The Rusty Bucket: Who Helped Create the Trust?

Who Helped Create the Trust?

The question is not who wrote the checks. The question is who helped create the trust.

My family’s first introduction to the Rusty Bucket was in 2024, when Crystal Lowery, now Brookwood Church‘s paid Women’s Area Director, invited our Brookwood Life Link group to attend.

She explained that Jerry Sidell owned and operated the venue, said he often asked Brookwood members to sing there, encouraged our group to come and specifically wrote:

“Children are welcome!”

In a separate public post, Crystal later wrote:

“Our Life Link small group has the privilege of leading worship and serving at the Rusty Bucket Music…”

Brookwood’s own 2025 trustee nominee material for Scott Lowery listed The Rusty Bucket under his volunteer experience. Scott was later affirmed by the congregation and became a Brookwood trustee.

Connections Beyond One Small Group

The connection went beyond one small group.

Senior Pastor Bryan Jones and Executive Pastor of Strategy J.C. Thompson filmed church-wide video material at the Rusty Bucket that was distributed to the congregation.

The Guardian — Brookwood Church and Jerry Sidell

Another attached photograph shows Jerry Sidell there with Brantley Smith, Brookwood’s Worship Pastor. I have obscured the other faces because their identities are not relevant.

These are not isolated coincidences.

Brookwood people invited families there, led worship there, served there, identified the Rusty Bucket as volunteer experience and used the property for church-wide content.

Why Families Trusted the Rusty Bucket

I am not alleging that everyone involved knew Jerry’s RSO status or engaged in wrongdoing.

I am documenting why my family, and other Brookwood families, had reason to trust the Rusty Bucket.

Brookwood did not own or fund it.

But Brookwood people helped create the trust that brought families through the door.

The Question of Moral Obligation

So the question remains:

When church leaders, staff and members help create that trust, is there a moral obligation to disclose that the person who owns and operates the ministry is an RSO?