A former Good Shepherd Lutheran Church member in Raleigh, North Carolina has been reported for sexual abuse. The member is Kenneth Newcomer, he is 61 years old and is the husband of the former director of that congregation.
Church leaders appealed to families who once attended the church’s children’s ministry. The purpose of that appeal was to ensure that there were no more unresolved complaints of this nature.
Kenneth Newcomer has two counts of a child sex crime and 3 counts of indecent behavior toward a child in 2007. However, his lawyer assures him that he will not be found guilty.
The Christian Post writes:
“The church’s senior pastor, Richard Goeres, received an unannounced visit from a Wake County Sheriff’s Office investigator on Feb. 10 regarding the case.
“While we cannot find words to adequately express our sadness upon receiving this report, we are proud of the person who came forward. We pray that there will be no others; if they do, we pray that they will feel empowered to come forward,” Goeres said in a letter to the congregation.
Despite the accusations against him, Newcomer has received support from his community. They even offered their homes to keep him safe, should the trial proceed. U.S. District Judge Margaret Eagles set bail at $1,080,000 on the sexual abuse charges and refused to reduce it.
The only statement they gave from the church was that Newcomer’s wife is no longer from the congregation. They also expressed that they are no longer welcome on church property.
You can continue reading here.