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Jacksonville pastor suspended, arrested on child porn charge

Jul. 22, 2005

By Tita Parham*

LAKELAND, Fla. (UMNS) - The Rev. Eric Young was suspended from his
duties as pastor of Fort Caroline United Methodist Church in
Jacksonville in response to allegations that he used a computer at the
church to access Web sites featuring child pornography.

Those allegations led to a two-week police investigation and Young's
arrest July 8 on a state felony charge of possessing child pornography.

The Rev. Rick Neal, Young's superintendent, filed a formal complaint
against Young with Florida Conference Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker July
11.

"I have a responsibility to care for children. I have a responsibility
to the church and pastor," Neal said. "In that list, children come
first, and after taking into consideration many factors, I felt a formal
complaint and request for suspension was warranted."

Young declined to comment when contacted July 22 by United Methodist
News Service.

Following a supervisory hearing with Young, Whitaker recommended to the
Florida Conference Executive Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry
that Young be suspended. The board voted unanimously July 15 to affirm
that recommendation.

Young will continue to receive his salary but will not carry out any
pastoral duties at the church.

"He is not doing anything in relation to the church or any other
church," Neal said. "This will be his status until the judicial process
runs its course."

Police began their investigation June 24 after leaders at Fort Caroline
United Methodist Church notified them about questionable Internet
activity taking place on a computer at the church. The phone company's
Internet service provider contacted the church the day before and told
them they had noticed the activity. Police technicians examined Young's
computer and files and said they found links to pornographic Web sites
and other illegal material.

Immediately after the allegations were made, Young agreed to discontinue
practicing ministry at the church at the direction of Neal and the
church staff pastor parish relations committee. Since then, Neal has
been providing leadership for the church and arranging for other clergy
in the area to preach and handle pastoral duties. He is looking for an
interim pastor.

The United Methodist Book of Discipline allows the church to take action
against a pastor only after a formal complaint has been made. Young
faces the possibility of charges by a committee that will investigate
the complaint, a church trial and the removal of his ministerial
credentials. Young was ordained an elder in full connection in 1982. He
was appointed to the Fort Caroline church in June 2004.

Whitaker said the Book of Discipline outlines a process for fairly
assessing any evidence related to a complaint, and the conference will
go through that process before further action is taken.

"We must investigate the matter thoroughly and follow the judicial
procedures carefully in order to see the matter through to its proper
resolution," Neal said. "This is the only way to really care for the
church and all the other parties involved."

*Parham is managing editor of e-Review Florida United Methodist News
Service.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
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