North Texas pastor resigns after fallout from sex offender’s job at church school
The Haslet pastor who employed his registered sex offender son to work at the church’s private school resigned Sunday.
Heritage Baptist Church leaders announced Pastor Eric Crawford’s resignation in a statement the following day.
“Recent events connected to Heritage Baptist Church and its ministries have understandably raised concern and strong emotions within our church and school communities,” the statement reads. “We recognize the seriousness of these concerns, particularly for families who entrust us with the care of their children.”
The church’s campus, located at 1200 FM 156, also includes a school and daycare and serves children from 12 months old through the 12th grade.
Heritage Christian Academy parents began calling for Eric Crawford’s resignation after learning that 31-year-old Caleb Crawford, a convicted sex offender, was employed as a contractor in the school’s maintenance department.
“This situation has deeply shaken trust in the leadership of Heritage Baptist Church and Heritage Christian Academy,” former church member Katie Thompson wrote in a petition that garnered nearly 700 signatures.
Caleb Crawford was convicted in 2016 of inappropriately touching his 12-year-old cousin. He spent two years in jail and is required to annually register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
For the last several years, Caleb Crawford was allowed to work at the school so he could “serve the ministry while ensuring that he held no role of responsibility or authority over minors entrusted to our care,” Eric Crawford said in a Feb. 16 statement.
Eric Crawford fired his son Feb. 16 after parents learned of Caleb Crawford’s criminal history. Fort Worth police obtained a warrant for the younger Crawford’s arrest three days later, saying he didn’t disclose he was working at a school during his annual check-ins with their department.
Caleb Crawford was booked into the Tarrant County Jail but has since bonded out, according to court records.
Church leaders announced Feb. 19 that Eric Crawford would temporarily step down while the finance committee conducted an internal investigation. The pastor met with them before he permanently resigned, and “the committee supports his decision,” the statement reads.
Church members will vote on an interim pastor within the next two weeks, and that person will lead the search for Crawford’s replacement, according to the statement. The church has also pledged to “review and reinforce campus procedures and security practices across all ministries.”
