“Our hearts go out first and foremost to any victims who have been harmed,” the church said. “We remain committed to standing with all survivors of abuse, particularly children, whose suffering should never be ignored or minimized.”
RELATED: Ohio Pastor Charged With Kidnapping and Sexual Assault of Teen Girl
Futures Church Alpharetta indicated that it “has a zero-tolerance policy regarding any form of abuse” and that as soon as the church became aware of Menelaou’s arrest, Menelaou was placed on administrative leave.
“However, the full extent of these charges was unknown to us until the last few hours, and his position has now been terminated,” the church said. “Let us be unequivocally clear: this behavior is reprehensible and has no place in our church.”
“In the midst of this devastating situation, we also recognize the immense burden placed on his wife, who has been put in an incredibly painful position,” the statement went on to add. “We will continue to offer her support, care, and resources as she navigates this tragic reality.”
“Our church has always been dedicated to the protection of the vulnerable. We are, and always have been, advocates for and supporters of any victims of exploitation,” the church said. “We stand firmly on the side of justice and are cooperating with law enforcement to ensure the truth is revealed and justice is served.”
The church said that it “is in no way responsible for or affiliated with these actions of Daniel Menelaou,” and the statement indicated that the church regularly reviews “policies and safeguards to ensure we continue upholding the highest standards of child protection.”
“Our priority remains the well-being of our community, and we will continue to do everything in our power to support those affected,” the church said.
Menelaou has been issued a $20,000 surety bond for each of his six charges.
. Daniel Menelaou had been serving as a youth pastor for the Alpharetta campus of Futures Church. He has since been terminated. ){kind=link}