Forgiveness or Risk? Sex Offender Leads Texas Church
Chuck Adair, a registered sex offender previously featured on America’s Most Wanted, now holds leadership positions in two Texas churches: Grace Place Church of Christ in Duncanville and Watermark Community Church in Dallas. His past crimes, including a conviction for sexually assaulting a minor in 1996, have drawn criticism from survivor advocates who argue his ministry roles are inappropriate and potentially unsafe.
Survivor advocate Amy Smith, in a video shared on January 1, voiced her concerns, stating, “This is a dangerous predator. He should not be in leadership as a pastor. He was not truthful about staying away from children.”
Watermark Community Church’s leadership issued a statement addressing Adair’s involvement in their ministry. Elders Todd Anders, Timothy Ateek, Ben Caldwell, Mickey Friedrich, Blake Holmes, and Rob Thomas explained that Adair, an active member since 2017, has engaged in volunteer and paid roles within their prison and adult recovery ministries. The elders emphasized that Adair does not work with minors and that their decision to involve him is rooted in both “care and common sense.”
Adair’s criminal history includes his time as a youth pastor at Garnett Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the early 1990s, where he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl. After leaving that role, he joined Golf Course Road Church of Christ in Midland, Texas, where he met Kristen Berryhill. Adair began a relationship with Berryhill when she was 13, a connection that deepened over time despite concerns raised by her parents and others in the church.
In 1995, after resigning to avoid scrutiny, Adair fled with the then-teenager. He was apprehended 11 days later in Las Vegas and subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison. He married Berryhill in 1998 while still incarcerated. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2000.
Watermark’s elders acknowledged Adair’s status as a registered sex offender and explained the safeguards in place regarding his ministry involvement. “Mr. Adair’s past disqualifies him from working with minors, but it does not disqualify him from God’s grace or serving the body of Christ through adult ministries,” the elders stated. They highlighted that Adair openly shares his past as part of his testimony in recovery programs, aiming to point others toward God’s transformative power.
Adair’s roles at Watermark include assisting in their prison ministry and serving as a coach in their adult recovery program, re: generation, where he occasionally teaches. His paid role involves remotely supporting other churches in implementing Watermark’s recovery curriculum.
The controversy surrounding Adair’s ministry involvement reflects broader challenges churches face when reintegrating individuals with criminal histories. Survivor advocates argue that allowing Adair into leadership positions, even with restrictions, undermines trust and could risk the safety of congregants. Critics have also questioned whether such roles are appropriate given the nature of his past offences and the potential impact on survivors within the church community.
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For some, the situation highlights the tension between grace and accountability. While many Christians believe in the possibility of redemption, others argue that certain roles, especially those involving leadership, may no longer be appropriate for individuals with such histories.
A long-time member of Golf Course Road Church of Christ, where Adair’s actions first came to light, reflected on the complex emotions surrounding his case. “It’s hard to say if he should or shouldn’t be in ministry. Who knows what happened in prison? It’s up to God,” the member said.
This case continues to spark debates within Christian communities about the intersection of redemption, public safety, and leadership in ministry. As Watermark and Grace Place navigate these challenges, the broader church faces pressing questions about how to best balance forgiveness with safeguarding vulnerable populations.
Content Credit| Ajibola Emmanuel Adebayo
Picture Credit | https://thegraceplace.church/
