Most of these stories are simple man-screws-child affars. There is a clear victim and a clear perpetrator. It’s predictable to a point were I can say with about 80% certainty 
that pastor Dennis Lee Brown will take a plea and spend some time in prison. There is a clear victim; a 15-year-old from another city. There is a clear perpetrator; a pastor who used the internet to find his young victim. There is circumstantial evidence and evidence that ties Brown directly to the crime. Brown is going down.
Brown is charged with sexual abuse in the third degree, a Class C felony, which, upon conviction is punishable by up to 10 years behind bars and a $10,000 fine.
In a criminal complaint filed in Bremer County, police charge that Brown, a pastor at Ivester Church of the Brethren in rural Grundy Center, met a victim over the Internet and then traveled to Waverly in May to engage in a sexual act.
Why would a long-time pastor engaging in high risk and illegal sexual activity? How do his actions match up to the message of Christ? Not well I think. But then, these case always mystify me. If one is to serve Jesus, then one must put aside the base desires of a criminal and be good. How hard is it for a pastor to be good? It blows my mind that this type of crime happens at all, let alone so frequently.
Brown was pastor at Ivester Church of the Brethren. The website has no information on Brown or his arrest. This is typical for a church is this situation. Their rationale will be something like, “The abuse did not take place on church property so…” Why is it that they cannot see that when their leader falls it brings into question his work and those who followed him? There are questions that need to be asked. What did Brown teach? Was he preaching from a place of love or deceit? Was he authentic or simply flawed beyond reason? Ask the questions people. It will help you heal.
