Joseph M. Krol was arrested by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office Oct. 15 on a single charge of grooming a minor. Krol was booked on the Class 4 felony at the Macon County jail and was arraigned Oct. 16 with bail set at $75,000. He has since been released on bond. Krol had served as pastor at Galilee Baptist Church in Decatur, and it was while he was employed there the grooming is alleged to have begun. In July he accepted a call to serve as pastor of Rochester First Baptist Church.
Krol was suspended from his position at Rochester First Baptist Church after his arrest. Church members met Oct. 27 and voted to immediately terminate his employment.
Senior leadership at both churches report they will cooperate with any investigation by law enforcement, and they are seeking to minister appropriately in the situation.
Krol’s wife is an employee of the Illinois Baptist State Association. IBSA ministry staff are assisting leaders in both churches with their reporting information to the congregations and in communications with their communities.
We will replace our statement after Krol’s trial in January.