Lawyer: Pastor in Texas wrongfully fired for inappropriate images

By Leonardo BlairSenior Reporter Thursday, September 19, 2024

Scott Crenshaw, pastor of Lake Country Church in Fort Worth, Texas, claims he was wrongfully fired for viewing “inappropriate images.” He now wants to publicly apologize and seek reinstatement, says his lawyer Mark Lane.

Crenshaw “did not look at any inappropriate images. That is an absolutely baseless claim on behalf of the elders,” Lane told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “They simply engaged in rumors and scandalous discussions with staff that they had with bad intent.”

When contacted about the allegation on Thursday, a church representative told the Christian Post that the church had not released any information about Crenshaw's dismissal to the public and would not comment further.

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This is not the first time Crenshaw has been accused of viewing “inappropriate images” while serving as a pastor.

In 2016, while recovering from cancer and serving as pastor of the multi-campus New River Church in Texas, Crenshaw was relieved of his post for “viewing inappropriate images” on his computer while working.

In a statement to his church, Crenshaw said he was “disgusted and embarrassed” by his actions and was stepping down from his leadership role to heal his wounds.

“First, I would like to thank the New River family for the prayers, Bible verses and encouragement you gave me during my cancer journey. Ten days of hospitalization, complications and recovery culminated in a clean bill of health after this week's doctor's visit,” the pastor said.

Two years later, in 2018, he was hired by Lake Country Church. In an interview with CP, he talked about his comeback from his porn addiction: “Technology was my downfall, but now it's helping me in my recovery process.”

According to a study cited by Mission Frontiers, 68% of male churchgoers and over 50% of pastors regularly view pornography.

76% of young Christian adults ages 18 to 24 actively seek out porn, while 59% of pastors said married men ask them for help with porn use.

Lane said although Crenshaw joined Lake Country Church's leadership team in 2018, he was not promoted to senior pastor of the church until 2020.

Crenshaw told CP that he underwent intensive therapy for his porn addiction after being released from New River Fellowship. His lawyer insists that what happened there has “no relevance today.”

“It’s a terrible thing to destroy a man’s career,” Lane told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Lane also stated that he would demand a public apology from Lake Country Church as well as compensation.

He said when the elders first learned of the allegations against Crenshaw, they offered him a 60-day sabbatical with support. They later withdrew that offer and replaced it with a 90-day vacation. Two days later, Crenshaw was reportedly fired.

A graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Crenshaw has four children with his wife of 32 years, Renee. He also has two grandchildren, according to a cache of his profile that has been deleted from the church website.