Washington, Aug 12 (HS) : The Assemblies of God, the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination, has moved swiftly to distance itself from Thomas Pinkerton Jr. — known to congregants as Pastor Tommy — after his arrest on multiple counts of child sexual abuse. The high‑profile case adds to mounting scrutiny of abuse allegations involving church figures across the U.S.
According to NBC News, Pinkerton, 52, is accused of sexually abusing six teenage boys between 2006 and 2010 while working at Central Christian Church in Baltimore County, Maryland. He was extradited from Georgia last Wednesday and now faces 24 serious charges, including multiple felonies. His attorney, Justin Hollimon, said Pinkerton has pleaded not guilty.
Court filings allege that the abuse occurred both on church premises and at Pinkerton’s former Maryland residence. Assemblies of God officials confirmed he had never been formally ordained as a pastor in the denomination, despite serving on the church’s staff for over 15 years.
Benjamin Rainey Jr., secretary‑treasurer of the denomination’s regional office, said the leadership was “deeply saddened” by the allegations:
“When reports like this surface, we are gravely concerned. There is no place for abuse in the church.”
Central Christian Church declined direct comment on Monday, but in an earlier statement posted on its website, lead pastor Larry Kirk reaffirmed a zero‑tolerance policy, declaring: “There is no place for abuse in the church.”
Baltimore County Police obtained a warrant for Pinkerton’s arrest in late June. He was detained in Forsyth County, Georgia, during a traffic stop in July before being transferred to Maryland. A judge has denied bail, and a preliminary hearing is set for September 5.
The arrest has intensified debate over how faith organizations address historical abuse cases, underscoring the reputational and moral challenges confronting religious institutions. For the Assemblies of God—which counts 3 million members across more than 13,000 U.S. congregations—the rapid severing of ties is as much about institutional accountability as it is about protecting public trust.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
