Terrence “Terren” Dames, the senior pastor at North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship, known for his fervent anti-LGBTQ sermons, was recently arrested in Texas. Dames, who had labeled America as the modern-day “Sodom and Gomorrah,” faces felony charges for sexual solicitation linked to a human sex trafficking probe.
Plano police apprehended the 51-year-old pastor as part of an ongoing investigation into trafficking activities. An undercover officer posing as a sex worker had placed an ad on a well-known website used for soliciting sex. Dames responded, offering $150 for “full service,” which is street slang for intercourse. Although he claimed to be meeting a friend, he was arrested during a traffic stop after arriving at the arranged motel room.
Dames’ arrest has stirred significant controversy, particularly given his history of condemning moral decay in America. His church removed him from his position in May due to “moral failure,” highlighting the stark contrast between his public persona and private actions. In his sermons, still available online, Dames had railed against the acceptance of homosexuality, claiming it would bring divine wrath upon society.
The indictment against Dames is part of a broader effort by Plano police to crack down on trafficking and sex work. This year alone, the department has arrested 90 individuals for solicitation, adding to the 153 arrests made in the previous year. Bianca Davis, CEO of New Friends New Life, emphasized the importance of such operations, noting that sex work often involves exploitation and coercion by traffickers.
Dames’ case underscores the hypocrisy often found in vehement anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. As he faces legal consequences, his sermons serve as a reminder of the pervasive issue of moral hypocrisy within certain religious circles.
