Bruce Hollen, the former lead pastor of Calvary Chapel at The Woodlands, was arrested last week on charges of possessing child pornography with the intent to promote, as per court documents. Hollen, age 63, now faces the grim reality of incarceration, awaiting the outcome of his case behind bars on a $30,000 bond, the Houston Chronicle reported.
In the wake of his arrest, the church issued a decisive response. Bruce Hollen is "stripped of his role as lead pastor," read the statement released by Calvary Chapel, also affirming "The board hereby has determined that Bruce Hollen no longer has authority, authorization, or permission to conduct any business on behalf of Calvary Chapel of The Woodlands. He may not hold himself out as a leader in any capacity for the church, and he may not speak on behalf of the church in any capacity." These developments were also confirmed by KHOU.
Following the arrest executed by an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the church swiftly scrubbed its social media pages and website of content related to Hollen. Sermons, photos, and any association with the former pastor have been wiped clean. As of now, the church's site remains suspended, exhibiting only a bare-bones statement pertaining to the incident at hand.
Though specifics of the case remain under wraps, Texas law is clear: promotion of child porn constitutes knowingly or intentionally possessing material that visually depicts a child younger than 18 years of age at the time the image was created and depicts the child engaging in sexual conduct. Hollen's arrest, noted by the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, was part of a larger investigation, which could imply broader ramifications for all involved.
