Pastor and his wife resign in disgrace after worst person imaginable was hired in their church

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A South Carolina pastor and his wife have resigned amid a scandal over a registered sex offender allegedly working around children at their church. 

Pawleys Island Community Church is facing backlash after Warren Perry, 70, was arrested on Tuesday after he allegedly violated his probation by gaining access to children through its youth programs. 

Pastor Don Williams and his wife Ginny resigned on Friday amid the fallout, the church said in a Facebook statement. 

'As an immediate step, changes have been made within our leadership and the church has accepted pastor Don Williams and Ginny Williams' resignation,' the statement read.

'We have also accepted the resignation of Niki Howard, Director of Pawleys Island Christian Academy, and several elders have decided to step down from their role.' 

In an email obtained by News13, Williams said the resignation is 'necessary so that PICC can begin healing and moving forward,' adding that church workers were 'unfairly caught in the crossfire of this past week.'

Perry was convicted in 2023 of sexually exploiting a minor and his probation specifically prohibited him from being around children, according to ABC15 News. 

South Carolina probation officials told the outlet they were aware Perry volunteered but were not told the church also ran a school and daycare. 

On July 13, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office was alerted by a parent who said Perry was working at the church’s school and daycare, which serves 300 students, according to an incident report obtained by the outlet. 

Police later spoke with the 70-year-old's probation agent, who said Perry never informed them that the church operated a daycare and school. 

That same day, authorities received another complaint from an anonymous woman who claimed Perry worked as a custodian and had 'unrestricted access' to children, the incident report obtained by the outlet stated. 

She also said a teacher raised red flags with school administrators about a registered sex offender’s access to students, per the report.

The volunteer was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly violating probation.

Investigators alleged Perry worked at the preschool for years while under supervision, regularly entered classrooms during school hours and had full access to the campus. 

Pastor Williams addressed the shaken congregation in a meeting on Wednesday, saying Perry had disclosed his criminal history and that the church, along with law enforcement, was aware of it.

The pastor said restrictions were put in place, including a rule that Perry was never to be alone with children. 

Pawleys Island Community Church members demand answers after sex offender volunteer allegations

Tensions are rising inside the Pawleys Island Community Church on Wednesday as community members confronted church leadership following allegations involving a registered sex offender who is accused of volunteering with children. _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WPDE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WPDEABC15/ WPDE on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wpdeabc15 Subscribe to WPDE on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn0sxo5Ocp8eSFqr9F1URpg/?sub_confirmation=1 Daily News Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCFE982C7D59E70C1 For more information, visit https://wpde.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 843.487.3001 WPDE is a SC based station and an ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. WWMB is a SC based station and a CW Television affiliate owned and operated by Howard Stirk Holdings and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. #WPDE #ABC15News #ABC15 #WPDE15 #MyrtleBeach

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Williams said he only learned Perry was violating his probation conditions after speaking with his probation officer.

Video from the tense meeting showed parents and community members shouting as the pastor spoke, alleging Perry was regularly around students.

They also accused the church of failing to alert families that Perry was a registered sex offender.

The controversy has now landed the church in court, with parents accusing leaders of failing to protect children and keep families informed. 

A class-action lawsuit seeks to represent families tied to the academy and church activities during the years Perry was allegedly present, demanding more than $25 million in damages.

Daily Mail reached out to Pawleys Island Community Church for comment.