HORN LAKE, Miss. (BP) — Britt Taylor, former music minister of Calvary Baptist Church in Horn Lake, Miss., near Memphis has been arrested and charged with one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor.

In December of last year, Taylor allegedly used his phone to send an obscene image to a person he believed to be a 16-year-old girl. The recipient was actually an undercover law enforcement officer.

According to local media reports, Taylor’s phone was seized by federal agents in January. His trial is set for May 5, 2025. He faces up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

Calvary Baptist Church sent the following statement to Baptist Press:

“On Monday, January 6, 2025, Britt Taylor (who was the Minister of Music of Calvary Baptist Church at that time) called Pastor Greg Cook late in the evening to confess that he had engaged in on-line sexual misconduct and that his activity was being investigated as criminal activity. Pastor Greg immediately contacted and informed church leadership that evening and the following day, Tuesday, January 7th, officially terminated Mr. Taylor based on his own confession.

“We want to be clear, Britt Taylor committed acts of sexual misconduct which directly go against our church’s teaching, our church’s policies, and our church’s practice. 

“Regarding the legal nature of this situation, we are fully cooperative with law enforcement.”

If you are/have been a victim of sexual abuse or suspect sexual abuse by a pastor, staff member or member of a Southern Baptist church or entity, please reach out for help at 202-864-5578 or [email protected]. All calls are confidential.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Laura Erlanson is managing editor of Baptist Press.)