Emotional Church Votes to Permit Registered Sex Offender in Pews -- With Conditions

CARLSBAD, Calif., May 7, 2007 — -- Amid an emotional debate that nearly ripped apart a church congregation, the Pilgrim United Church of Christ voted Sunday in a two-thirds majority to permit a registered sex offender to join its flock, after it develops a special set of guidelines for such a situation.

The tight-knit California community found its motto "All are welcome" greatly challenged in January when its pastor, Madison Shockley, introduced a registered sex offender (whose name we are withholding at the request of the church) to the congregation. The man was asking to join the church.

A split developed in the church, leading to Sunday's vote, which resulted in an agreement to create a set of stipulations for when a registered sex offender wants to attend services.

Among the new protocals -- people who work with children would be screened and procedures put in place for the way a registered sex offender could participate in the congregation.

The church issued a statement today and said there is no "change in status" for the individual who sparked the creation of their "safe church policy," and also said "he is aware of the adoption of the policy and is pleased that the church is moving forward in this way."

Member Cindy Dankberg voted against the policy and told the San Diego Union Tribune, "I think it was a good process. People got the opportunity to be heard."

Shockley said the debate is a necessary one if the church is going to keep up with the times.

"The reality is that sex offenders are among any population of people," he said. "We're coming to grips with the reality."

When the church first learned a registered sex offender was vying for a spot in their congregation, "It ripped us apart," said Shockley. "It was devastating. There was a big chasm among people with different opinions, different histories; an intense debate ensued. For a brief time, the first week after this happened, we were looking at a church split right in the eye."

On that Sunday, the registered sex offender rose and told the stunned congregation — few of whom were given previous warning — that he'd been convicted of molesting two boys in 1983 and then of exposing himself to a group of children in 1998. He said he'd been released from a mental hospital last year and now hoped to join the church as a way of reintegrating into society.

"I'm just looking forward to getting back into the community," he said, "and hopefully being accepted by you all."