ARLINGTON, Texas — The lead pastor of an Arlington church returned to the pulpit this weekend three months after turning himself in to face charges of sexual assault and indecent assault, stemming from alleged sexual advances toward a member of his church.
Ronnie Goines did not appear to directly address the accusations against him when he returned to the stage at the Koinonia Christian Church for a Bible study session Thursday night nor for Sunday service. However other pastors speaking at the services urged members to bless and pray for the lead preacher.
The church announced Goines' return in a video trailer set to music and posted on YouTube Thursday.
Arlington Police arrested Goines, 51, in late July after a female church member reported he had tried to kiss and touch her despite her objections during two encounters in March 2023.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the woman said the pastor asked her to drive back to his apartment because he told her he was having car trouble.
Once inside, she said he began kissing her on the neck, rubbing her legs, and eventually pulling down her top to expose her. The woman, who was not named in the arrest affidavit, told police she left his apartment, but then met up with Goines again the following day, as they had planned.
She said they went to an event at a local theater and then went back to Goines's apartment once more. Per the affidavit, the woman told police Goines again started kissing her neck, and tried to remove her clothing. The woman told police she repeatedly told Goines no, but he persisted, at one point putting his hands in her underwear, the affidavit stated.
Goines denied to police he had forced herself on the woman and said said they hugged, but didn't kiss, the affidavit stated.
Reached by phone Monday, Goines referred questions to his criminal defense attorney. The attorney, Bruce Ashworth of Arlington, declined to comment.
The church's executive pastor, who filled in for Goines following his arrest, announced his resignation last week. James Ray Taylor said on Instagram that Goines and other church staff asked him to leave.
"I love you, I honor you and I thank you because for seven weeks you did what not too many people could do. You held it down from this pulpit," Goines said of Taylor at Sunday's service.
At Thursday's Bible Study, Pastor R.A. Vernon asked Goines to join him in front of the congregation in a show of support.
"Sometimes the church is just too quick to just throw their leaders away and I’m not justifying certain behavior, I’m really not, but for you to make me give up on my pastor you’re going to have to show me something real," Vernon said as Goines appeared to break into tears leaning against him.
"Unless I see something substantial, I am going to love my pastor and love my church," Vernon said to applause from the audience.
Prosecutors haven't announced a date for the next hearing in Goines' criminal case, records show.
Goines' return to the church's pulpit was first reported by KERA.