Churches Respond to Concerns About Lifetime Sex Offender Leading Ministry
Churches Respond to Concerns About Lifetime Sex Offender Leading Ministry
A lifetime registered sex offender once listed on “America’s Most Wanted” for running away with a 15-year-old is making headlines for his leadership roles in two Dallas-area churches.
Chuck Adair speaking at Cross Community Church two years ago / Video screenshot
Chuck Adair, 64, leads ministry at Grace Place Church of Christ in Duncanville, Texas, and is a part-time staffer with Watermark Community Church in Dallas.
Both congregations appear aware of his 1996 conviction for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old.
Adair was convicted of sexual assault of a child and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1996. That conviction came after he initiated a sexual relationship with a girl he met in his youth group while working for Garnett Church of Christ in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1990.
He fled with the 15-year-old, prompting an alert on “America’s Most Wanted.” Just 11 days later, in May 1995, he was apprehended at a Las Vegas motel. Following his 1996 conviction, Adair married his victim in 1998, when she turned 18, despite being in prison at the time. He was 38.
The marriage ended two years later (in 2000) when the victim, who said her relationship with Adair was consensual, filed for divorce.
Adair claims he found Christ while serving his prison sentence. He completed sex offender treatment before being paroled in 2005 and returning to Dallas, where he has since served in various ministries, mostly prison or recovery-related.
The decision to employ Adair has sparked both support and criticism. While some church members left over concerns about safety and the prudence of restoring Adair to ministry, elders emphasized the church’s culture of grace, forgiveness, and redemption, arguing that refusing him a second chance would contradict their core Christian values.
Adair is a preaching minister at Grace Place Church of Christ in Duncanville. He is listed as the contact person for the church’s worship services and adult Bible classes. Grace Place also provides a re:generation program that Adair leads. Adair has also directed Grace Place Properties Inc., a transitional living program for formerly incarcerated individuals, although he is not listed on the ministry’s 990s.
An email from Grace Place said they are aware of Adair’s previous record and status as a registered sex offender.
“Mr. Adair has no legal restrictions preventing him from any of the activities which occur at either Grace Place Properties or the Grace Place Church,” the church said. “Both the Grace Place Church and Grace Place Properties families believe in these principles and are active in forgiving and encouraging those who seek restoration.”
In a recent statement addressing Adair’s work with the church, Watermark elders said he has been an active church member since 2017 and does both volunteer and paid work with their prison ministry.
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On January 12, Lead Pastor and Elder Timothy Ateek addressed recent concerns about Watermark Community Church following news coverage involving Adair. Ateek clarified that there have been no new revelations about Adair’s past, which were fully disclosed since his attendance began, and no new moral failures or crimes.
He explained that Adair’s role is not pastoral but involves working five to seven hours per week coaching churches on implementing Watermark’s re:generation recovery ministry, including efforts within prisons. Ateek stressed that Adair does not work with minors, and the church has strict protocols to ensure children’s safety.
Ateek said the church has implemented robust safety measures, including $250,000 spent on camera upgrades and collaboration with law enforcement and consultants to maintain and expand security protocols. He assured the congregation that Watermark would not allow any registered sex offender to serve with minors.
On its updates page, Watermark lists FAQs addressing Adair’s role.
Main photo: Chuck Adair speaking at Cross Community Church two years ago / Video screenshot
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