Church of the Nazarene issues statement
Here is a statement from the Church of the Nazarene regarding Brad Reger.
The Church of the Nazarene believes that the safety and care of children and youth is among its most sacred responsibilities. We are horrified by the actions of Bradley Reger and are grieved by the harm experienced by his victims.
We respect the judicial process that must be followed. At the same time, we know that false reports of child sexual abuse are rare. We also know that boys are less inclined to come forward when they have been victimized. For these reasons, we find the allegations to be believable and have barred Bradley Reger from any ministry or service anywhere within the Church of the Nazarene. He is not, nor has he ever been credentialed as a pastor or minister in the Church of the Nazarene.
We are deeply saddened by this behavior, which conflicts with how Christ calls us to live. We are committed to doing what is right and leading with transparency. We reported everything we have discovered to legal authorities, prompting the federal investigation and leading to Reger’s arrest and charge.
The Church of the Nazarene will cooperate fully with any investigation, and we encourage everyone to share with law enforcement if they have knowledge of any inappropriate behavior with children or know of any child who was harmed.
We ask all of our members to pray for the victims and the families involved. We are heartbroken by the pain of this circumstance and desire justice and healing for all.
The Church of the Nazarene will not tolerate abuse of any kind. All allegations of sexual abuse are reported to appropriate law enforcement and child protection authorities. In addition, we are committed to providing care to anyone impacted by past abuse. We recognize the critical importance of treating sexual abuse seriously and its victims with compassion.
We also know that for those who have experienced the trauma of sexual abuse, a situation like this has the potential of reopening old wounds. We intend to speak with transparency and to honor Christ in the way we care for any who have experienced past abuse.
We believe that this circumstance can be redeemed; we see this as an opportunity to emphasize the call of the church to be a safe harbor for children and youth.
