchildren, and four cats. Lots of happiness to go around for the Gerencser family. I also find happiness in nature and observing the lives of others. We did some shopping tonight at the Aldi store in Auburn, Indiana. I was in a good mood, even though I was in a lot of pain. I chatted with several shoppers. One Amish woman (we have a large Amish community near where we live) was shopping with her teen daughters and a toddler. I watched as the toddler ran down the aisles, evading her older sisters. I briefly talked to the mother, commenting on her daughter’s energy. We both laughed, traded a few pleasantries, and continued shopping. You know what I felt in that moment? Happiness.

None of us needs God/Jesus to be happy. If you think you do, you have been indoctrinated and conditioned. Life is what you make it, and even in the midst of suffering and loss, happiness can be found. We bought some hot dogs for the feral/stray cats that frequent our yard. Tonight, there were four adult cats and five kittens at our back door. I cut up hot dogs and put them on the porch. It was every cat for herself. I was delighted to see the kittens eating solid food. Again, how did I feel? Happy. Later tonight, four coons that have been visiting us at night will make an appearance. Their antics provide loads of entertainment. How will I feel? Happy. Happy for the sake of being happy, and happy that the coons made to our yard without getting hit on the highway in front of our home.

None of us needs Jesus to find happiness. Even if you are a Christian, Jesus is not the sum of your happiness. Expand your horizons and embrace life. You will find all the happiness you will ever need.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Derek Lambert Leaves the “Online Atheist Cult,” Bitching and Whining as He Walks Out the Door

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derek lambert

Derek Lambert operates the Mythvision YouTube channel. A former Evangelical Christian, Lambert makes informative videos about Biblical and historical subjects. Excellent videos, for the most part, though I find the clickbait titles annoying.

Two or so years ago, Lambert embroiled himself in a conflict over having mythicist Dr. Robert M. Price on his channel. The conflict, however, was not over mythicism. The issue was Price’s racism and his support of right-wing, MAGA beliefs. Why was Lambert platforming a man such as Price? supporters, friends, and acquaintances wanted to know. There’s a lot to the Price Saga, but the bottom line is this: with much weeping and gnashing of teeth, Lambert condemned Price and deplatformed him.

Fast forward to two weeks ago. Lambert reversed course, kissed and made up with Price, and with weeping and gnashing of teeth, attacked the “online atheist community.” He called the “online atheist community” a cult. He has retreated from the cult claim by editing the video title to hyperbolically say “Toxic People are Trying to Destroy Careers.” Contrary to what Lambert thinks, no one is trying to ruin him or destroy his career. If he has evidence that suggests otherwise, he needs to cough it up. I seriously doubt any hairball is forthcoming. Lambert can be hysterical at times, and I suspect the title issue is more about his hysteria than anything else.

Video Link

What was a skirmish with a handful of largely unknown online atheists, Lambert turned it into an attack on the “online atheist community” in general.

Lambert and Price are now best buds. The bad people in this story, according to Lambert, are woke, pro-trans, online atheists who dare to call Price what he is — a bigot and a racist.

It’s evident, at least to me, that Lambert’s politics have moved to the right, more in line with Price’s politics. It would not shock me to hear in a few years that Lambert has (again) seen the light and is returning to Christianity.

Some atheists think Lambert is a grifter; he thinks he can make more money by platforming people such as Robert Price. Maybe. I do know that Lambert’s “I’m Done” video ends with an infomercial advertising his wife’s channel that sells online educational programs. So, there’s that. The ad is out of place, so much so that you are left to wonder if all the junior high whining about the “online atheist community” is a pretext; that the real goal is to sell shit.

I tried to engage Lambert several times over the years — without success. Evidently, I wasn’t high enough up the “online atheist” food chain for him to bother with me. Granted, I’m somewhat of a loner, hanging out on the fringes of the so-called “online atheist community.” This allows me to say my piece and not care what online atheists think. This means, of course, I won’t be invited to be on this or that channel, and that’s okay. I have much to offer, as many fellow creators have learned, but, for some atheist creators, I’m too liberal, too woke, or too religion-friendly, I’m told. Fair enough, but I am who I am, and I believe what I believe. Derek Lambert needs to figure out who he is, what he believes, and act accordingly. You can’t be all things to all people.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

How Evangelicals Respond When Confronted with Errors in the Bible

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bible head vice

Most Evangelicals believe the following about the Bible:

  • The Bible is inspired (breathed out) by God
  • The Bible is inerrant (without error)
  • The Bible is infallible (true in all it says, free of mistakes)

Two words describe how most Evangelicals read the Bible, that is, if they read the Bible at all. It is becoming increasingly clear to me that many Evangelicals rarely, if ever, read the Bible. And if Evangelicals do read the Bible, they do so selectively, often reading only the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs.

  • Univocality (Univocality refers to the state of having only one meaning or voice, being unambiguous and straightforward. It contrasts with ambiguity or equivocality, where a word or statement can be interpreted in multiple ways. In essence, univocality implies a clear and single meaning. Google AI definition)
  • Literally (Reading the Bible “literally” means understanding its words in their most straightforward, ordinary sense, as they would be understood in everyday language, while also acknowledging the use of figurative language like similes, metaphors, and other literary devices. It’s about discerning the intended meaning of the text without imposing personal interpretations or allegorical readings that are not supported by the text. Google AI definition)

These words give definition to evangelical cliches such as: “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me.”

The problem, of course, is that the Bible is NOT inerrant and infallible. Whether Evangelicals appeal to inerrant translations or manuscripts, it matters not; neither claim is true and can be easily rebutted. All one has to do is show one error, mistake, or contradiction for inerrancy to come falling down. The same goes for infallibility.

Bible inerrancy and infallibility are irrational claims that can be easily dispensed with by giving the Scriptures an honest reading. The errors, contradictions, and mistakes are easy to see IF you are not committed to inerrancy, infallibility, and univocality. Scores of sites on the Internet, including this one, list numerous mistakes, errors, and contradictions. Granted, Evangelicals have all sorts of novel, fancy, and, at times, irrational explanations for these problem texts. Their presuppositions demand they find some way to defend inerrancy, so Evangelicals go to extraordinary lengths to protect the Bible’s honor. Most often, all they do is either make fools out of themselves or show that they really do not understand the Biblical text. And this is to be expected. Many Evangelicals have a borrowed theology — that of their pastor. He’s the man of God, and they trust that he will tell them the truth. Unfortunately, many Evangelical preachers don’t tell the truth, either out of ignorance, or fear that if they tell their congregants the truth, the pews and offering plates will be empty and they will have to get a job at Home Depot.

When Evangelicals are confronted with errors, contradictions, and mistakes that they can’t explain away, what do they do? Admit defeat? Admit the Bible is not inerrant? Not a chance. Often, Evangelicals will make appeals to the Greek and Hebrew languages underlying various Bible translations. Oh, they can’t read Greek or Hebrew, but they own a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and an 1828 Webster’s Dictionary, and, in their minds, they have all they need to defend the inerrancy of the Bible and defeat “liberal” scholars who have spent their lives studying the Biblical text. I have watched countless atheist talk shows featuring Evangelical callers who think they know more about the Bible than the leading scholars of the day. When these defenders of the Bible meet their demise in the arena of debate, what do they do? Admit they were wrong? Not a chance. When backed into the proverbial corner, Evangelicals will always appeal to faith. Once they do this, no further discussion is possible. Faith is what people appeal to when they have no evidence for their claims.

Unless an Evangelical admits the obvious — the Bible is not inerrant, infallible, or univocal — it is unlikely that they can be convinced of the irrationality of their claims. Those of us who are former Evangelicals know that it wasn’t until the Bible lost its magical hold on us that we were able to see the text as it is: an ancient text written by fallible, frail men. God did not write one word of the Bible. From the table of contents to the index, the Bible is a manmade text, and Evangelicals cannot provide compelling evidence to the contrary.

Evangelicals are free to believe what they want about the Bible, but if they want to convince the unwashed, uncircumcised Philistines of the world that the Bible is the very words of God, evidence — not Bibe prooftexts — is required.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Baptist Pastor Douglas Jones Accused of Criminal Sexual Conduct

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pastor douglas jones

The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

Douglas Jones, the pastor of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, stands accused of one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The Royal Oak Tribune reports:

A prominent 82-year-old pastor of a Pontiac church accused of a sex crime in Rochester Hills will face an Oakland County Circuit Judge next week.

The case against Reverend Douglas Jones of West Bloomfield was advanced following a preliminary exam in 52-3 District Court.

Jones, senior pastor of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac since 1989, is charged with one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct — a high court misdemeanor — that allegedly occurred Aug. 26, 2024.

At the conclusion of the preliminary exam on May 20, Judge Laura Polizzi determined there was enough evidence to bind the case over to the higher court for possible trial.

Jones is well-known for his ministries and other community involvement throughout Pontiac — including board member of the Oakland County Health Network, founder of the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition, and more. In February, the Detroit Red Wings recognized him as a “Black History Month Game Changers honoree.”

Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involves unwanted sexual contact but does not include penetration. High court misdemeanor penalties are typically more severe than misdemeanor penalties; fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable by up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of $500.

Jones is out of custody on a $10,000 personal bond, which requires no cash or surety to be posted.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

Black Collar Crime: Youth Pastor Chaz Chinsethagid Sentened to Prison on Child Pornogpraphy Charges

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chaz chinsethagid

The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.

Chaz Chinsethagid, a youth pastor at an unnamed church, was recently sentenced to fourteen years in prison on child pornography charges.

Channel 6 reports:

A former Bixby youth pastor is headed to prison for trying to coerce a minor to meet up for sex.

According to federal documents, Chaz Chinsethagid admitted to going to an online chat room and messaging who he thought was a 14-year-old girl; the account was run by an undercover officer.

Documents say Chinsethagid asked the girl to send pictures, asked for her to call him, and offered to drive to meet up with her.

Investigators say he also admitted to having child porn on his phone.

Chinsethagid pleaded guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography.

A federal judge sentenced Chinsethagid to 14 years in prison for the crimes.

He will have to register as a sex offender after he’s released.

The U.S. Attorney’s office reports:

A former youth pastor was sentenced today for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Chaz Chinsethagid, 34, of Jenks, to serve 168 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Chinsethagid will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, from December 2023 through March 2024, Chinsethagid knowingly entered an online chat room. He engaged in several conversations and initiated a conversation with someone he believed to be 14 years old. Chinsethagid spoke with the 14-year-old about school and quickly turned the conversation sexual. He then attempted to entice the 14-year-old to participate in a video call or provide sexually explicit photos.

Chinsethagid further admitted to possessing explicit videos and images of children, some under 12 years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. 

Chinsethagid will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.

Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

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