Nashville pastor molested children during 20 years as church leader, police say

While it appears the church acted properly in reporting said incident(s) when it became known, I wonder why or how it took 19 years (1998-2017) to come to light.

Metro police have arrested a pastor accused of molesting several children across two decades while he was leader of a South Nashville congregation.

Matthew Dennis Patterson, known as Denny, served as pastor of Nolensville Road Baptist Church for more than 20 years. He resigned on Sept. 24.

Days later, members of the congregation came to the police precinct on Harding Place with complaints about his requests to "engage in strange activities" with children, authorities said.

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Patterson was a vocal opponent of anti-discrimination bills considered by the Metro Council in 2003. The measures were designed to protect jobs and housing for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

"We want to make sure we keep the pressure on, let them know that anytime they bring this up, we'll be down here to oppose it," Patterson told The Tennessean in an article published Feb. 5, 2003.

Nashville pastor molested children during 20 years as church leader, police say