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.”
If only he had been allowed to marry this wouldn’t have happened…
Oh wait…
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.