wfn.org | Former youth pastor faces sexual abuse charges in Tennessee

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

July 9, 2002  News media contact: Tim Tanton7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{289}

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - A former youth pastor in Jackson, Tenn., is in
jail on charges of sexually abusing three teen-age boys who attend the
church where he worked.

Curtis Hudson, 33, was indicted by a grand jury on July 1. He is being held
in the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex pending arraignment in
circuit court on July 15, according to Lt. Mike Holt, who works on violent
crimes for the Jackson Police Department.

Hudson had served as associate pastor for youth at the 1,800-member First
United Methodist Church since January 1998. Church youth reported the
allegations of abuse to the Rev. Paul Clayton, senior pastor, on June 4, and
Hudson was relieved of his ministerial duties pending an investigation that
same day. On June 7, he surrendered his clergy credentials.

He is charged with one count of rape of a child, three counts of rape and
seven counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. The alleged abuse
occurred over a period of several months in 2000 and 2001, Holt told United
Methodist News Service.

The three boys are 14, 15 and 16, said Phyllis Maley, business administrator
at First Church. "They have been provided counseling, and certainly the
pastors are open to (helping) them at any time."

The developments came as a shock for church and Memphis Annual Conference
officials. Hudson "had grown" First Church's youth ministry, Maley said. "I
would say that he was very much admired and respected by the congregation.

"The congregation has really been saddened by the whole situation, surprised
and disappointed," Maley said. "The congregation's been concerned for the
alleged victims and for their families. I would say in response to it the
congregation is really showing a lot of unity, and we are just going to do
everything we can to not have something like this happen again."

The case has spurred the congregation in developing and implementing
policies regarding youth programs, and the church is keeping security and
safety in mind as it works on a new education building, according to Maley.
"We have worked as a staff toward having a really well-defined policy, and
we are continuing to work on that. ... This has certainly brought that to
the forefront and put that as a priority."

The Memphis Conference has allowed the conference director of youth ministry
to work with the church's youth program part time, as First Church seeks a
new youth pastor or youth director. The conference staff person is also
working with the church on developing "safe sanctuary" policies, said the
Rev. Ben Boone, Jackson District superintendent. 

With the help of church interns and parents, the youth programs are
continuing as originally scheduled. The church has 50 to 75 participants
year-round in its youth programs, Maley said.

The church and the district responded immediately when the allegations were
made, Boone said. They notified the authorities, in addition to relieving
Hudson of his duties and launching an investigation, he said. 

Boone and another district superintendent were investigating the allegations
when Hudson turned in his credentials.

Hudson had served Covenant United Methodist Church in Cordova, Tenn., from
1993 through 1997 as a layman. He had a "good record of employment" and no
accusations of misconduct while he was there, according to a statement
issued by the Rev. Mark Irvin, pastor. "As a precautionary measure, Covenant
UMC is seeking to determine any possibility of misconduct by Mr. Hudson
during his employment at our church."

The conference is providing health care benefits to the Hudson family for a
three-month period, Boone said. Generally, coverage is provided on an
emergency basis for one quarter, he explained. Hudson himself has received
counseling through the conference since surrendering his credentials, and
counseling is also available to the family, Boone said. Hudson and his wife
have a 2-year-old girl and a 2-month-old boy.
 
The Memphis Conference already has a policy regarding safe sanctuaries for
young people, and it has held workshops on clergy sexual misconduct, Boone
said. He expects the policy to receive more affirmation and attention at the
local church level as a result of the Hudson case.

"Something like this continues to raise awareness to the issues of sexual
misconduct and the needs for churches and for the conference to do adequate
background checks," Boone said. However, even those are "not foolproof," he
noted. "We will all be more vigilant in our process of clergy preparation
and work in our local churches."
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United Methodist News Service
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