Deep Thoughts: Pastor Terry VanHoutan arrested

Monday, August 16, 2010

Pastor Terry VanHoutan arrested

Another Baptist pastor, Terry VanHoutan, was arrested for sexual abuse, and get this, he has a 2001 conviction for indecent exposure. I wonder if his church conducted a background check before licensing him as a pastor?

For several years VanHoutan has been involved with First Baptist Church in Bettendorf. TV6 contacted the head deacon there. He says VanHoutan was licensed as a minister through the church, but was not an employee of the church or pastor of the congregation. VaHoutan was the leader of an adult ministry there, called Celebrate Recovery, for several years until his arrest. The group of 30-40 adults used the church facilities and met there weekly.

At least the press reports do not name children.

Technorati Tags: Baptist,Clergy Sexual Abuse

Comments (10)

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????? · 765 weeks ago

It makes me sick that a man that all of us at the church never saw this.

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2 replies · active 752 weeks ago

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not · 764 weeks ago

Believe me.... it makes all of us sick what this guy has been doing for ''years'' he had everyone fooled! but he cant hide behind God anymore.

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eeee · 752 weeks ago

Hang Him by His Nuts

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------ · 765 weeks ago

Because of the incident in 2001, he was not allowed to work with children in the church.

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1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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downtown_grl · 735 weeks ago

Yes, don't work with children. But when a man preaches, or baptises, or whatever he did in front of the congregation, the children preceive him as a "safe" person. So what happens if they should see him outside of that environment?

Please, please learn from this lesson a conduct background checks on all persons in the church who have anything to do with children and youth. Even if it is chaperoning a youth trip or helping with VBS.

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------ · 765 weeks ago

Do not be so hard on the church. Remember they are hurting too

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***** · 764 weeks ago

I pray for the family,,,, they now have to deal with everything because of what ''he has done'' I hope he will be punished to the fullest extent of the law!

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------ · 764 weeks ago

I hope the courts will realize what he has done to the children , he robbed them of there childhood, and kept on doing it , something they will remember for the rest of their lives, if the paper is correct, they were minor's and he has been doing this for several years,,, this is just sickening!!!

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