Williams said Perry eventually began attending an adult Bible study, and a year later he repented for what he had done and “demonstrated what appeared to be genuine spiritual growth.”
Perry soon began working around the campus under the supervision of church staff, Williams said.
“Because we believe that the gospel changes lives, we believed redemption was possible,” the pastor said. “At the same time, redemption never removes accountability, responsibility or consequences of past actions.”
After Perry was convicted and placed on probation, Williams said the church allowed him to continue working there.
“We put stringent safeguards and accountability measures in place,” Williams said. “The county was aware that he was volunteering on our campus, which includes the school, and (we) were given a list of our restrictions as well. Mr. Perry was never to be alone with a child. Never. If a child greeted him, he could respond politely so as not to be rude to the child. He was not to initiate or engage in extended conversations with a child.”
Williams said church leadership knew about Perry’s conviction, though he admitted they had not shared that information with the school’s teachers.
“There are two things that we believe to be true at the same time,” he said. “We believe that children must be protected. … We also believe that every person, even someone who has committed a serious crime, is made in the image of God and should be treated with dignity. … One of the questions we’re now asking ourselves is whether we struck that balance wisely.”
During the meeting, the crowd frequently challenged Williams. Some people shouted that Perry hadn’t always been supervised, and others criticized Williams for the church allowing a sex offender on a campus that served children.
Williams told the group he had seen no evidence that any child at the church or school was abused by Perry. However, he said Perry was no longer allowed to volunteer there. He also said he had spoken with Perry’s probation officer and was told Perry was not complying with the terms of his probation.
