Youth pastor's trial begins on sex abuse charges as Gate City Christian Church keeps him on staff

[Ian David]

Associated Press
June 27, 2007

POCATELLO, Idaho – Jury selection is under way in the trial of an eastern Idaho youth pastor accused of sexually abusing a girl prosecutors say was 15 years old at the time.

Joshua Robinson, 29, the former youth pastor at Gate City Christian Church in Chubbock, was arrested in February and charged with two counts of lewd conduct with a minor and one count of sexually abusing a minor.

After his arrest, church officials elected to keep Robinson on staff, but shifted his job from active ministry to an administrative role pending the outcome of the trial. A court order requires that he not have any contact with people younger than 18.

All three charges stem from separate situations with the girl, now 17, police investigators have said.

More:
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/local/story.asp?ID=196789

[Spangle]

1. Innocent until provent guilty

No one should loose their job for being accused. The church did change his duties.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Always great to have a youth minister

with a court order requiring him to stay away from the youth. Christians are scum. And those little kiddies who promise to be virgins do everything sexually but fuck. Christians are living proof that ignorance is bliss.

[Ian David]

3. I object to you characterizing all Christians as scum

The United Church of Christ, The Untarians, and The Quakers are way cool, for example.

[Perky]

4. I agree. Your post belongs in the Hall of Shame

You just needlessly and purposely attacked 1oo mIllion Americans, 100s of DUers and me.....It is insesitive , arrogrant, antangonistic and ibecilic. You aRE PERFECTLY ENTITLET TO YOUR OPINION.....but it a baseless and narowminded. Cut it out.

[Sadie4629]

5. Serious question . . .

Could someone please tell this noob what's with all the Christian-bashing on this site?

I could point out that more people are hurt by Muslims every day (think genital mutilation, stoning women and gays, suicide bombings, etc.) but everyone would jump all over me for stereotyping; yet it's perfectly all right to lump all Christians together and claim they are hypocrites.

Why is this?

[Ian David]

6. Don't mistake fundie-bashing for christian-bashing. n/t

[Perky]

7. Ian's right

there is a real difference....People use Christians a little too generically here.. then accuse us of not keeping our faith a private thing when we call them on it.