Darrell Gilyard Controversy: Church Hires Convicted Sex Offender, No Kids Allowed At Sermons (VIDEO)

A convicted sex offender can keep on preaching, but children are barred from attending his sermons.

The Florida Times Union reports that lawyers for Darrell Gilyard withdrew a motion to allow minors at sermons conducted by the former Jacksonville, Fla., megachurch pastor.

Though children are not allowed, attendance at the Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church has spiked since Gilyard began preaching in January, less than two months after he was released from prison, according to the Times Union.

“He was down on the ground, and the church was down on the ground, and we both needed to get up,” Deacon Paul S. Newman Sr. told the paper.

Gilyard pleaded guilty in 2009 to molesting a teenage girl from his former Jacksonville church and sending lewd messages to another, according to a previous Times Union article.

Since Gilyard joined the church, protesters have greeted him when he comes to work.

"A minister who has done such evil should not be restored to the pulpit until his repentance is as notorious as his sin," George Harvey, pastor at Mt. Charity Baptist Church told News 4 JAX.

Under the terms of his probation, News 4 JAX explains, Gilyard is not allowed to have "unsupervised contact with children under 18 years old."

Comments

[Richard Chan]

09:49 AM on 02/29/2012

The church is looking out for their children and allowing a man to continue to earn his living and try to become closer to God. He has sinned but still deserves a chance to do what he has been called to do.

Let them that are without sin cast the first stone.

[Silkslippers]

11:57 AM on 02/29/2012

He is not needed. Speaking of stones, let them "cry out" before he be permitted to "earn a living". So that's what preaching is all about?...earning a living...

[Richard Chan]

12:23 PM on 02/29/2012

No that's not what preaching is about, but some people do have empathy for others who have fallen and want to help them get back on their feet. The man needs help and the church is opening it's doors to him, not pushing him away. Preaching is what he knows and because he made a mistake doesn't mean he cannot change and doesn't deserve a second chance.

The church is about forgiveness first and foremost. Why can't people understand that?

[Paul Justice]

11:02 AM on 03/04/2012

I'm amazed at how you completely miss the point here. The guy is a convicted child molester, and the church goes out of its way to accommodate HIM. Now those are some f***ed up priorities.

I don't necessarily think that such people should have to pay for their crimes forever, but to put him in a leadership position is just bizarre, not to mention potentially dangerous. And I'll bet this very same church preaches against "the evil homosexuals and their agenda." Pricelsss irony. And typical hypocrisy.

[keezze]

11:23 PM on 02/28/2012

the blind leading the blind

[Nellbaby]

10:09 PM on 02/28/2012

Unbelievable. My late father was a Baptist Minister and I feel so sad that this has been permitted to happen. What stupid people that allow this to go on.

[Assumed Name]

06:49 PM on 02/28/2012

God, you created som very stupid and/or very sick people.

[sunoftime]

04:36 PM on 02/28/2012

Someone please explain how a sex offender who is attracted to children...children, is supposed to usher people unto the lord? Remind me again what god this man serves?

[jstanavgguy]

06:54 PM on 02/28/2012

Because Christ preached forgiveness.

[bgofca]

07:27 PM on 02/28/2012

so you would risk your kids because you believe he would not do it again?

[sunoftime]

02:40 PM on 03/01/2012

Ok, fair enough. Now let's turn the tables and see how much forgiveness you'd grant if he did it to you or one of your kids. And every time you go to church you have to look at him preach about how Jesus forgives. Man that irritates me.

[GoodDog0325]

11:21 PM on 02/27/2012

Minors aren't allowed at his sermons? Does that mean that minors are allowed in Sunday School, Youth Group, Church camp, etc? I'd think that minors would be safest AT THE SERMON, but not allowed anywhere near this guy without supervision.

[clicster]

09:49 PM on 02/27/2012

Let me see "sex offender" one who is offensive via sex~ i.e.,( minute man syndrome) ~ this cat here is an convicted MOLESTER of the sheeple while claiming at the same time to being their shepherd... "only in America"

[fabulousat39]

03:35 PM on 02/27/2012

But the Bible teaches there is no sin that isn't forgivable in Jesus." As Christians, we believe there is no unforgivable sin,. "Jesus Christ is our perfect savior, and that
means there's not a single sin a person can't turn to God with and find forgiveness."

Galatians 6:1
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted

[sunoftime]

04:35 PM on 02/28/2012

Jesus apparently never had a dong shoved in his rear

[Haughton Clark]

02:48 PM on 02/27/2012

I actually believe this is a good thing. He's a sex offender for a reason. while I believe that even sex offenders can be "rehabilitated" by God, there are consequences to one's actions. Not being able to be around children is a consequence for his past crimes. While he may be forgiven (and his actions will dictate a rehabilitation), the consequences are not able to be changed.

[Annie Snyder]

10:51 AM on 02/27/2012

What kind of person would go to a church with this man? Not only would I not want this man around my children, I would not want a single one of his "flock" around them either.

[Matt Juba]

08:27 AM on 02/27/2012

Religion is about the exploitation of the human mind. Read the accounts of Catholic priests who molested children and what they convinced/told the children while it was happening.

Gilyard is no different. Gain the support of the victim through religion. After that, the crime begins.

[gbrownstrat]

12:03 AM on 02/27/2012

Well. No kids can go to Catholic church anymore.

[onlyThis]

04:51 PM on 02/26/2012

It's simple really, his preaching must have brought in a lot of money. That's what most religions are really about anyhow.

[Phreaked]

04:14 PM on 02/26/2012

Is it any surprise that the Church is allowing a sex offender back in?

[thewirah]

11:36 AM on 02/26/2012

Children shouldn't be allowed in Church before they turn 18 anyway.