“After a youth minister was charged with sex offenses, a Baptist
church promised to protect its children, but all it did was offer an optional
first aid course, and a second employee sexually abused another child, the
family claims in court.
“Parents John and Jane Doe sued Spring Creek Baptist Church on behalf of their
minor daughter Janie, in Montgomery County Court. . . .
"’In 2009, a youth minister at Spring Creek was criminally charged with having sexual contact with minors in Spring Creek's youth groups. The youth minister resigned voluntarily,’ the complaint states.
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| Pastor Paul Bunger Spring Creek Baptist Church |
"’Afterwards, at least one member of Spring Creek communicated to Senior
Pastor Paul Bunger that Spring Creek should adopt policies for protecting
children in its care.’
"’Spring Creek adopted no policies for protecting children other than
offering a first aid course for Sunday School teachers on a voluntary basis.’"
“’That was inadequate,’ the Does say.
“The complaint continues: ‘Multiple members warned Senior Pastor
Bunger and other church leaders that a man, Christopher Ryan Crossno
('Crossno'), was behaving inappropriately toward young children in Spring
Creek's Sunday School programs.’
"‘One Spring Creek employee observed Crossno in a Sunday School classroom
reaching to put his hand up a young girl's dress. The employee stopped Crossno
before it went further.’
"’A concerned parent told Senior Pastor Bunger and other church leaders
that Crossno was making a young girl in a Sunday School classroom uncomfortable
by tickling her.’
"’One Spring Creek member communicated to Senior Pastor Bunger that
Crossno's behavior was characteristic of a pedophile and that Spring Creek
should take steps to keep him away from children.’
"’Spring Creek did not prevent Crossno from having access to the children
in Spring Creek's Sunday School program.’
"’’Instead, for the Fall 2012 - Spring 2013 term, Spring Creek named
Crossno as one of the teachers of its first grade Sunday School class.’
"’Janie Doe was a student in Spring Creek's first grade Sunday School
class in fall 2012.’
"’During class on November 18, 2012, Crossno sexually abused Janie Doe in
the Sunday School classroom.’"
“The family seeks punitive damages for negligence and recklessness.
"’Spring Creek's knowledge based on the prior charges against its youth
minister regarding sex with minors, and the warnings Spring Creek had received
regarding Crossno, Spring Creek's conduct constitutes recklessness,’ the
complaint states.”
Spring
Creek Baptist Church is shown as being affiliated with the Southern Baptist
Convention. Is it any wonder that so many Southern Baptist churches display such
reckless disregard when Southern Baptists’ highest leaders have set such a
reckless example of denominational do-nothingness on clergy sex abuse?
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