Seminary Admin Charged with Distributing Child Pornography
Michael Deckinga has been employed at Mid-America Reformed Seminary since 2016.
A federal complaint for charges of distributing child pornography has been issued against Michael Deckinga, the vice president of advancement at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana.
Michael Deckinga / Photo via LinkedIn
According to a motion filed on August 18, Deckinga is currently being held in pretrial detention in Hammond City Jail. An arraignment and detention hearing is currently scheduled for August 27.
An affidavit referred to in the complaint appears to be under seal with the federal court.
A statement provided to The Roys Report by the seminary’s vice president of operations Dan Fletcher said, “Mid-America Reformed Seminary can confirm that on the morning of August 13, 2025, agents of the Department of Homeland Security executed search warrants on the seminary premise, in conjunction with their investigation and the arrest of one of the seminary administrative employees.
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“We’re currently gathering information regarding the circumstances surrounding this event, and the seminary will cooperate with law enforcement as we have been and will provide support to our employees and community,” he added.
According to its website, Mid-America was founded in 1981 and is “closely associated with confessional Reformed and Presbyterian churches; however, it is not governed by the rules of any denomination.” It is located about 30 miles from downtown Chicago and is a member of The Association of Theological Schools.
Deckinga does not appear on the Mid-America website’s administration page, but his LinkedIn profile says he has been employed at the seminary since 2016. Before that, he was employed by Sherwin-Williams Paints.
The seminary declined to answer The Roys Report questions about whether Deckinga was still employed at Mid-America Reformed Seminary.
If found guilty, Deckinga could face between five and 20 years in prison.
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