James A. Moore and FBC-Farmers Branch

In a recent editorial, Marv Knox suggested we “hold churches accountable for abuse” by publishing the names of those who allow an abusing minister to move on without warning others. Nice thought...but I’m not holding my breath waiting for anyone in Baptist leadership to actually do that.

Typically, neither the churches nor the ministers who turn a blind eye are ever held accountable. Just a few examples: pastor Steve Gaines is still in the pulpit at Bellevue; minister James Crittenden is still in the pulpit at Southmont; and music minister James A. Moore is still in the pulpit at First Baptist Church of Farmers Branch.

In fact, music minister James A. Moore was much-lauded recently. He was presented the Texas Choirmaster Award, which is the most prestigious award given by the Texas Choral Directors Association. He is described as “a person who has exhibited unparalleled leadership in the choral field.”

Is he deserving of such an award? Probably. He always did have an incredible voice.

But he should also be known for his lack of leadership in protecting kids and for his role in concealing clergy child molestation.

Moore knew about another minister’s “sexual contact” with a minor, and didn’t warn others. (See church’s court-filed acknowledgment of music minister’s knowledge in ¶ 16) He knew, not only because I told him when I was a kid, but he also knew because the perpetrator himself talked about it. (Moore’s sworn affidavit at ¶ 4) Yet, Moore kept it quiet. And the perpetrator moved on to another church where he continued as a children’s minister.

Years later, Moore had a second chance to do the right thing. He failed all over again. He made excuses. He said he didn’t know “details.” But he knew there was “sexual contact” – shouldn’t that have been enough? He said it was “consensual.” Isn’t that frightening? This is a man who spent his career working with high school kids as a choir director. How can he even imagine that a 29-year old married minister could have “sexual contact” with a 16-year old girl, and that it could somehow be “consensual”? That’s pure, raw, dangerous, arrogant ignorance.

That’s something James A. Moore should also be known for.

And the church Moore works for – First Baptist Church of Farmers Branch – should also be known. It should be known for what it allowed in the past, for what it covered up, and for what it continued to try to cover up many years later. Its pastor Sam Underwood is a man who himself was reported to have sexually abused an adult congregant. (Maybe that helps to explain why secrecy seemed to be his style, even when the report involved clergy child molestation. Just a bad habit?) This blind-eyed church continues to keep both Moore and Underwood as its leaders. Maybe it should be called the church of no accountability.