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Dear Watermark Family,
Recently, questions have been raised online regarding Chuck Adair’s involvement with Watermark, specifically regarding his employment and status as a registered sex offender.
Mr. Adair was convicted in 1996 and completed his community supervision in 2006. Mr. Adair has been an active member of Watermark since 2017. He volunteers in our prison ministry and with Watermark’s adult recovery ministry, re:generation, where he occasionally teaches. He is also employed part-time as a re:generation coach with Watermark Resources, remotely helping other churches implement Watermark’s recovery program in their local church contexts. Mr. Adair does not serve on our staff in a pastoral role.
Mr. Adair has spoken openly and honestly about his past offenses as a means of pointing others to Christ’s redemptive work in his life. Watermark is aware of Mr. Adair’s status as a registered sex offender and his previous completion of his required community supervision/parole. While Mr. Adair has no legal restrictions preventing him from visiting our campus, in light of his past transgressions, Mr. Adair has long agreed with Watermark’s leaders that he should not be permitted to provide childcare or volunteer in any ministry to minors. Guided by care and common sense, these boundaries have been upheld throughout his involvement at our church. Mr. Adair’s past has disqualified him from ministering to minors, but it has not disqualified him from the grace of God or participation in the body of Christ through service to other adults–including through our recovery and prison ministries.
Watermark has robust policies to protect the children entrusted to our care, including the careful screening and training of all individuals who volunteer or work with minors, the completion of a criminal background check, and the cultivation of a culture of open communication among our volunteers and staff regarding diligence and discernment in this area. No registered sex offenders, even those who have completed their community supervision, serve with minors at Watermark.
Watermark also has ministries available to care for men and women who have experienced sexual abuse—to help them find hope, healing, and freedom through Christ.
As Watermark’s leaders, we are committed to protecting the flock of God among us while also honoring the redemptive work of Jesus in our midst. Please pray that God would give us—and church leaders everywhere—the grace to fulfill our responsibilities and calling with diligence, humility, and wisdom.
Humbly,
Elders of Watermark Community Church
Todd Anders, Timothy Ateek, Ben Caldwell, Mickey Friedrich, Blake Holmes, Rob Thomas
Watermark has robust policies to protect the children entrusted to our care, including the careful screening and training of all individuals who volunteer or work with minors, the completion of a criminal background check, and the cultivation of a culture of open communication among our volunteers and staff regarding diligence and discernment in this area. Our secure childcare environments and ministries are structured to facilitate high visibility, and an adult is never alone with any child(ren).
Watermark also has strict boundaries in place for any registered sex offender under community supervision who wishes to worship with us or participate in any of our ministries, which include a chaperone and check-in policy, and restroom accompaniment, as well as no access to kids’ areas while on our campus. This allows the participants to receive spiritual care from Watermark while also abiding by the legal requirements of their community supervision regarding interactions with minors. No registered sex offenders, even those who have completed their community supervision, serve with minors at Watermark.
While registered sex offenders retain their status throughout their lifetime, their community supervision is often time-bound. Mr. Adair completed his community supervision in 2006 following his conviction in 1996. While Mr. Adair has no legal restrictions preventing him from visiting our campus, in light of his past transgressions, Mr. Adair agrees with Watermark’s leaders that he should not be permitted to provide childcare or volunteer in any ministry to minors. Guided by care and common sense, these boundaries have been upheld throughout his involvement at our church. Mr. Adair’s past has disqualified him from ministering to minors. No registered sex offenders, even those who have completed their community supervision, serve with minors at Watermark.
Courageous Hope is available for women who experience sexual abuse, while MenD is available for men. If sexual abuse is part of your past, we would be honored to help care for you and point you toward that freedom, joy, hope, and healing that is available through Christ.