Christ Church, Murrells Inlet

Reminder: our Backpack Blessing will take place this Sunday during the service. If you forget your child's backpack, no worries! All children will be called forward and prayed over regardless. See you Sunday!

This week in Kids Connect we focused on two of Jesus' teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. We were encouraged not to worry and to instead to ask, seek and knock in prayer.

Rain or shine, we come to worship! ☔️☀️🌈

WHY DOES CHURCH RELATED SEXUAL MISCONDUCT KEEP HAPPENING?
For those who may not read our Christ Church emails, the following is a letter that I shared with our congregation this morning.
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July 23, 2026
Dear Christ Church Family,

By now, I am sure many of you have heard about the situation unfolding at Pawleys Island Community Church. A registered s*x offender, Warren Perry, was serving in close proximity to children. This access was granted by a pastor who vouched for Perry despite years of internal knowledge about his history. It's a heartbreaking story, and if you're like me, your first reaction is grief for the children and families affected. Following that, many of us are faced with a difficult question: Why? Why does this kind of thing keep happening in churches?

I think this question deserves a thoughtful and honest answer. In case after case like this, a handful of patterns show up that contribute to this kind of failure:

1. The Belief in Pastoral Exceptionalism.
Pastors sometimes believe their spiritual discernment gives them greater insight that outweighs actual risk, often displaying a kind of "I know his heart" confidence that overrides s*x-offender registries and safety protocols. This false belief produces irresponsible behavior that shows up repeatedly in clergy-abuse-cover-up research.

2. A Theology of Deliverance.
Many churches hold a theology of instant deliverance — the belief that a person can be miraculously and instantaneously freed from sinful addictions, including predatory s*xual behavior. The thought goes something like this: “He has been delivered from that addiction, so now we can fully trust him.” This wrong-headed belief tragically erases the need for ongoing caution and accountability.

3. Crafting a Harmless Persona.
Predators themselves are often patient and relationally skilled, spending years building trust and cultivating a gentle and harmless reputation, before they ever test a boundary. If they are able to slowly build this non-threatening perception, they achieve a level of trust that allows them unquestioned access.

4. In-group loyalty over outsider protection.
Within congregations, loyalty to a known, beloved insider, especially one with a redemption narrative, can quietly outweigh vigilance on behalf of children who may be less personally known to the leadership. In these cases, loyalty toward the insider becomes more powerful than protecting the vulnerable.

5. Diffusion of Leadership Responsibility.
The danger in these situations is increased when responsibility for monitoring a situation is diffused among several people, with each assuming that someone else is tracking compliance, monitoring proximity, and holding consistent boundaries.
With all these things in mind, I want you to know where we stand as a church: We want to do all that we are able to insure that Christ Church is a safe place for everyone.

To this end, we are presently strengthening our safeguarding policies at Christ Church. Pastor Julia has led this work for us with real diligence since she came on staff several years ago, carefully implementing background checks and training. This work is not a reactive project prompted by headlines. Safe practices and policies have been a part of our normal life together. This year, our diocese has asked every parish to go further in safe-guarding children. In response, we want Christ Church to lead the way in making sure we are in full compliance with our diocesan policies.

In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing more specifics about what these updated policies include and how they'll shape the way we structure ministry to children, students, and vulnerable adults among us. If you have questions, concerns, or things you think we should be paying attention to, please bring them to me or to Pastor Julia directly. We do not want to do this work behind closed doors. A healthy safeguarding culture is one where every member feels like a stakeholder, not a bystander.

Above all, I want us to hold two things at once: 1) genuine compassion for people who carry real brokenness, and 2) maintaining unwavering vigilance on behalf of the vulnerable among us. Micah 6:8 has never asked us to choose between loving mercy and doing justice. It asks us to do both, and to walk humbly enough to know we need real structures, not just good intentions.

Thank you for trusting Christ Church with your children, your questions, and your hearts. We don't take our responsibility lightly.

Grace and peace,

Father Tim Melton
Rector, Christ Church Murrells Inlet

Reminder: tomorrow evening at 5:30 all Kids Ministry volunteers and leaders will meet for our scheduled Safeguarding Our People training. We look forward to seeing you then.

Join us this Sunday at 10:30 AM! 🕊

THANK YOU to all of our donors, volunteers (special shout out to our bakers who, as usual, knocked it out of the park with sweet treats) and the incredible team from the American Red Cross of South Carolina!

36 units were collected at yesterday’s blood drive! That is our second highest total since beginning this ministry. From those 36 units, 108 lives can be saved!

We’re hosting our next drive on Wednesday, October 21 and look forward to seeing you there. 🩸❤️

Thank you in advance to everyone who has volunteered to bring in baked goods for our American Red Cross blood drive tomorrow! Please drop off before the drive begins, between 8:15 and 8:45, if at all possible. We have our largest number of donors *ever* signed up to help save lives tomorrow! Thank you for helping to bless them with hospitality and love!