A South Carolina church under investigation for allowing a registered sex offender to work as a volunteer custodian has reopened its children’s ministry with new safeguards in place.
Pawleys Island Community Church (PICC) announced the relaunch of its children’s ministry over the weekend.
“Background checks and training have always been required to volunteer in PICC Kids, but we are now even more committed to ensuring we are providing the safest and most secure environment for children in our care,” an email announcing the relaunch reads, according to South Carolina-based WCSC News.
PICC is utlizing MinistrySafe, which the church described as the “foremost leader in child sexual abuse prevention,” to implement a safety system that includes grooming awareness training for staff and volunteers, improved background checks and better monitoring and oversight of programs.
“As part of the implementation of MinistrySafe’s five-part system, all PICC staff members as well as volunteers serving in PICC Kids on or after August 23 are now required to pass a multi-point, in-depth background check and complete a sophisticated and comprehensive sexual abuse prevention training,” the email continued.
MinistrySafe, which says it provides resources to about 25,000 congregations, confirmed to WCSC News that the church had signed up for those resources. But the group disputes earlier reports that it had partnered with the congregation, calling the claim “misleading and inaccurate.”
“‘Partnership’ implies communication and agreement between PICC and MinistrySafe leadership; no such communication or agreement has occurred in any form,” the organization said.
“While we are hopeful that this church is moving in the right direction where child protection is concerned, we have no relationship with the church or the now-defunct school.”
Warren Spence Perry, 70, a registered sex offender, was arrested last month after authorities learned he was serving as a volunteer custodian at Pawleys Island Christian Academy (PICA).
Perry was placed on probation in 2023 after he was convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor. Volunteering at the academy violated the terms of his probation.
The church faced backlash for allowing Perry to volunteer. Senior Pastor Donald James Williams, his wife, Virginia Lee Williams, and Academy Director Jennifer Howard all resigned from their leadership positions.
Williams said Perry had disclosed his criminal history and was allowed to work at the church as long as he was never alone with children.
The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (SCDPPPS) told ABC 15 that it approved Perry’s request to work at the church on the assumption that he would avoid contact with minors, based in part on character witness statements Williams provided on Perry’s behalf.
Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver announced last month that authorities were charging Williams and Howard with obstruction of justice, taking steps to place children at risk and criminal conspiracy. Virginia Williams was charged with obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy. Perry was rearrested and faces new charges of obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy.
Police also arrested Michael Anthony Fields, the church’s director of operations and missions, charging him with “Unlawfully Placing a Child at Risk or Causing a Child Harm.” A fifth person, whom authorities identified as the church’s security director, has since been arrested.
Local authorities are working on the investigation with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Children’s Recovery Center, the Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, the South Carolina Department of Social Services and the SCDPPPS.
The church and the academy also face at least six civil lawsuits, according to WCSC. One lawsuit accuses Perry of abusing a student at the school.
A $25 million class-action suit was also filed in state court last month on behalf of all students who attended the academy in the past six years.
A federal class-action complaint was filed against PICC this month in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina by a John Doe and Jane Doe whose child was “entrusted to Defendants’ care.”
In addition to church leaders, the federal complaint names the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), with which PICC cooperates, as well as the SBC Executive Committee. The SBC is a cooperative association of autonomous churches, and each church is self-governed. The SBC does not appoint pastors or staff members for churches, nor does it dictate decisions made at the local church level.
A separate lawsuit names the SCDPPPS as a defendant, WMBF News reports, alleging the agency failed to enforce restrictions meant to keep Perry away from minors even though it had approved his volunteer placement at the church.
The church has closed the academy, which is separate from the children’s ministry, because of the fallout from Perry’s arrest.
“We recognize the information that has come to light over the past few weeks has severed trust and caused tremendous hurt and confusion. For this, the current leadership of PICC offers our sincerest apologies,” the church said.
“Given these recent events, the ongoing investigation, and delays with licensing for the forthcoming school year, current PICC leadership has decided to formally end the PICA ministry. We believe this decision is in the best interest of the community and church.”
