Haslet Church Pastor Temporarily Relieved After Son's Firing

Heritage Baptist Church conducting internal review following backlash over sex offender status of pastor's son

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The pastor of Haslet's Heritage Baptist Church, Eric Crawford, has been 'temporarily relieved' of his ministry duties following the firing of his son Caleb Crawford, a registered sex offender, from the church's affiliated school. The church is conducting an internal review of the matter to ensure transparency and avoid distractions from the ongoing work of the church.

Why it matters

The case has sparked outrage from parents and former church members who are calling for a change in church leadership, citing concerns over the handling of the situation and the need to prioritize child safety over the ministry's interests.

The details

Caleb Crawford, 31, was terminated from his position at Heritage Christian Academy on Monday after parents discovered he was a registered sex offender, having served two years in prison starting in 2016 on an indecency with a child by contact conviction. During the temporary relief of duties, Pastor Eric Crawford will not be allowed to participate in preaching, teaching, administrative oversight or leadership functions within the church and school.

  • On February 19, 2026, Heritage Baptist Church announced Pastor Eric Crawford would be 'temporarily relieved' of ministry duties.
  • On February 16, 2026, Caleb Crawford was terminated from his position at Heritage Christian Academy.

The players

Eric Crawford

The founding pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Haslet, Texas.

Caleb Crawford

The 31-year-old son of Pastor Eric Crawford, who was fired from his position at the church's affiliated school due to his registered sex offender status.

Heritage Baptist Church

A church located in Haslet, Texas, that is conducting an internal review following the firing of the pastor's son.

Heritage Christian Academy

A school affiliated with Heritage Baptist Church, where Caleb Crawford was employed before being terminated.

Katie Thompson

The creator of a petition on Change.org urging the pastor to step down, citing concerns over the handling of the situation and the need to prioritize child safety.

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What they’re saying

“This is a new situation, but it isn't the only time things have been covered up. I'm just hoping I can make it stop happening.”

— Katie Thompson, Petition creator (Change.org)

“The lack of integrity, transparency and honesty is the issue. It's frightening. He doesn't deserve to hide behind God.”

— Dani Jo Gunderson, Parent (dallasnews.com)

What’s next

The church's finance team is conducting an internal review of the relevant matters, and the judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Caleb Crawford to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for churches to prioritize child safety and maintain transparency when dealing with sensitive issues involving staff and leadership. The outrage from parents and former members underscores the importance of proactive measures to address concerns and rebuild trust within the community.