A 71-year-old associate pastor was charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct of a person under 13 and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relationship during his arraignment in May 2024. He was freed on a $50,000 cash/surety bond.
The following month, the associate pastor was charged with additional counts, two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim under 13 and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relationship.
The accused is the second pastor, and the third person, involved with the church to be charged with sexual assault.
The son of the accused, a church volunteer, admitted to sexually assaulting four children under the age of 13 for a decade. He was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
A 58-year-old pastor was also arrested in 2023 and is charged with seven felonies for crimes allegedly occurring in 2011. He is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a relationship; one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child under 13; two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a relationship; one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct or subsequent offense; and one count of accosting children for immoral purposed.
Dave Clark "Living Word Church Pastor Randy Saylor faces new charges" https://www.ourmidland.com/news/police_and_courts/article/living-word-church-pastor-randy-saylor-charged-19496839.php (Jun. 05, 2024).
Commentary and Checklist
It is estimated that the global prevalence rate of sexual abuse is approximately 18 percent for girls and 7.6 percent for boys. In recent years, commissioned studies have found alarming rates of clergy sexual abuse within various religious communities. https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/amendment-4/school-searches
As to leadership in religious organizations, within the United States alone, more than 5,300 members of the clergy have been accused of child sexual abuse. https://www.consumersafety.org/personal-injury-lawsuits/catholic-church/accused-priests/
While significant strides have been made in many religious organizations in regard to child safe environments, more work is necessary. Training on preserving a child safe environment should include information on how to recognize the signs of a potential victim of sexual abuse.
Signs victims may exhibit include:
- Extreme changes in behavior
- Eating disorders
- Withdrawal
- Aggressiveness
- Sudden refusal to participate in physical activities
- Sudden refusal to change clothes in front of others
- Regression to infantile behavior
- Multiple personalities
- Delinquent behavior
- Failing grades
- Poor concentration
- Hyper-vigilance
- Nightmares or bedwetting
- Bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
- Discussing sex or sexual acts openly
- Touching other children or adults in a sexual manner
- Running away from home
- Poor hygiene
- Depression
- Unusual attraction to, or fear of, adults
