Pastor admits to "sexual incident" with teen 20 years ago, gets standing ovation
Megachurch pastor Andy Savage made a confession this past Sunday at Highpoint Church in Memphis, Tennessee.
"As a college student on staff at a church in Texas more than 20 years ago, I regretfully had a sexual incident with a female high school senior in the church," he said.
His request for forgiveness got a standing ovation from the congregation.
Jules Woodson was 17 years old when she says she was sexually assaulted by Savage during a ride home from church. At the time, Savage was a 22-year-old youth minister at a Houston church. Woodson recently went public about her story on a Christian blog.
"I did it because I was scared and I was in shock and I didn't understand what was happening," Woodson said.
She said she notified a different pastor, who told her to keep quiet. she says Savage left the church weeks later.
In the wake of the "Me Too" movement , Woodson felt the need to speak up. She sent Savage an email last month. He didn't respond until Monday, and she said he apologized.
Chris Conlee, the lead pastor of the Memphis church where Savage now ministers, prayed for Savage and Woodson.
"It saddens us that Ms. Woodson has not been on the same road to healing," Conlee said.
"An apology does not change the fact that what happened to me was against the law and that it was wrong," Woodson said.
On the night of the incident, Woodson says Savage got down on his knees and apologized, but told her to keep the incident a secret and take it to her grave.
On Tuesday, the church issued a statement saying only that "there will be additional information from Andy and the church soon."
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Somebody please explain to me how can churches be considered a safe place for people if shit like this keeps happening?
Your continued use of logical thought would surely have you banished from those religious communities.
My question is, At what point will states or the federal government use the RICO laws and prosecute churches for permitting and protecting sexual predators.
You make that sound like it's a bad thing.
You know as well as I do these bible thumping pedophiles and their followers will scream religious persecution the minute there is even a rumor of that happening.
There was something a while ago that showed how Catholics and Christians and all the others could be charged as an invading force to the United States. Something about how the Vatican is considered a sovereign nation and the church is supposed to report to the Vatican or something like that.
Are you serious?
smh
Looks like dominionism isn't the only thing religious extremists are trying to mainstream.
The members missing from this seed is priceless......
where's the loving defense of this Christian's morality ?
I can one-up that pastor. I admit to having a "sexual incident" with a teenage girl 64 years ago in the back seat of my father's Hudson Hornet. She gave me her high school ring as a memento of the event.
Now that I've admitted it, can I get any accolades?
I can only provide one thumbs up
Disgusting......would these lowlifes applaud if it where one of their female relatives this asshole had the sexual encounter with.....stupid backwards people.
.would these lowlifes applaud if it where one of their female relatives
The Duggars would.
It's the same old Christian "get out of jail free card." It doesn't matter what you do, you're forgiven, as long as your apology is sincere. Of course, who can judge your sincerity, only a supernatural being who you will never have to hear from. A nauseating deal, I'm glad that the Jews rejected it.