Editor’s note: In accordance with byFaith’s policy, we report on adverse events involving members, officers, or churches when the news is in the public domain, and the impacted court of the church has had the opportunity to review the news and provide a statement.

At a called meeting this week, Grace Presbytery voted to depose Christopher Willett of his ministerial office and excommunicate him from the church. The unanimous vote concludes the disciplinary process, which began after Willett was initially charged with criminal activity in Copiah County in March 2025. 

At its May 2025 meeting, the presbytery found a strong presumption of guilt against Willett and appointed a prosecutor. The presbytery decided to wait for the criminal case to be resolved before conducting its own trial. In the meantime, the presbytery suspended him from the ministry.  

Willett recently plead guilty in state court to statutory rape, sexual battery, and incest. As part of the plea deal, the Copiah County District Attorney’s Office recommended that Willett be sentenced on the three counts to concurrently serve 30 years, with 5 years suspended, which was adopted by the Court. 

At its May 2026 presbytery meeting, since Willett could not appear before presbytery and did not submit a plea in writing, a plea of not guilty was recorded on his behalf, counsel was appointed, and June 9 was set as the date of his trial. The presbytery conducted the trial on Tuesday, found Willett guilty, and inflicted the censures of deposition and excommunication. 

The censure of deposition is reserved for church officers who have been proven by sufficient evidence to be guilty of sins that disqualify them from Christian ministry and prohibit them from continuing to exercise their office. Excommunication excludes them from the sacraments and from fellowship in the church. 

Since pleading guilty to charges in Copiah County, Willett has been indicted on similar charges in Marion County. After finding a strong presumption of guilt, the presbytery appointed a prosecutor, and a second indictment on these charges was prepared. It is anticipated that Willett may face charges in an additional county in the near future. 

After the presbytery suspended Willett from ministry in May 2025, Grace Presbytery was informed that Willett was baptizing fellow prisoners inside the Copiah County Jail. These additional charges against him for violating his suspension from ministry were included in the second indictment.  The presbytery decided the second indictment was rendered moot by virtue of his deposition and excommunication. 

In accordance with our policy, byFaith reached out to the clerk of Grace Presbytery, who reviewed this article for accuracy.