The pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Haslet, Texas, Eric Crawford, has seen his reputation and standing within the congregation severely damaged following revelations about his son, Caleb Crawford, a registered sex offender. The scandal led to Eric Crawford's resignation in February, but a recent vote to reinstate him as pastor fell short of the 75 percent majority required by church bylaws, despite receiving 56 percent of the vote.
Caleb Crawford, 31, is a registered sex offender for the sexual abuse of his 13-year-old cousin in 2012. He had worked closely with children for years at Heritage Baptist Church and its affiliated schools, Heritage Daycare and Preschool and Heritage Christian Academy, reportedly as a janitor and music instructor. The extent of his contact with children, including escorting them to and from vehicles and holding music lessons, has raised significant concerns among parents.
Unearthing the Past
The revelations came to light when a congregant discovered Caleb Crawford had been arrested in February for failing to register as a sex offender, a legal requirement. Court documents indicate he pleaded guilty in October 2016 to indecency with a child, with the offense dated January 1, 2012. He served two years for the second-degree felony.
Former congregants Jennifer Wedel and Katie Thompson, who spoke with the Daily Mail, expressed feelings of betrayal and shock. Wedel, whose daughter attended the church schools, stated that assurances of child safety were given, including mentions of security measures like an armed principal. Thompson, a former charter member, noted that Caleb Crawford seemed to have a role extending beyond that of a janitor, with an office within the school building.
Eric Crawford acknowledged in a statement published February 16 that he hired his son to lead music at the church and work as an independent contractor at the academy. He stated his intent was to allow his son to serve the ministry while ensuring he held no role of responsibility or authority over minors. However, Thompson indicated that church members were initially told Caleb was not guilty and that the allegations were fabricated, only to later discover the extent of the court documents.
Division and Protest
The scandal has created a stark division within the Haslet community and the church congregation. Even after his resignation, Eric Crawford reportedly continued to teach Sunday school and address the congregation. On the day of the vote, former congregants staged a protest outside the church.
Wedel described the situation as having a "cult-type environment" where the leader is protected. She and Thompson have been vocal in their concerns, facing threats of doxing and workplace repercussions from loyalists. Thompson noted that speaking out against church leadership often leads to being shunned, a situation she aims to counter by giving a voice to those who may feel unable to speak for themselves.
Thompson has also advocated for a third-party investigation into allegations that Crawford concealed the truth about his son and instructed staff not to inform parents of Caleb's criminal history. She believes that cases like this reflect a broader issue in the United States of protecting offenders rather than holding them accountable.
Wedel applauded Taylor Hamilton, the victim of Caleb's abuse, for speaking out and helping to bring the situation to light. Hamilton's willingness to speak about her experience, despite many in the congregation reportedly believing she was lying, was instrumental in Eric Crawford's initial resignation.