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Sex Charges Surprise Some Church Members; Others Say 'It Was Coming'

POSTED: Sunday, May 21, 2006

A retired Baptist minister remained in jail without bond Sunday as his former congregation attended services that made no mention of his arrest or the accusations that he sexually molested children decades ago.

Robert Gray
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Robert Gray
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Former Pastor Remains In Jail
Robert Gray was arrested Friday night and charged with capital sexual battery on two 6-year-old girls -- now women in their 30s -- when they were students at Trinity Baptist Church's school.

According to his arrest report, several other women also allege abuse by Gray.

Gray, 80, resigned in 1992 after nearly 40 years as pastor of Trinity Baptist on Hammond Boulevard and president of an affiliated college he founded.

"...The hearts and prayers of all those here at Trinity Baptist Church go out to those who are hurting right now," begins a statement on the church's Web site attributed to its attorney's David Gibb III. "Any abuse of a minor hinders the church from accomplishing that mission is immoral, sinful, and without question, is a violation of all that Trinity Baptist Church stands for as a ministry."

Gibb said the church has hired a law firm with attorneys experienced in criminal prosecutions and sex crime cases to do an independent investigation of the accusations against Gray.

A woman identifying herself as one of Gray's victims told Channel 4's Nancy Rubin on Sunday that the number of complaints will continue to rise as word of his arrest gets out.

Congregants leaving services Sunday were talking about Gray and the charges, calling the accusations "awful" and "heartbreaking."

Bob Gray preaching
The Rev. Bob Gray preaching at Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., two months ago.
TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH STATEMENTS
Saturday, May 20 | Sunday, May 21
Monday, May 22
"I though he was a good guy -- someone to look up to," churchgoer Brandon Coffey said. "That's horrible news."

"He has to answer to God for that," church member Amy Carter said Sunday.

Not everyone leaving the Trinity Baptist campus Sunday was surprised by Gray's arrest.

"Well, I felt like it was coming," Otto Miller said.

The woman who told Rubin she was victimized by Gray said she and other victims want the church to admit that it has known for years about the abuse. She said the church knew what happened in Gray's office decades ago, years that the victims silently "suffered broken marriages and broken lives."

According to sources and Web sites, Gray remains active in revivals and Bible conferences across America.

Phone calls to Gray's attorney on Sunday were not returned.

"The leaders of Trinity Baptist Church are united and committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for your children," said Gibb in the statement. "Please keep all those connected with this situation in your prayers."

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