Police: No charges to be filed against church youth group

By Mary Garrigan, Journal staff | Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

A Rapid City Police Department spokeswoman said Wednesday that no criminal charges would be filed after an investigation of a youth church group at First Assembly of God.

"I met with investigators yesterday, who said that no criminal charges will be filed," Capt. Deb Cady said. Cady declined to specify what the investigation involved. "Since it involves juveniles, our hands are tied. I really can't comment on the investigation."

The church-sponsored activity had been under investigation after some youths and their parents complained that an "Underground Church" program went too far in simulating the oppression and persecution suffered by people who live in countries without constitutional protections for religious freedom.

Neither church officials nor its attorney, Randy Connelly, would comment Wednesday. The Rev. Jeff Anderson, senior pastor at First Assembly, is out of town but will issue a statement Aug. 11. On July 21, Connelly said he was confident that church leaders and the youth program would be vindicated by the investigation.

Church member Joanne Schriver of Rapid City said Wednesday she was happy and relieved to hear that no one would be charged as a result of the investigation.

Schriver had a 14-year-old daughter who attended the June 13 and 14 event -- a lock-in activity in which kids spend the night at the church.

"I thought it was great," Schriver said. "It was a great activity and one that's done in many churches all over."

Schriver said she received a letter and an e-mail in advance of the activity from student ministries pastor Patrick Ringler, explaining "it would be an intense session simulating an underground church." If parents were paying attention, they knew what to expect of the session, she said.

All participants were repeatedly told they could leave at any time, her daughter said. Schriver said she was amused when her daughter mentioned an activity designed to simulate "torture" was making the kids watch an instructional video on how to operate a sewing machine.

Schriver said no pastoral team is perfect, but she has no reservations about First Assembly's leadership.

Instead of being investigated on abuse charges, she said First Assembly is to be commended for having a youth group that does more than "just baby sit" kids. "We're trying to accomplish something at our church. Our kids our learning. We love our church."

The Underground Church activity led to interesting conversations at the Schriver house about religious oppression of faith groups worldwide, not only Christians, she said.

"I think it opened her eyes and made her realize the difference between living here and other places," Schriver said.

Contact Mary Garrigan at 394-8424 or mary.garrigan@rapidcityjournal.com