Bob Jones University, Child Abuse

The Ordination of Charles “Chipper” Snow IV

33 Comments

An alert SFL reader sent me these two pictures which the reader reported were put online in May of 2011.

From all appearances, it looks like the Southwest Licking Community Baptist Church has no problem ordaining an alleged sex offender and former BJU graduate assistant against whom charges are still pending for criminal sexual conduct with a minor child in Greenville, SC. And according to the local reports, he’s not even denying to police that he did it.

I’m still waiting on verification of whether or not Charles “Chipper” Snow IV is actually on staff at this church as the music pastor. He’s not listed on the website but sources have told me that they have reason to believe that not only has this church ordained him but they have employed him as well.

One can only hope that whatever church is harboring him is at least keeping him away from fourteen year old girls until his trial is over.

33 thoughts on “The Ordination of Charles “Chipper” Snow IV”

  1. I would say this is “unbelievable” but I no longer have trouble believing this sort of thing.

  2. I’m sure that the building and fence in the background of the first picture is a school, but it kinda looks like a prison. If it was a prison that would be a convenient working arrangement for him. If it’s a school, which I’m sure it is, then the school should be warned.

  3. On the one hand, innocent until proven guilty (or until admission of the same; I guess it’s semantics whether admitting and not denying are the same thing). On the other hand…SERIOUSLY? Who thought it would be a good idea to ordain a guy who’s been indicted on criminal sexual misconduct charges and who admitted he was in some sort of relationship with a minor? EVEN IF (and I’m not saying I believe this) there was no abuse and his relationship was strictly platonic, it shows a profound and utter lack of wisdom on his part and that alone should be enough for any church in their right mind to say, “Eh, you know what? Maybe this isn’t such a great idea.”

    Of course, if this sicko is convicted I’m going to put money on the fact that his ordaining church will rush to his aid and shed great big tears over how he’s obviously being persecuted and he’s misunderstood and he’s really a good person no matter what the evil media says. 🙄

  4. It’s all so eerie because he was a friend of mine when I was in undergrad. I didn’t keep in touch with him past my junior year (that “friend” he brought to lunch one day who told me that my shirt was illegal—how would he know what a Hollister shirt looks like anyway?—kinda kept me from hanging out with him much after that).

    When I first heard about the charge, I was saddened yet not surprised. I imagine he was so repressed that when in a sitialtuon with a girl, his sexual appetite was so unnatural, he didn’t know how to respond to it.

    Like my girlfriend often says, if you don’t give your sexuality a healthy outlet, it will find an unhealthy way to express itself.

    1. Hey, maybe he could use that as his excuse and get off the hook. You know, he’s an automaton and just could not help himself. Gosh yes, no responsibility there, just a male mammal doin’ what a male mammal has to do. Or, on the other hand, he’s a human being, with the faculty of conscience given to him, knowing that exploiting the youth of a 14 year old girl is wrong, and does so anyway because he chooses to please himself at whatever cost to his victim. That actually is what human beings do. It’s called sin, and no, he was not helplessly driven before natural male urges, unable to help himself. He sinned.

      1. I don’t think Nate meant that Mr. Snow didn’t sin (if the allegation is true). He just said he didn’t find it entirely surprising.

        1. Right conclusion, wrong reasoning. Abuse and sexual exploitation of others come from a sense of entitlement, not from chastity.

    2. Good point, Nate. I have been thinking a lot about the subject of our sexuality as human beings and how we are supposed to pretend we don’t like/want to express it, it’s only natural. I have seen teachings on how to look for a “godly” mate and basically no one who is “sensual” is worth marrying. “If a girl looks at you the wrong way, run!” Maybe she likes you??? Do you want an asexual mate who isn’t turned on by you? Fundies drive me nuts on this topic. Read the Old Testament yourselves and you will go, “huh?” Especially if you have only heard sermons in IFB churches on the stories with their special twist on them.

  5. knew him pretty well for a while as well… was shocked and dismayed when i first heard about his crime… hoped that it would shake him up sufficiently to change… this just makes me mad though. he obviously views his crime quite lightly if he is seeking a church leadership position only months after being caught child molesting. what an absolute prick.

  6. @ Nate-Thank Gawd you were not allowed to run around in an illegal T-shirt! It seems all the priorities were properly ranked.

  7. *hurl*
    WHAT THE F********** WERE THEY THINKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do they not value the fragile innocence and trust of their young girls??? REALLY?? REALLY????
    Perfect. Just absolutely perfect. I’m going to go gnaw on a table leg now. 👿 👿 👿 👿 👿

      1. Since the church as their phone # in that pic… maybe we should all call it and express our opinions about this creep?

      2. I agree, Just Curious. Who in their right mind would ordain someone who still had charges out against them.

  8. Would it crass to point out the name of the church? If it weren’t such a sad situation I’d find it humorous.

    1. It’s probably crass of me, but I’m having trouble focusing on th criminal charges because I’m too distracted by the news that there’s a church named “Southwest Licking.”
      😯

      I’m from the Southwest, and I always thought we lick the same way everyone else does. Pass the lollipops, please.

  10. Why would a church ordain a man who is currently accused of a crime, much less what this arrogant scumbag is charged with? The only reason I can think of is that they are equally as arrogant as he is. So very wrong for so many reasons. BTW, the church’s website is “currently unavailable”. (as it should be)

    1. Maybe King Charles Snow 1, 2 and 3 were all MOGs, and they must keep the fundie monarchy going.

  11. Since the church has their phone # in that pic… maybe we should all call it and express our opinions about this creep?

  12. Ah… Doubting your loyalty to Jesus for wearing a Holister shirt while employing a pedophile. How very much like a certain group of characters in the Bible, somewhere, somewhere…

  13. Wow. My husband worked with him for a while and we were pretty surprised when my dad ran across a newspaper article about the charges against him, although after the past few months, nothing really surprises me anymore. What does shock and sadden me is that he’s being ORDAINED! It’s sick enough that he was a Bible student while molesting a young girl; but the sick mind that justifies someone about to be indicted on sex charges as a decent candidate for ordination? Ick.

  14. I would like to remind the audience that this Baptist university (BA Applied Theology) and Reformed seminary graduate (MDiv) with 10 years of pastoral experience has now been church unemployed for over a year. The worst offense I ever committed was a speeding. But I am told time and time again that I am too young (28) and must “wait for my turn.”

  16. Pretty sure I nearly threw up when I read this. I went to school with him and saw him around campus all the time, as he worked Public Safety. There are messed up people everywhere, but the large majority of really messed-up professing Christians come out of Fundamentalists places like Bob Jones. So glad I left after I graduated.

  18. 😯 . If the church’s response to Bassenco is true, Snow concealed his indictment from the church until after his ordination. Apparently that’s OK with them. At least, the church says it’s going to await the outcome of the legal charges before deciding whether to revoke his ordination.

    Twice I’ve been on my church’s ministry committee, which was charged with making the decision whether or not to recommend a candidate for ordination. If the candidate had concealed a criminal charge of this magnitude, the concealment itself would have been considered enough to disqualify the person, even if the candidate were ultimately acquitted.

    1. I agree. His failure to disclose such pertinent info is sufficient reason to revoke his ordination.

      Sounds like the church is just being hopeful – and by hopeful I mean they are in complete denial. 🙄

      At the very least, why not suspend the ordination until the court has decided the case?

      Denial…That is why. 👿

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