Posted on 05/23/2024 11:01:23 AM PDT by Morgana
A Houston-area church has fired its longtime pastor after local police arrested him on child pornography charges.
In a public statement, Calvary Chapel of The Woodlands announced its board had unanimously stripped 63-year-old Bruce Hollen of his lead pastor role on May 8, the same day that Montgomery County authorities arrested him.
“The board hereby has determined that Bruce Hollen no longer has authority, authorization, or permission to conduct any business on behalf of Calvary Chapel of the Woodlands,” the church website said. “He may not hold himself out as a leader in any capacity for the church, and he may not speak on behalf of the church in any capacity.”
All other information on the church’s website was disabled. The church’s social media accounts have also been taken down, including its official Facebook account.
According to Montgomery County authorities, Hollen was charged with possession with intent to promote child pornography, a second-degree felony in Texas. His arrest follows a sting operation targeting internet crimes against children. Authorities said Hollen possessed sexually explicit photos of girls between the ages of 9 and 12.
Hollen was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, and his bond was set at $30,000.
The Calvary Chapel of Woodlands met in an auditorium at McCullough Junior High School, but local school board officials said the church met on Sundays and not when students were on campus, ABC 13 reported.
The Woodlands Calvary Chapel is part of an evangelical church association born out of Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel in southern California. Jesus Revolution, the 2023 movie starring Kelsey Grammer and Jonathan Roumie, depicts the Calvary Chapel movement in its 1960s counter-cultural beginnings. Calvary Chapels have since been known for their expository teaching, contemporary worship music, and emphasis on evangelism.
Calvary Chapel congregations operate independently, with self-government, although pastors must adhere to “Calvary Church Distinctives.”
Although Calvary Chapel Woodland’s website has been largely disabled, a cached page outlining the church’s beliefs mirrors those of many other nondenominational churches: belief in inspired scripture, the trinity, the divinity of Jesus, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of the Holy Spirit through exercised Biblical gifts and believers’ baptism.
“Our desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit. We do that by preaching the gospel and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” the page reads.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why does MinistryWatch report on sex crimes? These stories are tough to read and sometimes even tougher to report, but we think they are vital to our mission to bring transparency, accountability, and credibility to the evangelical church. To read more about why and how we report these stories, read “Why MinistryWatch Reports On Sex Crimes.” You can find that story here.
“Didn’t see yet.”
What did you not see?
I hope so, because this man needs to be tossed into the sea 🌊 with one around his neck.
Here’s hoping.
A charge. Not a guilty verdict or a trial.
What are you getting at?
That is a distinct possibility. Look at all the lies that were stirred up on so many men by women accepting $$ to lie about assault and rape.
It's a shame you minimize the massive abuse by the clergy which has caused unspeakable harm to thousands.
When there is no accountability, sh*t happens and expands.
“A charge. Not a guilty verdict or a trial.”
First step in due process.
“What are you getting at?”
Trying to see what you see.
Funny how you never read about moslem “clergy” doing that stuff...they’re always Christian. A coincidence?
Thanks for your ministry. There are a few and truly very few dirtbags. I know of one who was kept in his position even though he had a background as a molester.
When I found out that he was getting involved with another organization involving youth, one in which I had no part of, well, there might have been a phone call through a backchannel.
Zero Tolerance is the correct attitude when it comes to child predators.
Dirty little secret is that Muslims are heavily into porn. Possibly because of the oppressive manner in which women are treated. Be that as it may, the reason you never see these types of legal actions against Muslim clergy in the US is twofold. One, almost all the males are into it too. Why would they rat out their clergy when they’re doing it too. Two, the next reason would be there would be a violent reaction (plus the usual civil rights lawsuit!) by one of the congregants against the legal authorities. In short intimidation is how they get away with both socially and legally!
When Arab businessmen arrive in the US, the first place they head to is the Nudie Bar.
but if guilty, I have no sympathy nor words...
Treat him the same way you'd treat a clergyman from a Church or denomination that you hate.
“When Arab businessmen arrive in the US, the first place they head to is the Nudie Bar.”
Their women have them beat.
Wheels-up out of Amman, Jordan one morning a Very Well-proportioned young women seated in the row in front of me ordered a scotch on the rocks, pulled off her full-face hajib and let loose her long, black hair. She had a very attractive face. She belted a few of those drinks down before the plane landed London.
That’s another thing they do, as soon as the plane leaves Saudi Airspace, they will proceed to empty the plane of all booze.
“ It’s a shame you minimize the massive abuse by the clergy which has caused unspeakable harm to thousands.”
That’s what I thought
Exactly!!!
I'm assuming you passed her my phone number.
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