Former Greater Grace Pastor Arrested in Manatee County on Child Sexual Abuse Charges
Eric Anderson, a former Greater Grace World Outreach pastor who once led the megachurch’s Bible college, was arrested in Florida this week and is being held without bail while contesting extradition to Massachusetts on child sexual abuse charges.
Anderson, 80, faces two counts of indecent assault and battery of a child stemming from alleged abuse in 1980, when he lived and worked at the church’s former headquarters in Lenox, Massachusetts. At that time, the organization was known as The Bible Speaks.
The Massachusetts State Police utilized license plate reader technology to locate Anderson near the Gulf Coast, where he was arrested on Monday in Manatee County. Prosecutors in Berkshire County are seeking his return to Massachusetts to face trial.
The arrest comes a year after an investigation by The Banner revealed decades of abuse and cover-ups within Greater Grace. Anderson’s alleged victim, Erika Slater, reported to police last year that he groped her several times in 1980 when she was in first grade and he was her school principal. Slater has since become a paralegal and child abuse caseworker.
Members of The Millstones, a group of former congregants who have investigated the church’s handling of abuse allegations, said Anderson was among the first accused perpetrators they documented. They described him as a source of lasting pain for survivors and called his indictment long overdue.
Anderson’s arrest also follows a troubling family history. He had been living in Virginia with his son Jesse, who was previously convicted of molesting a boy in the church. Another son, Jonathan, has also faced abuse allegations but was never charged.
Church leaders released a statement urging anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the importance of accountability and the personal cost that survivors often face when speaking out.
Civil lawsuits against Greater Grace continue to mount, alleging church leaders failed to protect children from abuse. An independent investigation into how the church handled sexual misconduct allegations is ongoing, and two pastors have recently been expelled over misconduct claims.
For Slater, Anderson’s arrest is a step toward justice. She has urged other survivors to report their abuse, saying that accountability can help prevent future harm.
Anderson remains in custody in Manatee County as he challenges his extradition to Massachusetts.