Bob Gray of Jacksonville, Florida Arrested for child Molesta

Bob Gray of Jacksonville, Florida Arrested for child Molestation





Latest Update: July 6-7, 2006

The latest alleged victim is a man, who charges that he was molested as an 8 year old boy:

Bob Gray charged Today with Molesting a Little Boy

Exclusive: Dr Gray Molested Me as a Boy

Video

11:00 PM Video

News4Jax is saying that Gray is in jail at this moment, though the article is not written clearly and appears to contradict itself:

Former Trinity Pastor Back In Jail On New Sex Charge

Video

June 30, 2006

Bob Gray has a pre-trial hearing today. He is pleading "Not guilty."

Pre-Trial Hearings for Former Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church

VIDEO: First Coast, early report

June 12, 2006

Pastor Accused of Sex Charges Appears in Court

First Coast, Noon Report (Video)
First Coast, Six PM Report (Video)

June 8, 2006 P.M.

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/15179.html

Article by Don Boys, which is a pretty good article, except I notice it took the fall of a "big name" to get anybody with a public reputation to step up and address this problem. And this problem has been rampant for years. And Boys still insists that church law is kept within the boundaries of the local church. This is not an accurate representation of what Scripture teaches about church government.

Pastor, or any Christian, if you know of abuse in the church down the road, you are responsible to confront it and initiate an investigation if possible.

The shepherd does not tell the Master which sheep he will protect and which sheep he may neglect. The Master has already told the shepherds that they are there to protect His flock. He makes no other distinction. Pastors are responsible to their church officers, but they are also responsible to each other and to the church at large. As are all Christians. Hiding behind the walls of a local church is despicable and a betrayal of all that Christ taught.

Latest Update: May 28, 2006 P.M.

The Florida Times-Union has published details of some of the allegations and further details on the ministry of Bob Gray:

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/052806/met_21984591.shtml

May 27, 2006 P.M.

A former member of Trinity baptist speaks out:
http://www.fundamentalforums.com/showpost.php?p=88734&postcount=52

May 27, 2006 A.M.

More details on the conditions of Gray's bond:

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/052706/met_21980781.shtml

May 26, 2006 P.M.

Bob Gray is out of jail on bond:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=58208

The video supplies a lot more details, including a fear from prosecutors that Gray may flee to Germany. They also declared that he had been preparing to leave for Germany at the time he was arrested:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/player.aspx?aid=68563&bw=

Here is the News4Jax text copy report:

http://www.news4jax.com/news/9281885/detail.html

Here is the News4Jax video report:

http://www.news4jax.com/video/9282919/detail.html?taf=jax


May 25, 2006 P.M.

News4Jax.com has a story that updates the news this morning about the most recent alleged victim in the Bob Gray case:

http://www.news4jax.com/news/9273998/detail.html


May 25, 2006 A.M.

New charges were filed against Bob Gray last night, based on charges brought by another woman, the 17th to come forward. This brings the total number of charges against him to four counts:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=58208

Here is the video presentation of the story:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/player.aspx?aid=68423&bw=

Many thanks to "Greaves" who sent the proper URL for the "Pastor Defenders" video that I referenced yesterday. Here it is:

http://www.news4jax.com/video/9267683/detail.html


May 24, 2006 P.M.

There is a video update on the Gray case, an "equal time" report that depicts people on the other side of the question, insisting Bob Gray is innocent.

http://www.news4jax.com/video/9267683/detail.html


News4Jax just now broke a new story about a victim aserting that church leadership knew about the situation. Here is the link:

http://www.news4jax.com/news/9269585/detail.html

May 23, 2006 P.M.

First Coast News presented a video at 11:00 last night, with a collection of statements from alleged victims:

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/player.aspx?aid=68236&bw=

Here is a text version (shortened) of the video:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=58052

If you are a victim, you can call this number to report your case. Your anonymity is guaranteed. 904 630-2168.


Latest Update: May 23, 2006 A.M

News4Jax.com prints today that Bob Gray could get life for the two counts of sexual battery with which he is charged. Though the statute of limitations has run out on any sexual improprieties taken with girls 12 and over two decades ago, there is no statute of limitations on sexual battery against a child under 12. Here is the story from News4Jax:

http://www.news4jax.com/news/9256298/detail.html

A News4Jax video report includes an interview with the detective. And, of course, it includes the statement released by Trinity as they talk about the sacredness of their ministry and neglect to say anything about moral responsibility, grief, the alleged victims, what God expects of them in this situation, etc.

http://www.fox30online.com/mediacenter/
When you get to this page, look to the right and click on the "Founder of Trinity Christian Academy faces capital sexual battery charges" hyperlink.

First Coast News has again alleged that victims insist that the church leadership knew what was going on. The following video clip includes interviews with several alleged victims, and it includs some upsetting narrative. A sideways reference is made to the exaltation of the preacher so common in Fundamentalist churches, which is what kept Bob Gray in power even after alleged "church discipline" (that was not biblical church discipline at all).

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/player.aspx?aid=68208&bw=


May 22, 2006
Currently, Bob Gray is charged with two counts of sexual battery against girls under the age of 12 (two different girls). Fifteen women in total have come forward. Most of Gray's alleged crimes occured with girls over the age of 12. In Florida, the statute of limitations has run out in those cases (where the alleged victim was over 12). However, investigators hope to use the aggregate of disclosures to help build their case.

Investigators have reported that Gray's return to Jacksonville from the mission field prompted alleged victims to come forward with charges.

Trinity Baptist, having taken refuge with attorneys, has issued the following careful statement, in which in their efforts to protect themselves they have named Christ but failed to provide Christ's comfort to the alleged victims: "Trinity's mission is to serve Christ. Any abuse of a minor hinders the church from accomplishing that mission is immoral, is sinful and a violation of what Trinity stands for.”

It is a statement so devoid of anything resembling what Christ says and what He commands of His people that it is very nearly a cynical statement, more certain to bring reproach upon His name than to glorify Him in any way. However, it does a good job of freeing up Trinity Baptist from any legal liability while allowing them to mouth His name.

As the Lord Jesus can defend His name quite ably, we can commend such statements to Him in prayer and ask Him to vindicate His righteousness, His grace, His mercy, and the weight of importance He places upon those that men in chuch office would dismiss as "the least of His brethren".

http://www.fox30online.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=ADA58B54-950D-4E75-ADB8-FF961CE1DC01

Next, talk about jaw-dropping evil (or stupidity, or both) in church leadership. Gray was confronted over molesting little girls, and according to the current church leadership, he was disciplined. How odd: he was disciplined for lasciviousness and yet he was never removed from office. Wow! I wonder how they define church discipline at Trinity. Extra Bible study? Sweeping the men's room? It's certain that the elders were never called in to confront the situation. Nor was Gray ever removed from office, which should have happened as soon as he admitted to such gross sin or it was proved. And, needless to say, the authorities were never called in even though a crime had been committed.

Here is the article detailing the so-called "church discipline":

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=58056

Reminds me of Everrett Farris making Dave Hyles sweep up and write a letter of apology to Miller Road Baptist Church and calling that "church discipline." And the total number of women who have come forward with allegations of some type of molestation/sexual abuse is now 17.

Here is a news video that is really eye-opening:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/player.aspx?aid=68231&bw=

Update May 21, 2006, P.M.
Trinity Baptist Church has hired Attorney David Gibbs as their representative in this matter. (Gibbs is NOT representing Bob Gray.) According to News4Jax.com News, one of the alleged victims has said "she and other victims want the church to admit that they have known what happened to many girls in Gray's office -- years she said the victims 'suffered broken marriages and broken lives.'" Victims continue to affirm that the church leadership knew about this situation for years and participated in hiding it. Others in the church were stunned by the news of Gray's arrest.

The church leadership continues to decline to comment to the newspapers.

Sex Charges Surprise Some Church Members, Others Say 'It Was Coming' (News4Jax.com May 21, 2006)

May 21, 2006, a.m.
Fox 30 WAWS News has reported that they have obtain a report from the Sheriff's office saying that six new women have come forward with charges.

Cloud Hangs Over Sunday Services After Pastor’s Sex Abuse Arrest (Fox 30 WAWS News 5/21/2006)

Meanwhile, I've received several anonymous messages declaring the innocence of the church leadership. I do read all messages and keep anonymous messages confidential (unless they contain threats or illegal content). But cryptic remarks about the whole story never being known and this being a special case are nothing new in these situations.

There is one clear, right way to handle corruption in high office. And that is never by excuses, redirection, and delay. Biblically, such matters must be handled by confrontation and open investigation. If church leadership has failed to respond in a biblical way, then repentance is the next measure.

May 20, 2006
The e-mail chute has been filling up with tips from people. And thank you. I am glad that people trust me enough to send me tips, knowing I will publish them as soon as I can verify them.

But this story has stunned me. I have been wrongly accused of hating Baptists, for there is a strata of Baptist pastors I consider as far removed from the child molesting, sodomizing, beat-your-kids brand of Fundamentalism as I would consider the Apostle Paul. I disagree with their silly pomposity over their so-called "Baptist distinctives" that they hold with such pride, but I think they are god-fearing men who humbly search the Word of God. And Bob Gray of Jacksonville Florida is---or was---one of those men.

According to one news report, he has made some admissions of improper actions, which is why I am posting this. According to News4Jax, the police report "goes on to say that Gray 'admitted to 'French kissing' several girls in his office at school years ago.'" (News4Jax.com. May 20, 2006 http://www.news4jax.com/news/9248761/detail.html) That may not be enough to indict him for child molesting, but if he has made such an admission, his admission shows that he is guilty of the grossest sin known to the Church of God.

The arrest was made based on charges brought by two women, now adults, against Bob Gray. But fifteen women have spoken to First Coast News, each alleging that she was molested by Gray when she was of elementary school age. They have alleged that the molestation continued for several years. The mother of one of the victims has alleged to First Coast News that the church leadership knew of complaints brought against Gray and "swept them under the rug."

One member of the church, a man who was not identified except to say that he was a member of Trinity, said that allegations were brought before the church congregation by the pastor himself in the 1980's and categorically denied. He added that the pastor admiited "some indiscretions" to him but pleaded the cause of the ministry for keeping them quiet. This man has alleged that some of the deacons knew of the problem but chose not to act.

Nobody at Trinity Christian Academy would talk to First Coast News. However, First Coast News reports that Gray's name has been removed from the church's directory, and his picture has been taken down from the church web site.

Gray was scheduled to appear in court today, but he waived his first appearance.

A news update is scheduled to be presented Monday night on First Coast News.

First Coast News is a joint venture of ABC 25 and NBC 12. Their website is http://www.firstcoastnews.com/

Trinity Baptist Church has released their response to the situation, that they have hired attorneys to investigate the matter. They make no reference to God, prayer, forgiveness, or a call for a session of elders (investigation by a group of elders is the Biblical method of investigation of an accusation against an elder). They say nothing about the accused man or the women who have come forward. Instead, they have circled their wagons and have resorted to attorneys. You can read this declaration here:

http://media.tbc.org/download/statement.pdf