Statement From Chesapeake Conference On Eastern Shore Junior Academy

We are stunned and deeply saddened to learn that Lowell Litten, principal of Eastern Shore Junior Academy, was arrested Sunday, June 14, for alleged sexual misconduct with a minor. We have been notified by the Maryland State Police that Mr. Litten, 39, will be formally charged today with third and fourth degree sex offense and sex abuse of a minor.

We are cooperating fully with authorities. We have placed Mr. Litten on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. We sympathize with the individuals and families who are affected by this terribly unfortunate situation. Eastern Shore Junior Academy, a K-10 Seventh-day Adventist School operated by the Chesapeake Conference, has served Sudlersville and the surrounding areas by providing quality Christian education since 1955. The school currently has 62 students enrolled and five faculty and staff. Mr. Litten has been the school’s principal for four years. 

We ask that all refrain from speculating about these matters, about what might have happened or what might have been done. Such speculation can deeply hurt the reputations and privacy of all concerned. Let us please all act with deep sensitivity for the those who are hurting, and in a spirit of respect for the reputations of everyone involved.

We take these allegations seriously. It is Eastern Shore Junior Academy’s intent to provide a safe learning environment for all of its students.

The Chesapeake Conference Education Department is working to ensure that the school remains on track to reopen on August 18 as planned for the 2009-2010 school year.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream, protestant denomination with more than 16 million members worldwide. The church operates one of the largest parochial school systems in the world with 1.4 million students in more than 7,400 schools, colleges, and universities in 145 countries.

Any questions or concerns, and all media inquiries, should be directed to Samantha Young at (410) 995-1910 or (443) 896-3939. We ask that you keep all those affected by this tragic situation in your prayers.