Norton pastor suspended after comments over marital rape

A pastor at The Father’s House in Norton has been directed to step away from ministry after comments about marital rape circulated online.

The controversy began on a social media page operated by Christian marriage author Sheila Wray Gregoire. According to screenshots Gregoire shared publicly, Pastor Shawn Holderfield argued that violently forcing a spouse to have sex could constitute violence or abuse, but not rape.

Gregoire identified Holderfield and The Father’s House, calling his position dangerous for survivors of sexual abuse.

The church subsequently issued a public statement rejecting Holderfield’s views. Senior Pastor Danny Jones said it was his decision to place Holderfield on a sabbatical and direct him to step away from ministry responsibilities for prayer, reflection and professional counseling.

“The Father’s House does not believe that marriage gives anyone permission to sexually violate, coerce, intimidate, or abuse their spouse,” the church said. “Sexual violence and abuse are serious matters, and we will never minimize, excuse, or tolerate them.”

In a separate incident, another screenshot appears to show Holderfield minimizing former Texas megachurch pastor Robert Morris’s sexual abuse of Cindy Clemishire, which began in 1982 when Morris was 21 and Clemishire was 12.

Holderfield characterized the abuse as a “sinful relationship,” claimed a 12-year-old was not viewed as a child at the time and defended Morris’s eventual return to ministry.

Morris pleaded guilty in October 2025 to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child. He served six months in jail, received a 10-year sentence with the remainder suspended and is required to register as a sex offender.

The Father’s House has not said how long Holderfield’s removal will last or whether he will eventually return to ministry.