Brookwood Church Removes Registered Sex Offender From Worship Team; Congregants Demand Greater Transparency

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. — Brookwood Church is facing renewed scrutiny after leaders confirmed a longtime member and musician was a registered sex offender who previously served on the church's worship team. The revelation — and the church's response — has prompted congregants to call for clearer communication and stronger child-safety safeguards.

Conviction And Relocation

Jerry Sidell was convicted in Georgia in the mid-1980s for sexual assaults of three boys that prosecutors say occurred in 1982 and 1983. He was sentenced to prison in 1983 and 1984, served time, and registered as a sex offender after his release. Years later, he moved to Upstate South Carolina and joined Brookwood Church in 1999, eventually working as a musician and taking roles on the worship team.

How The Issue Came To Light

The situation at Brookwood drew attention after a separate scandal this summer at Pawleys Island Community Church, where leaders are accused of allowing a registered offender to volunteer in a church school. That controversy — which has produced criminal charges and civil lawsuits — prompted renewed media and congregational interest in how churches monitor volunteers with criminal records. Reporting and social posts surfaced details of Sidell’s past and his ties to Rusty Bucket Music, a Gray Court venue he ran.

Brookwood's Response

Brookwood senior pastor Bryan Jones told The Post and Courier that church leaders first learned of Sidell's conviction when he visited in 1999 and that restrictions were placed on him years ago: he was barred from serving in children's and student spaces and from entering those areas on Sunday mornings. Jones said he only learned this summer that the man had been serving in an adult band and small group; he removed him from those roles in July and notified the board and leaders of outside ministries.

"We believe there is grace and there is forgiveness for sin... but there are consequences for actions," Jones said in a congregational meeting described by attendees. "Any sin, but especially those that harm innocent kids and children, would have to require amplified policies."

New Safeguards — And Remaining Concerns

Brookwood says it has added new procedures: registered offenders who attend must enter through a designated door, check in with security, and be accompanied by an assigned "safety person" who will sit with them during services. The church also says it notified Rusty Bucket leadership of the individual's status so the venue could take appropriate action.

Some members describe the church's recent changes as "reactive" rather than proactive. Congregants say they were largely unaware of Sidell's history and want greater transparency from leaders so the broader membership can help protect children. As one parent told reporters: "The congregation should be the first guardrail."

Context And Questions

Brookwood is a large South Carolina Baptist-affiliated congregation with an expansive campus in Mauldin (Simpsonville address) and more than 6,000 members listed in megachurch databases. Questions from congregants and local media center on why only some leaders knew of Sidell's past, how he came to be visible onstage, and what ties the church had — formal or informal — to the Rusty Bucket music venue, which has since taken its web presence offline.

What Comes Next

Church leaders say they are reviewing policies and attempting to balance grace and forgiveness with a duty to protect children. Congregants, however, continue to press for clearer timelines, fuller disclosure to the membership, and stronger preventative policies so that families can feel confident in the church's commitment to safety.