Pastor Placed on Leave over Sex Allegations

MARSHALL — A Nazarene pastor in Marshall, Raymond Earl Cooper, arrested and charged last week for online solicitation of a minor, has been placed on leave from the church following his arrest. That report comes from KETK and the Longview News-Journal. “After seeking advice from the General Secretary of the Church of the Nazarene as well as denominational legal counsel for the Church of the Nazarene, we have placed Raymond Cooper on leave from the pastorate of First Church of the Nazarene, Marshall, Texas,” Rob McDonald, Dallas District Superintendent for the Church of Nazarene, said in an e-mailed statement. The Dallas District hired Cooper as pastor of the church.

McDonald said church officials consider the recent allegations concerning Cooper as “tragic.” He said church officials will continue conducting their own investigation. “For the next period of time we will continue to investigate the situation and follow due process as warranted by the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene and denominational counsel as to Pastor Cooper’s credentials,” he said. “We want to be careful and cautious, yet prudent in the handling of this most sensitive issue.” Cooper was arrested last week for allegedly soliciting a person online that he believed to be 14 years old. His bond for the offense was set at $50,000 by Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Mike Smith.