Religion · Montpelier, VT Metro · August 19, 2026
VT Church Elder Charged in Child Sex Abuse Case; Nonprofit Stays Silent
WBUR reports that Andrew Buzzell, 34, an elder at Green Mountain Baptist Church in Rutland Town, Vermont, was arrested this month on federal charges of distributing child sexual abuse images. Court documents allege Buzzell shared and received such material over two years and discussed meeting a 9-year-old girl for sex with an undercover agent; he also allegedly admitted wanting to exploit a second child he had babysat through his church. Buzzell was also the sole paid employee of Child Evangelism Fellowship's Vermont chapter, which runs Christian programs and camps for children and worked with churches across the state, including in Williston and Massachusetts and Maine chapters. Pastor Stephen Burch says church members unanimously voted to remove Buzzell's eldership and membership after an emergency meeting, and the church publicly called for 'complete justice,' urging possible victims to contact the FBI. By contrast, Child Evangelism Fellowship's national office and state chapters have released only a brief statement, removed references to Buzzell and taken down social media pages, and have not said whether they are notifying families of children who attended events he worked or volunteered at. Buzzell is under house arrest awaiting an Aug. 31 arraignment.
Source: WBUR
Why Bible-Believing Christians Should Care
Scripture gives leaders no higher duty than protecting children entrusted to the church's care, and no institution — however respected — is exempt from scrutiny when that trust is betrayed. Green Mountain Baptist Church's swift, transparent response models the biblical pattern of confronting sin openly rather than protecting an institution's reputation. Child Evangelism Fellowship's near-total silence, unanswered questions about victim notification, and scrubbed public presence raise a separate and serious concern: an organization built to bring children to Christ owes affected families forthright answers, not managed silence. Congregations that partnered with or funded this ministry should not assume good intentions substitute for accountability.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. — Matthew 18:6
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