Summary: Jerry Sidell, who pleaded guilty in 1983 to multiple child-molestation charges in Georgia, served for years in adult ministry roles at Brookwood Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina, after joining about 1999. Church leaders say they initially restricted his contact with children but only recently disqualified him after learning he remained a registered sex offender. Brookwood has implemented stricter check-in and escort rules for registered offenders following related arrests in the state, and the case has fed into wider scrutiny of how churches handle sexual-abuse allegations.
Registered Sex Offender Took Part in Brookwood Church Ministries for Decades, Church Tightens Rules
The Brookwood church in Simpsonville, South Carolina.Photograph: Google Maps
Jerry Sidell, a registered sex offender who pleaded guilty in Georgia in the 1980s to multiple counts of child molestation and enticing a minor, was allowed for years to participate in adult ministry roles at Brookwood Church, a large Southern Baptist congregation in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Church leaders say Sidell disclosed his past when he joined in about 1999 and that restrictions were placed on his involvement, but he remained active in adult ministries until church leaders recently barred him from serving.
What Brookwood Says
Brookwood’s senior pastor, Bryan Jones, told congregants at a recent meeting that Sidell had been "forthright" about his prior convictions when he first became involved with the church. Jones said leaders at the time restricted Sidell from working in or being around children or student ministries and required him to notify leaders before joining other adult groups.
Recent Changes
Jones, who became senior pastor in late 2022, indicated he only recently learned Sidell remained a registered sex offender. After that discovery he met with Sidell and informed him he could no longer perform with the church’s adult music band or remain in a small adults-only prayer group. Brookwood has also adopted a new policy requiring registered sex offenders attending services to enter through a specified door, check in with security, sit with a designated guard and be escorted off campus after services.
Background And Timeline
1983 Conviction: According to reporting by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sidell pleaded guilty in 1983 to five counts of child molestation and one count of enticing a minor to commit indecent acts. He told detectives he had molested boys he knew from youth ministry work at First Christian Church of Jonesboro, Georgia, and received six concurrent 10-year prison sentences.
Civil Litigation: Parents of two victims sued Sidell for $2 million; one plaintiff initially won a $500,000 jury verdict that was later set aside after a successful appeal by Sidell, and the civil suit was ultimately dropped.
Brookwood Involvement: Sidell joined Brookwood around 1999 and served in various adult ministries for years, including as a musician. A professional profile lists him as a Brookwood musician since at least 2013. MinistryWatch and social media material show him participating in worship ministry and small men’s groups.
Related Local Developments
The church’s policy changes followed law-enforcement action in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, where registered sex offender Warren Spence Perry was arrested after allegedly violating probation by working at a church-run school and daycare. That arrest prompted arrests of other people connected to the Pawleys Island congregation and spurred heightened scrutiny of how churches screen and supervise volunteers and staff.
Community Connections
Sidell founded Rusty Bucket Music, a venue that — according to social media videos and images — has hosted youth performers since opening in 2019. Videos also show Brookwood pastors appearing at events there. The venue's web and social pages were taken down after reporting on the matter. Public records show Sidell is registered as a sex offender in both South Carolina and Florida, with a listed Simpsonville address roughly 1.5 miles from Brookwood Church.
Wider Context
This episode arrives amid longstanding controversies over how the Southern Baptist Convention and many religious institutions have handled sexual abuse allegations. In June 2022 the SBC released a 205-page document naming hundreds of Baptist leaders and congregants accused or found guilty of sexually abusing children; neither Sidell nor Perry were named in that report.
Brookwood leaders have emphasized their commitment to safety measures — including campus security cameras and volunteer abuse-prevention training — and asked congregants to pray for victims. Church officials did not immediately respond to requests for further comment; Sidell did not respond to requests for comment either.
Sources: Reporting by The Guardian, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, MinistryWatch, and local South Carolina outlets.
Note: This article summarizes publicly reported facts and statements provided by church leaders and local media. Investigations and legal proceedings remain the authoritative sources for final determinations.
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