Two weeks ago, it was announced that Hope Community Church of God would be hiring a new pastor, William Vorrasi. In a now-deleted post on the Wrangell community Facebook page, he introduced himself and family. His wife, Teresa, was born and raised in Wrangell and he said they were excited about the move. However, it came to light that Vorrasi is on the national sex offender registry. Backlash from the community has caused the church to take back its decision to hire him.
Vorrasi said that his wife had recently made a trip to Wrangell to attend a funeral. While there, she heard that the Church of God was looking to hire a new pastor. Vorrasi said that he has experience in ministry, working in prison ministry and as a mentor with the department of correction, and is also pursuing an education as a pastor, among other ministry outlets. He said he discussed this potential job with both members of the church and the Wrangell Ministerial Association.
Vorrasi said in a phone interview with the Sentinel that the Church of God was aware he was on the sex offender registry prior to offering him the job. He said he liked to think his experience in ministry and examples of his work helped him get the job offer. He added that the church has had several other candidates in the past, but he did not wish to speak on behalf of the church.
According to the Idaho State Journal, in a July 5, 2015 article, Vorrasi was serving as a detention officer in Caribou County, Idaho. He was accused of having sexual encounters with a female prisoner. He was charged with four counts of sexual contact with an inmate, according to the article, and one count of destruction of evidence.
"The document claims that detention officer William Vorrasi began grooming the inmate in the fall of 2014 by offering her special privileges and favors," the article reads. "That action resulted in multiple sexual encounters, including oral sex and intercourse between the inmate and Vorrasi."
The jury found him guilty, Vorrasi said in an interview with the Wrangell Sentinel, and while in prison he said he was a model inmate. According to the Idaho Department of Correction, Vorrasi was released to supervision on Sept. 10, 2018. The "Sentence Satisfaction Date" for his convictions is dated June 29, 2021.
While convicted, Vorrasi maintains his innocence. He was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, he said. He was offered several plea deals both before and during his sentence, he said, but never took any of them because he could not admit guilt to something he did not do. He has several character witnesses who can stand behind him, he said, and he also denies the veracity of the accusations that were made against him.
"At the end of the day, she's tried this three other times with other men," Vorrasi said. "I was off camera for five minutes and three seconds."
One such character witness was Dr. Thomas Sanderson. He emailed the Sentinel on Aug. 4 to vouch for Vorrasi's character. Sanderson said that Vorrasi and his family have been integral parts of their church community.
"William and his wife Teresa have been an integral part of the music and teaching at Grangeville Christian Church for the last two years we have been at the church," he wrote. "He has also filled in for other pastors in the area who needed someone to fill the pulpit in their absence ... He is very up front about his past. He is above board and has not let this incident deter him from his mission. I would highly recommend him for a pastoral position as William has had to go through some hard knocks in our culture and lived to come out strong."
Another character witness who reached out to the newspaper was David Zimmermann, pastor of Soda Springs Baptist Church. He also took Vorrasi's position that the accusations made against him were false, and also said that Vorrasi and his family have consistently shown "good character throughout the events of the past 5 years."
When Vorrasi's background came to light, several Wrangell residents objected to his hiring and his coming to Wrangell. In sharing their concerns, both through social media and with the church, the decision to hire Vorrasi was overturned. Hope Community Church of God released a statement on Facebook, Aug. 3.
"Hope Community Church of God will not be hiring William Vorrasi," the entirety of the statement reads.
Kem Haggard, with Harbor Light Assembly of God and chairperson of the Wrangell Ministerial Association, also took to social media to make a statement. The WMA does not participate in the hiring or firing process of the churches, he wrote. He also stated that a welcome on the organization's Facebook page does not "endorse a selection or ministry by all of the churches, pastors, or their members."
"I'm not upset," Vorrasi said about the decision, "God works all things to edify him."
Vorrasi said that he believes the backlash against his hiring was led by a particular Wrangell resident, though he did not share their name, that had also pursued a position at the church but was rejected. He also said that he was sad that people would rush to judgment before getting to know him, but was not angry. He also added that while he will not serve as pastor at Hope Community Church of God, he and his family still intend to move to Wrangell in the coming months.
Multiple attempts by the Sentinel to contact the Church of God for comment have been unsuccessful. News Editor Caleb Vierkant received one message from the church's Facebook account, stating that the person who might answer the paper's questions is out of town.
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