Deacon: No plans for sex rehab house in Lynn

LYNN – The deacon of a controversial Lynn church where counseling groups for those with addictions are held daily says no plans are under way to establish a halfway house for Level III sex offenders.Robert Eggeman, deacon of the LifePoint Church at 10 Baltimore St. in the city’s Diamond District, explained Thursday that the present community uproar began shortly after he approached the Police Department with questions. According to Eggeman, he had hoped to learn whether any restrictions exist in Lynn that might prohibit a convicted sex offender from joining one of the counseling sessions or staying overnight at the church or at other church-owned property.”I addressed my questions to Lt. (Vernon) Coleman but he never called back,” said Eggeman, referring to the police officer in charge of registering sex offenders.The church plans to set up a so-called ministry home with less than 10 beds where men with addictions or other problems can regain stability while embracing God, said Eggeman, adding, “We are in the development stages of establishing a discipleship house for men who currently live in Lynn. Our goal is to help Lynners reach stability in every area of life including work, housing, healthy relationships and freedom from addictive lifestyles.”(Go to www.lynnpolice.org/sex_offenders to view names, addresses and photos of Lynn’s registered sex offenders.)The ministry house would be a 24/7, live-in program in which residents would be required to apply and obtain approval before being admitted, Eggeman said, stressing that LifePoint Church has no intention of establishing a halfway house specifically for sex-offenders.”We sought to gather information from Lt. Coleman, the Lynn police officer in charge of registering sex offenders, in order to help us determine how and if sex offenders already living in Lynn might participate in the ministry as we consider the various backgrounds of people who may apply,” he said. “Multiple calls to Lt. Coleman have gone unanswered since April. I simply tried to get some information and it sparked into this whole thing. It has turned into a hornet’s nest.”Eggeman said LifePoint Church “is committed to helping people of Lynn reach a healthy and stable life by worshiping God, growing spiritually and giving to the community.”City Council President Timothy Phelan vociferously opposed the plan and vowed Thursday to take whatever legal steps are necessary to prevent the creation of a gathering place for sex offenders.”It seems to me that calling it a ministry house is an attempt to manipulate the law because there are protections for churches whereas there are not legal protections in other areas,” he said. “But if it looks like a rose and smells like a rose, it’s a rose. And I will do everything in my power that’s legal to prevent this from happening.”Phelan said he remains unconvinced that having multiple Level III sex offenders under the same roof to receive services would be in any way therapeutic or religious.Eggeman said a ministry helps those in need stay close to the church and to grow spiritually.”We just want to be prepared so that we know what to do if a sex offender applies to our program,” he said.Phelan has submitted three proposed ordinances aimed at thwarting any facility that includes sex offenders in Lynn. A public hearing has been scheduled at City Hall on June 9.Residents living near the LifePoint Church expressed dismay over word that sex offenders might visit the neighborhood, which includes Brickett Elementary School, several playgrounds and an oceanfront esplanade.Level III offenders are those convicted of the most heinous sex crimes. According to the Lynn Police Department, those classified as Level III should also be designated as sexually violent predators with a high likelihood of committing additional sex crimes and who are dangerous enough to pose a public safety risk.