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‘His Choices Caused Harm’—Wife Speaks Out After Pastor Husband Dies by Suicide Amid Child Sex Abuse Allegations
Chruch Leaders ^ | December 11, 2023 | Dale Chamberlain

Posted on 12/11/2023 11:12:46 PM PST by Morgana

Jarrett Booker, a 37-year-old former youth and worship pastor in Nashua, New Hampshire, was found dead two days after he was terminated from his church amid credible allegations of child sex abuse. The cause of death was suicide.

Nashua Baptist Church, where Booker had served as a pastor, said in a statement on Nov. 29 that Booker died by suicide on the evening of Nov. 27, one day after church leadership communicated to the congregation that Booker had been terminated and was the subject of a criminal investigation.

“On November 22, we became aware of a criminal investigation concerning credible allegations of sexual abuse against minors, implicating Jarrett Booker,” the church said. “Jarrett had been an integral part of our church, serving as Pastor of Worship and Youth Ministry for nearly a decade.”

“These allegations prompted an internal review which revealed further evidence of misconduct,” the statement continued. “Regardless of the outcome of any criminal investigation, this behavior undeniably violated the moral and ethical standards we expect of our leaders and did not uphold the standards of our faith.”

“Consequently, we made the decision to immediately terminate Jarrett’s employment, effective November 25,” the church said. Nashua Baptist Church elders communicated the decision with the church the next day.

“This event has added immeasurably to the complexity and pain of the situation,” the statement went on to say. “Nashua Baptist Church unequivocally condemns all forms of abuse. It is evil and our God hates it. We are committed to transparency and to supporting the healing process for victims.”

The church further urged anyone with information about Booker’s “inexcusable actions” to contact the police.

Sgt. John Cinelli, the public information officer and communications division supervisor for the Nashua Police Department, confirmed with Patch that Booker was under criminal investigation.

“We learned of the alleged crimes through an investigation by another police department,” he said. “The investigation is still ongoing even though the suspect is deceased.”

Booker is survived by his wife, Rachel, and his son, Edward, as well as his parents, brother, in-laws, and nieces.

Roughly a week-and-a-half after her husband’s passing, Rachel Booker reflected on the tragedy in a Facebook post on Dec. 7.

“The last two weeks have been a blender of emotions, one that is still spinning violently at every turn,” Rachel wrote. “Eddie and I are eternally grateful for every prayer and words of encouragement as we are starting to build a life as a team of two.”

“Sin is dark, and it destroys. We hate it, we are grieved by it, and we continue to pray for all of those who have been hurt,” Rachel continued. “[Jarrett] had his demons, I won’t pretend that he didn’t. His choices caused harm. The hard truth I am learning is that there are questions for him that will go without answers in my lifetime.”

Rachel added, “But I will hold fast to the hope of the Gospel and press in to the church, family, and friends who have not left our side throughout any of this.”

Rachel concluded the post with a quotation from Ephesians 2:4-6, which says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been save—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”


TOPICS: Current Events
KEYWORDS: baptist; childabuse; childpredators; children; crime; deut22verse5; jarrettbooker; newhampshire; rachelbooker; suicide; transgender
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This is terrible. Ever heard of confessing your sin?
1 posted on 12/11/2023 11:12:46 PM PST by Morgana
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To: Morgana

In your confession, you are supposed to stop.


2 posted on 12/11/2023 11:17:03 PM PST by Jonty30 (In a nuclear holocaust, there is always a point in time where the meat is cooked to perfection. )
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To: Jonty30

Yes stop not kill yourself.


3 posted on 12/11/2023 11:18:37 PM PST by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: Morgana

Except, he might have been killed in prison. My understanding is that, if you are a vulnerable person that is bound for pridon, the pedophilia wing is one of the safest places you can go to.


4 posted on 12/11/2023 11:23:29 PM PST by Jonty30 (In a nuclear holocaust, there is always a point in time where the meat is cooked to perfection. )
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To: Jonty30

Now days they segregate all the rapists/child molesters in prison for that reason. They don’t want lawsuits from the families. So he would have been in the prison far from Bubba and Night Train who would get him.


5 posted on 12/11/2023 11:35:43 PM PST by Morgana ( Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: Morgana

He compounded his errors rather than seek to make things right.
So many people do that.


6 posted on 12/11/2023 11:35:44 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: Morgana

You again.


7 posted on 12/12/2023 4:11:43 AM PST by Ken Regis (I concur. )
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To: Ken Regis

Truth again.


8 posted on 12/12/2023 4:17:02 AM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Morgana

His suicide is sad, but the church is to be commended. It seems that they did all the right things. Immediately contact law enforcement and remove him from all authority. It’s far “easier” to just sweep it under the rug. They made the hard yet correct choice.


9 posted on 12/12/2023 5:52:17 AM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: Morgana

Satan knows your weaknesses and will destroy you with those sins.


10 posted on 12/12/2023 5:57:48 AM PST by bray (You can tell who the Commies fear.)
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To: cyclotic

The church didn’t contact law enforcement. The church says that when it learned that he was being investigated by law enforcement, it fired him. It remains to be seen whether the church was actually aware of his abuses before the cops got on the case.


11 posted on 12/12/2023 7:03:23 AM PST by drjimmy
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To: drjimmy

I missed that in the article, which I did read. Either way, it wasn’t swept.


12 posted on 12/12/2023 7:49:45 AM PST by cyclotic (Don’t be part of the problem. Be the entire problem)
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To: Morgana

He chose the Judas Option.
Wonder to who he threw his “30 pieces of silver”.
Talk about overwhelming guilt. It might be a tough season ahead for all who knew him.


13 posted on 12/12/2023 8:13:33 AM PST by Honest Nigerian
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To: NorthMountain; Ken Regis; patriot torch

Ping


14 posted on 12/12/2023 5:24:43 PM PST by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide

Patrick Burns, Brooklyn priest, kills himself in Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church

https://nypost.com/2018/12/23/patrick-burns-brooklyn-priest-kills-himself-in-holy-name-of-jesus-roman-catholic-church/


15 posted on 12/12/2023 6:58:27 PM PST by patriot torch (..)
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To: patriot torch

glass houses...stones, Torchy.


16 posted on 12/12/2023 7:06:57 PM PST by ebb tide
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To: patriot torch

When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
[John 8:7]

17 posted on 12/12/2023 7:09:43 PM PST by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide

16 priests accused of abuse have committed suicide

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/bal-te.suicide26may26-story.html

TFTP

It looks like your glass Cathedral gets shattered again.

Have a great night!


18 posted on 12/12/2023 7:10:29 PM PST by patriot torch (..)
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To: patriot torch

Judas Iscariot committed suicide.

What’s your point?


19 posted on 12/12/2023 7:16:53 PM PST by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide

You tell me. You’re the one that found it necessary to ping me after all.

Something about “glass houses”

You really shouldn’t compete in fields where the odds are stacked against you!


20 posted on 12/12/2023 7:21:23 PM PST by patriot torch (..)
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