Pawleys Island Community Church is preparing to appoint new elders and seek a new senior pastor while criminal proceedings against five people connected to the congregation and its now-closed academy move forward under state prosecutors. The parallel developments raise a difficult question for the South Carolina church: how will its leadership rebuild confidence while allegations about children's safety remain unresolved?
The South Carolina Attorney General's Office has accepted responsibility for prosecuting the cases following a request from Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson. The transfer arose from a potential conflict involving an assistant solicitor who previously represented Warren Perry, the registered sex offender whose volunteer work at the church prompted the investigation.
According to ChurchLeaders, Richardson requested the transfer on July 24 because attorney Angela Lane had represented Perry in the earlier criminal case that required him to register as a sex offender. Lane subsequently joined Richardson's office as an assistant solicitor. State prosecutors accepted the request on August 21, meaning the recently reported development reflects an earlier decision rather than a transfer first approved this week.
The current criminal cases involve former senior pastor Don Williams, his wife Ginny Williams, former academy director Jennifer "Niki" Howard, church operations and missions director Michael Anthony Fields, and Perry. Authorities brought charges including obstruction of justice, criminal conspiracy, and unlawfully placing a child at risk, although the charges differ among defendants.
The controversy became public in July after concerns emerged about Perry's presence on a campus shared by the church and Pawleys Island Christian Academy. Authorities alleged that Perry had access to children despite restrictions associated with his probation. Local reporting identified his previous conviction as involving sexual exploitation of a minor.
Perry was arrested on July 14 over an alleged probation violation. A contentious congregational meeting followed the next day, and Don and Ginny Williams, Howard, and several elders resigned on July 17. The subsequent arrests widened the crisis beyond questions about one volunteer to allegations concerning decisions made by church and school leadership.
The church also faces a separate series of civil claims. According to the supplied ChurchLeaders report, seven lawsuits allege failures to protect children, including one complaint alleging that Perry sexually abused an academy student. Three are proposed class actions, and one federal complaint names the Southern Baptist Convention as a co-defendant. These remain allegations requiring resolution through the legal process; neither criminal charges nor civil complaints establish guilt or liability.
Meanwhile, the congregation is taking steps toward new leadership. An elder-team email dated September 24 announced a 30-day nomination period beginning October 1 for up to seven elders. The 2027 board is expected to lead the search for a senior pastor, consider constitutional amendments, and strengthen communication between elders, staff, and members. The church has also announced safety measures through MinistrySafe.
Those plans give the congregation a path forward, but appointing leaders is only the beginning of restoring trust. The central accountability question is how the church will demonstrate that concerns about children's safety receive prompt attention, clear communication, and meaningful action.
For Christian communities following the case, the challenge is practical as well as spiritual. Compassion, repentance, and restoration must be accompanied by safeguards that protect children and allow concerns to be heard. As proceedings continue, Pawleys Island's rebuilding effort will depend on what its new leadership does with that responsibility.
