South Carolina Church Reopens Children's Ministry Following Safety Overhaul

Pawleys Island Community Church in South Carolina has resumed its children's ministry operations following a period of closure prompted by the arrest of a registered sex offender who served as a volunteer custodian. The church announced that it has implemented new safety protocols, including enhanced background checks and mandatory grooming awareness training for all staff and volunteers.

To facilitate these changes, the church stated it is utilizing resources from MinistrySafe, an organization specializing in child sexual abuse prevention. However, MinistrySafe issued a statement clarifying that while the church may be using their materials, there is no formal partnership or direct communication between the two entities. The organization described reports of a partnership as inaccurate.

The controversy began last month when Warren Spence Perry, a convicted sex offender, was arrested for volunteering at the church’s affiliated academy, a role that violated his probation terms. Following the incident, the church's senior pastor, his wife, and the academy director resigned from their positions. The church leadership maintains that they are now committed to providing a secure environment for children under their care.