WREG channel 3 Memphis, the CBS affiliate, reports of a major scandal with a pastor from Bellevue Baptist church. The church previously held seat of the Southern Baptist Convention, when then pastor Adrian Rodgers(deceased) was its leader.
The spin and PR memos from notes and emails between church board members include "tighten the circle" to keep the scandal from going public.
For further information go to WREG.com
http://wreg.com/
Minister Paul Williams is fired over abuse allegations from 17 years ago.
It was known "for over six months" according to another church member, pastor Stephen Gaines.
Administrative David Coombs was also quoted about the man's immediate firing. It took over a month to complete the inquiry.
The Department of Children's Service for the state of TN can still investigate this matter further.Such is regular practice for all such abuse cases.
A DCS investigation request has not been officially contacted by the church. That according to chief prosecutor Kevin Rardin, "an internal investigation is one thing, a DCS investigation is another."
Persons who fail to report it "in certain circumstances" can face possible prosecution.
No charges have been placed at this time.
Former Indiana Rep. Dr.Don Boys has even more information to enlighten the topic.
"Another member wrote that Gaines "has admittedly known that there was a minister on staff that has committed rape, homosexuality, child molestation, sodomy, as well as incest and has done nothing about it for 6 months. Well, that does constitute "
moral failure." "
"However, all the preceding is pale compared to the sexual misconduct of an associate pastor who is now on paid leave. On Dec. 18, 2006, Pastor Gaines announced to the 30,000-member Bellevue church that Paul Williams, a 34-year employee at Bellevue, was placed on paid leave pending a church investigation regarding "moral failure." However, "moral failure" is somewhat ambiguous and insufficient. Specific details of the case, allegedly involving sodomy with a minor 17 years ago, have not been released to the public, although claims of sexual abuse have been posted on the Internet. Williams has not been officially charged with any criminal activity as of this date."
Bellevue Baptist is the banner charter for the Southern Baptist Convention.
The former President of the Southern Baptist Convention Adrian Rodgers(dec.) was Bellevue's long standing pastor. The scandal tracks across the time he held pulpit.
"Dr. Steve Gaines took the pulpit at Bellevue on Sept. 11, 2005 after serving as pastor for 14 years at Gardendale First Baptist Church, in Birmingham, Ala. Gaines became one of the leading conservative voices in the SBC. Dr. Gaines was called to replace the retiring Dr. Adrian Rogers. Almost immediately the new pastor made some changes such as moving toward elder rule; a major change in the music program to one with blended traditional and non-traditional music; and maneuvered the popular music director out of his position to be replaced with one of Gaines own liking. One member said, "I have been a member of Bellevue since 1952,... I have been in the choir since 1960. Every time my mail comes, I look for the letter telling me that I am no longer needed in the choir, that I am too old. I do not clap and stomp. I do not wave my hands." "
In an era of winning hearts and minds, fighting causes from the pulpit, Gaines used terror baiting for other internal conflicts with church members.
"After accepting the call to Bellevue, Dr. Gaines allegedly told church officials that he needed to renegotiate his financial package, and it is charged that he is making twice what the previous pastor made; some members say as much as $500,000 per year plus benefits! Church officials deny his salary is that high but will not reveal the amount.
There are also charges that Gaines used a church credit card for his own use, taking friends out to expensive restaurants and picking up the non-church tab. Another charge of misuse of church money is that the pastor gave $25,000 of church funds to a pro-abortion, pro-homosexual church! I would like to hear Gaines’ justification of that."
...
"In another lapse of judgment the pastor with three other men sought to talk to Mark Sharpe, former deacon, who questioned Gaines about his compensation and other administration matters. Sharpe lives in a gated community and the four men climbed over a fence that was clearly posted with a no-trespassing sign. In discussing the incident, the pastor said the fence was only "knee-high" while Sharpe said it is over four feet high! Now, Gaines is charged with lying to keep himself from looking silly (and illegal) as he and his cohorts climbed a fence that was there to keep out unwanted people.
Gaines allegedly told Sharpe that he was "Hezbollah" and sending people to hell by his actions, but Sharpe replied that he didn’t have the power to send anyone to hell. Sharpe said. "I have to admit, I was shaken by the words I heard my pastor speak to me. I was shaken to the bone but reminded that these were not the actions of a pastor." "
The Southern Baptist Church is one of the largest GOP supporter links in the DC back channels to the world of heartland values. It is a leader in the pantheon of religious 'cause lobbyists' that dot the political map.
In other news, a fish rots from the head down.