Historic African-American church focus of sex-abuse scandal: So-Called “Minister” of Music

April 18, 2009 by admin Leave a Comment

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — A Baptist church that gained national prominence as the scene of a racially motivated bombing that killed four African-American girls in 1963 is now reeling from the weekend arrest of its music minister on charges of sexual abuse.

Police in Birmingham, Ala., arrested Patrick Jerome Whitehead April 18 and charged him with sexual abuse by force and sodomy on a student at a local high school where Whitehead works as band director.

Whitehead also worked as a music minister at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, a shrine of the Civil Rights Movement and host church for the recent New Baptist Covenant southeast regional meeting.

Local media quoted the church’s pastor, Arthur Price Jr., as being “shocked” by the allegations and describing Whitehead as someone who “always carried himself in an exemplary fashion.”

“We are deeply saddened by the allegation against our minister of music, Patrick Whitehead,” Price told the Birmingham News. “Mr. Whitehead has been a very valuable asset to our church family, and we are devastated by this situation. We are not quick to rush to judgment, but we are committed to praying for him and his family and all parties involved as we anticipate a just resolution to the matter through our legal system.”

Christa Brown, Baptist outreach director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, urged the historic church to set an example publicly pleading for anyone with relevant information to contact police and proactively reach out to any other possible victims with an offer of independent counseling.

“Rarely do sexual predators strike only once, so we believe there could be others who may have been hurt by this Baptist minister,” Brown said. “We hope that anyone who saw, suspected or suffered any questionable misdeeds by this minister will call police immediately.”

SOURCE:
https://baptistnews.com/article/historic-african-american-church-focus-of-sex-abuse-scandal/

ADDITIONAL SOURCE:
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/03_04/2009_04_18_Leech_HuffmanBand.htm

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13 “‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. Leviticus 20:13 New International Version (NIV)
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Romans 1:27 New International Version (NIV)
Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 1 Corinthians 6:9 New International Version (NIV)
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7 New International Version (NIV)
10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:10-11 New International Version (NIV)
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Matthew 23:13 New International Version (NIV)
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Matthew 24:4 New International Version (NIV)
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7: 15-23 New International Version (NIV)
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:1-3 New International Version (NIV)
22 “‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. Leviticus 18:22 New International Version (NIV)